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  3. Derek Rhodes
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Derek Rhodes

Founder and Executive Director
Durham Success Summit
Country or state 
United States (North Carolina)
Available to 
Global
City 
Durham
Fee 
Languages 
English
Volunteer
No

Personal Details

Current position (1)

Founder and Executive Director

Durham Success Summit

Achievements (1)
Triangle Business Journal - 40 Under 40
Degrees (1)
Public Policy
Duke University
2011 to 2015

Bio

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Short Bio

Derek Rhodes’ professional career has been spent at the intersection of business and community, and his achievements in both are equally significant.

As a Black male leader in the corporate world, Derek has an intimate and very much “lived” understanding of the realities of corporate progression as a person of color, and is passionate about inspiring future black leaders to achieve their career aspirations. Before founding the Durham Success Summit, a community organization facilitating education, networking, and workplace opportunities for talented Black men in his hometown, Derek accrued invaluable skills and experience in high-level leadership positions at some of the most recognizable companies in the world including the White House, Google, Microsoft, the Miami Heat, and The Obama Foundation.

Derek proudly offers his extensive corporate leadership experience to a number of community organizations including the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy Board of Visitors, and the City of Durham Racial Equity Commission.

Long Bio

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, Derek 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 Derek's efforts at Duke and during his internships.

Derek 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 Derek 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, Derek 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: Derek 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, Derek 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 Derek’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.

Presentations

Presentations (4)
Managing Your Seat At The Table

Strategies for the young professional or new leader on how to get, manage, and leverage your seat to create new opportunities for yourself and others.

How to (Actually) Change the World

Derek's flagship presentation that educates audiences on how to reinvent civic and corporate engagement on their own terms. Learn three key steps for inspiring meaningful change.

Inspiring, Not Requiring

This presentation aims to teach educators innovative tactics - beyond traditional Community Service days - that inspire students to become engaged in their communities.

Jimmy for the City Live

Based on Derek's children's book, this workshop teaches middle and high school students to reflect on their personal lives and how their written story can impact their local communities.

Past talks (4)
How to Change the World
TedX Keynote Speaker
San Francisco, CA
February 27, 2019
Opening Keynote: What Service Means...to YOU
National Network of Schools in Partnership Winter Conference
Washington, DC
February 4, 2018
What Service Means...to YOU
MLK Day School Assembly Book Signing & Speech
Durham, NC
January 17, 2017
Commencement Address
Durham Academy Upper School Commencement
Durham, NC
  • All (2)
  • Videos
  • Photos (1)
  • Press information (1)
This speaker hasn't uploaded any videos yet.
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Durham native gives back by hosting virtual summit aimed at empowering young men of color

Books & Articles (4)

Jimmy for the City
2015
Healing through Service - Why I Quit My Job After Just 3 Months
Why schools should place greater emphasis on public service — the short version
Why I Wrote "Jimmy for the City"

Expertise (12)

Leadership
Business
Social & Political
Education
Corporate Diversity Public Service Civic Engagement Young Adults Inspirational Diversity Business Training and Leadership Development

Clients

National Network of Schools in Partnership
The American School in London
Moreau Catholic High School
Lake Anne Elementary School
Durham Academy
Mind Matters Cleveland
Chicago Public Schools
Recommendations
Why choose me? 

I advise audiences on how to be forward thinking, community-driven leaders.

Social media
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