Keynote Speaker | Author | Consultant
Keynotes, Consulting, and Leadership Training to help your team embrace adversity, maximize their potential, and lead with confidence.
“JT’s journey is a testament to what excellence looks like in action. If your goal is to live a life of purpose, achievement, and impact, then look no further than the example set by Dr. JT. His leadership and vision are a true blueprint for success.”
– Brent Alexander
12-year NFL Veteran | Boston College Football Coach
• 42% increase in goal clarity
• 58% boost in morale & belonging
• 61% stronger team retention
Dr. Jamaal Thompson is a two-sport Division I athlete turned national keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and published scholar. He uses lived experience and hard-earned expertise to help others lead from where they are.
From walking on to a college football team, to becoming a two-sport Division-I athlete, to walking across the stage as a first-generation Ph.D., Jamaal’s journey is proof that grit, faith, and strategy can take you further than talent alone. He earned his doctorate in Program Planning and Evaluation with a research focus on the Black male student-athlete experience, and has since spoken to audiences across college campuses, athletic departments, and leadership organizations nationwide.
Known for his raw storytelling, research-backed insights, and undeniable presence, Jamaal helps athletes, students, and professionals recognize the resources around them and, more importantly, the ones within them. Whether he’s breaking down leadership in a locker room or challenging executives to reimagine their influence, Jamaal is committed to helping people lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose before the title ever comes.
His work lives at the intersection of culture, leadership, and identity. Drawing from both academic theory and real-life experience, Jamaal equips teams to build stronger trust, communicate with intent, and develop leadership from the inside out. His message resonates with high performers who often feel overlooked but refuse to settle for less.
At every stage of his journey, Jamaal has made a habit of creating impact without waiting for permission. That mindset is what fuels his mission to teach others how to show up fully, lead authentically, and embrace every stage of the process, especially the bottom.
Before the Title is a leadership playbook for student-athletes, overlooked professionals, and anyone building from the ground up. Written by Dr. Jamaal Thompson—a two-sport athlete turned Ph.D.—this book shows you how to lead before you’re recognized.
Before the Title reached #2 on Amazon’s New Release list in Coaching and ranked in the Top 10 in its category at launch.
“There’s levels to leadership, and JT’s on a level that most people never reach. If you got him in your corner, you’re already ahead.”
– Bryce Brown
Former NFL Running Back and College Football Coach
Inspire your team, department, or organization to lead with confidence — book Dr. Jamaal Thompson for your next keynote.
Helping underdogs transform into confident leaders — one team, one organization at a time.
Walk away with lived insight, practical strategy, and a team-first approach to leadership that starts from the inside out. My message challenges individuals to lead with identity, build stronger teams, and embrace the bottom as the foundation for lasting growth.
Step into a workshop space where leadership gets practical. These sessions are built to develop identity, sharpen communication, and strengthen teams from the inside out. Through guided strategy and real-time reflection, participants walk away more confident in how they lead, how they show up, and how they work together.
Get tailored strategy, leadership insight, and organizational clarity built from lived experience and proven outcomes. Whether you’re leading a team through transition, building a high-performance culture, or trying to rethink what’s next, I bring frameworks that work in real life, not just on paper.
Let’s align your goals, stretch your thinking, and build something that lasts.
“Jamaal is the kind of person who makes lasting impact — not just through his words, but through his consistent action and example. His presence elevated our campus, our community, and our department. I can say without hesitation that I’m a better person and a better coach because of the time I spent working with him.”
– Dewayne Alexander
Football Coach, Bowling Green State University
