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Derek Rhodes

Founder & Executive Director of the Durham Success Summit, Author, Community Activist

Founder & Executive Director of the Durham Success Summit, Author, Community Activist

Travels From Travels From:
Durham, NC, USA
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Derek Rhodes Biography

Derek Rhodes is a business strategist, community leader, social entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. In each of these roles, he has focused on the positive impact he can make on others. By focusing on meaningful work, he measures his success according to the results that he drives for his teams. He has established himself as a consistent performer, devising new and unique ways to change systems from within and pioneer bold ideas that serve the public.

After graduating from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Political Studies in 2011, Rhodes went on to become an intern at the Department of Justice, where he developed skills that have enabled him to thrive in other high-pressure, fast-paced environments. He proceeded into a second coveted internship, this one at The White House. It was not long afterward that his life took a drastic turn: at a press briefing in the East Room, President Obama highlighted Rhodes's efforts at Duke and during his internships.

Rhodes took this momentum and moved into roles at multiple world-class organizations. He was an Associate Team Lead at Google for a little more than a year. He oversaw Strategic Initiatives and Operations at My Brother's Keeper Alliance through the Obama Foundation. And he served as the Director of Business Strategy for the Miami Heat. Each of these positions introduced Rhodes to fresh challenges. He was able to hone his skills as a planner, thinker, and leader, seeing up-close what made some of the most sophisticated and effective teams function as well as they did.

Throughout all of this time, Rhodes was carving out initiatives of his own. In 2016, he authored the children's book "Jimmy in the City" as a way to present local politics in a positive, educational light to young people. This was also his first foray into public communication of a message that has since become a common refrain: Rhodes motivates and inspires students to see beyond their current situations and follow through on the dreams they have envisioned for themselves.

Based on these ideals, Rhodes founded the Durham Success Summit, a one-day leadership conference through which he has created opportunities for high school and college students from underrepresented and underprivileged communities. Although unique as an organization, the Durham Success Summit is just one more reflection of Rhodes’s personality, vision, and the mission he has set for himself. His belief in the power of progress is immense – and it is a belief that bursts forth in all of his speeches, presentations, and projects.

Most recently, Rhodes has worked at Microsoft, as Chief of Staff. His media appearances include an entry in the 2015 Business Insider article, "Top 15 Most Impressive Students at Duke," and he also holds a Certificate in Disruptive Strategy from Harvard Business School Online. Rhodes's dual interests in business strategy and civic engagement combine to make him a uniquely empathetic, creative, and results-driven problem-solver and innovator.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/23/2024.

Derek Rhodes Speaking Topics

    • How to Change the World
    • Storytelling for Change
    • Inspired to Serve: How Business Leaders and Educators Can Authentically Promote a Culture of Activism
    • Effective Changemaking 101
    • Success Summit Blueprint: Define and Design Your Life

Derek Rhodes Videos

Derek Rhodes Books

  • Jimmy for the City
    Jimmy for the City

Speaker Lists Featuring Derek Rhodes

FAQs on booking Derek Rhodes

  • How do I book Derek Rhodes to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Derek Rhodes for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Derek Rhodes, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Derek Rhodes or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Derek Rhodes

    Speaking fees for Derek Rhodes, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Derek Rhodes are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Derek Rhodes, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Derek Rhodes speak about?

    Derek Rhodes is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Business, Change Management, Civil Rights, Communication, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Leadership, Literary, Motivational, Social Justice, Thought Leadership, Virtual.
  • Where does Derek Rhodes travel from?

    Derek Rhodes generally travels from Durham, NC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Derek Rhodes’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Derek Rhodes for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Derek Rhodes for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Derek Rhodes or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Derek Rhodes is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as. The estimated speaking fee range to book Derek Rhodes for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Derek Rhodes generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erin Gruwell, Deanna Singh, Dr. Jackie Freiberg, Liz Dozier and Cheryl Cran. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Derek Rhodes for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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