Name: Howard R. Jean
Profession: Education Entrepreneur
Age: 32
One word that describes you: Renaissance
An entrepreneur, insightful educator, exciting motivational speaker, and executive coach are just a few of the roles that Howard R. Jean presents to his audience. Delivering dynamic results that are empowering, educational, and powerful, Jean impacts businesses and schools around the country. The youngest Executive Director of the nationally recognized Call Me MISTER Teacher Leadership Program at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Jean garnered support from Fortune 500 Companies, civic minded, and national press but most importantly recruited, trained and graduated minority male teachers to serve at the elementary and high school level.
Fresh out of college, Jean wanted to make a living while changing the lives of black males in education. “Watching two mentors who are like fathers to me, Dr. Roy Jones, Executive Director of Call Me MISTER and Colonel Jim Paige (RET), Founder of Pioneers in Education Foundation really inspired me to enter into this space,” Jean tells BE Modern Man. He soon began his career as a classroom teacher working with his mentor through his Pioneer Leadership Academy. At 22 he was asked by his mentor to attend a National Conference, and what happened next opened his eyes to the world of consulting. “I was just stoked to attend a conference and have all of my expenses paid for but little did I know, he was going to pay be $1,500 once I returned,” says Jean. I looked at the check and he told me that’s a rate he’d charge for attending a 3-day conference as a consultant.
Mentally focused, and working hard in his passion to build a legacy, Jean feels that it is his mission and purpose to change tradition. “I didn’t come a family or legacy of business owner or large amounts of money,” says Jean. “My sacrifice and hard work is not just about the house in which I live but the homes that my success will build for those who will carry my last name.”
This legacy is already being cemented as Jean works to recruit, train and
certify dozens of Black Male Teachers who walk across the stage with degrees and jobs. “Being able to not only help shape the face of America’s classrooms but also the leaders in the communities they will undoubtedly lead and the families they will be able to support because of their profession is a reward no accolade I’ve received to date can compare to,” Jean tells BE Modern Man.Through a genuine spirit, and the ability to recreate himself as an entrepreneur Jean has become a leader within his industry. “My ability, as an entrepreneur to recreate myself, expanding my skill sets, ability and vision has allowed me to break through the saturated space of “up and comers” and consistently appeal to different audiences, serving various needs,” says Jean.
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Coming to grips that he is responsible for his own success, Jean had to suffer through one of the most challenging moments of his life. Lack of preparation and maturity as a business person left Jean in a dark space. “I lost everything including my car, townhouse and every penny I saved,” Jean tells BE Modern
Man. “I was in a dark place of depression and disappoint me that forced me to look at myself to see why I wasn’t successful.” Looking back on the outlooks and perspectives he had on life, Jean had a conversation with himself that changed the course of his life. “I began the transformation from employee to employer, from a man with many vices to a man with a vision.”Raised by a mother who refused to allow her children to be average, Jean did not let his environment control his outcome. “My story is simply a byproduct of what my mother instilled in me,” says Jean. “I am destined for greatness. No cool quotes, no flowery memes or seminars. A simple belief and the mantra that I can be great since I could understand what those words meant.”
The collection of BE Modern Mans stories serve as a reminder that men of color are impacting the world in all sectors. “To be a part
of this type of initiative is a positive turn in reclaiming our power status as men of color, particular black men.,” says Jean. “To me being a BE Modern Man is an ode to a time before integration when the majority of men in our community were diligent in their efforts and lived with purpose. Whether they were a banker, teacher, business owner, father or painter they took pride in their work and were walking billboards for manhood. They were perfect but they were men, real men. They are who this collection of stories is a testament to. Because of them, we are.”The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Howard R. Jean for empowering minority men and women with the tools necessary to make a difference in the lives of students across the country. Howard is committed through the BMEinstitute.org (Black Male Entrepreneur Institute) to creating unconventional leaders with non-traditional approaches, and that is why he is a BE Modern Man.
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow @blackenterprise and join the BE Modern Man conversation using #BEModernMan.