Jamal Simmons
Keynote Speaker: Democratic Strategist & CNN Political Commentator; Former Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris
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Jamal Simmons Biography
Jamal Simmons is on-air political commentator for CNN after most recently serving as Deputy Assistant to President Joe Biden and Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Simmons has been at the nexus of politics and media for three decades. Prior to serving in the Biden-Harris White House, he was a political contributor for CBS News and NPR. Prior to CBS, he hosted digital interviews for Hill TV with political leaders and celebrities. Simmons joined Hill TV from the Raben Group, where he advised corporate, political and foundation leaders for nearly a decade. During the 2008 presidential primaries Simmons was a prominent Obama campaign surrogate and senior advisor to the Democratic National Committee. Before that, he was a press secretary for two presidential primary campaigns, communications director for a U.S. Senate race and managed the national state media operation for Gore/Lieberman 2000. He also served as a Gore spokesman in W. Palm Beach during the Florida recount.
Simmons got his start on Bill Clinton’s 1992 traveling campaign staff and set up events around the world for the Clinton White House. He was also an assistant to U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor. In those roles, he represented the U.S. government in 15 countries including Bosnia, Ukraine, Haiti, and China.
Simmons has written opinion pieces for Democracy: A Journal of Ideas and The New York Times. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation Board (honorary). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jamal Simmons and other top speakers and celebrities.
Jamal Simmons Speaking Topics
In nearly every sector, Black inclusion in leadership stalls at around 4 percent. This phenomenon, described as The 4 Percent Problem, is likely no coincidence says journalist Jamal Simmons.
Based on the findings of his research, Simmons discusses the consistently low threshold that White participants set to determine when sufficient diversity has been achieved. He also explains the thin line that currently appears to exist between creating a diverse environment and sparking white flight.
Audiences will walk away with a clear guide for addressing diversity in the workplace, including how to:
- Rethink the “Pipeline Problem”
- Integrate diverse leaders
- Invest in HBCUs and their talent pools
Jamal Simmons believes America’s future is bright. It can take criticism, learn from its setbacks, get up on its feet, face forward, and forge a new path. In America, we can do big things and still do good things. We can create products the world has never seen and care for people the world too often leaves behind. We can compete with any nation and tap the creativity and innovative spirit of every community.
In this conversation, Jamal addresses the big questions and shows us we don’t have to hide from our past or fear for our future. Based on his experiences in politics and business, Jamal highlights examples of American prowess and how leaders who tap into that are what the country needs. He leaves audiences feeling optimistic and with a clear outline of the type of leadership needed in government and every other sector to build an America that is strong enough for all of us.
As a young man, Jamal Simmons was heavily influenced by former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, who died in a tragic plane crash in Croatia. Jamal once heard Secretary Brown say that people should make friends first and do business later because it was a lot easier to work with people you knew and liked than with strangers.
Working alongside some of the top leaders in the world – from military commanders to politicians to business executives – Jamal has learned a number of leadership lessons that he employs to this day. Whether guiding leaders through communications crises, securing investors for his company, or reorganizing a team of White House staffers to make a cultural shift, Jamal focuses on 5 key things he has learned can convince targeted audiences:
- Listen to Strangers – Meeting new people often means hearing new ideas and considering different choices. Get out of your bubble to challenge your thinking.
- Kill the Spider –It’s hard to focus on anything else with a spider crawling on the table. Address what’s on your audience’s minds before trying to get buy-in on your agenda.
- Drown a Kitten – Or maybe it’s “kill a darling”. Either way, make the tough choices and focus relentlessly on the important priorities.
- Don’t Blow Smoke - Be transparent about the process and tell hard truths -- especially when it’s your own bad news.
- Choose Sunrise - Nobody likes a negative Nelly. What’s your vision for a new day?
Jamal Simmons brings a broad understanding of politics, business, and international affairs to lead complex and thought-provoking conversations. Jamal poses evocative questions that keep the audience's interests at the forefront of every discussion.
Jamal Simmons Videos
How do I book Jamal Simmons to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jamal Simmons for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jamal Simmons, 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 Jamal Simmons or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Jamal Simmons for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Jamal Simmons, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jamal Simmons, click the Check Schedule 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 Jamal Simmons speak about?
Jamal Simmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Liberal, Democrat, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Political, World Affairs, Journalist, News & Media and Host & Emcee.
Where does Jamal Simmons travel from?
Jamal Simmons generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Jamal Simmons?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jamal Simmons 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 Schedule 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 Jamal Simmons 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 Jamal Simmons 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 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.
Jamal Simmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Liberal, Democrat and Black Heritage. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Jamal Simmons generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Norman Ornstein, Donna Brazile and Ayesha Rascoe. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jamal Simmons for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Jamal Simmons Speaking Topics
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The 4 Percent Problem: Exploring the Lack of Diversity in Leadership
In nearly every sector, Black inclusion in leadership stalls at around 4 percent. This phenomenon, described as The 4 Percent Problem, is likely no coincidence says journalist Jamal Simmons.
Based on the findings of his research, Simmons discusses the consistently low threshold that White participants set to determine when sufficient diversity has been achieved. He also explains the thin line that currently appears to exist between creating a diverse environment and sparking white flight.
Audiences will walk away with a clear guide for addressing diversity in the workplace, including how to:
- Rethink the “Pipeline Problem”
- Integrate diverse leaders
- Invest in HBCUs and their talent pools
-
The America We Deserve -- Strong Enough for All of Us
Jamal Simmons believes America’s future is bright. It can take criticism, learn from its setbacks, get up on its feet, face forward, and forge a new path. In America, we can do big things and still do good things. We can create products the world has never seen and care for people the world too often leaves behind. We can compete with any nation and tap the creativity and innovative spirit of every community.
In this conversation, Jamal addresses the big questions and shows us we don’t have to hide from our past or fear for our future. Based on his experiences in politics and business, Jamal highlights examples of American prowess and how leaders who tap into that are what the country needs. He leaves audiences feeling optimistic and with a clear outline of the type of leadership needed in government and every other sector to build an America that is strong enough for all of us.
-
How Authentic Leaders Persuade Key Audiences
As a young man, Jamal Simmons was heavily influenced by former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, who died in a tragic plane crash in Croatia. Jamal once heard Secretary Brown say that people should make friends first and do business later because it was a lot easier to work with people you knew and liked than with strangers.
Working alongside some of the top leaders in the world – from military commanders to politicians to business executives – Jamal has learned a number of leadership lessons that he employs to this day. Whether guiding leaders through communications crises, securing investors for his company, or reorganizing a team of White House staffers to make a cultural shift, Jamal focuses on 5 key things he has learned can convince targeted audiences:
- Listen to Strangers – Meeting new people often means hearing new ideas and considering different choices. Get out of your bubble to challenge your thinking.
- Kill the Spider –It’s hard to focus on anything else with a spider crawling on the table. Address what’s on your audience’s minds before trying to get buy-in on your agenda.
- Drown a Kitten – Or maybe it’s “kill a darling”. Either way, make the tough choices and focus relentlessly on the important priorities.
- Don’t Blow Smoke - Be transparent about the process and tell hard truths -- especially when it’s your own bad news.
- Choose Sunrise - Nobody likes a negative Nelly. What’s your vision for a new day?
-
Moderated Conversation
Jamal Simmons brings a broad understanding of politics, business, and international affairs to lead complex and thought-provoking conversations. Jamal poses evocative questions that keep the audience's interests at the forefront of every discussion.
VIDEO
Jamal Simmons Videos
NEWS
Jamal Simmons News
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Face The Nation: Jamal Simmons, Jonah Goldberg, Jamelle Bouie ...
Missed the second half of the show? The latest on the Mueller report, the justice department and the 2020 campaign.
FAQS
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How do I book Jamal Simmons to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jamal Simmons for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jamal Simmons, 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 Jamal Simmons or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Jamal Simmons for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Jamal Simmons, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jamal Simmons, click the Check Schedule 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 Jamal Simmons speak about?
Jamal Simmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Liberal, Democrat, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Political, World Affairs, Journalist, News & Media and Host & Emcee. -
Where does Jamal Simmons travel from?
Jamal Simmons generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Jamal Simmons?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jamal Simmons 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 Schedule 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 Jamal Simmons 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 Jamal Simmons 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 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.
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