ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. Randal Pinkett has established himself as an entrepreneur, speaker, author, and community servant. He is the chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion-dollar consulting firm based in Newark, NJ, that specializes in information technology, organizational development, and public policy.
A sought-after speaker for corporate, government, and community groups, he has appeared on CNN, Fox, The Today Show, and Nightline. In 2009, he was named to NJ Governor Jon Corzine’s official shortlist as a potential running mate for Lt. Governor. He is the author of Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur’s Guide to Launching a Multimillion-Dollar Business and No-Money Down CEO: How to Start Your Dream Business with Little or No Cash.
Dr. Pinkett is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the National Society of Black Engineers, the National Black MBA Association, the Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and Black Data Processing Associates, and has served on the board of directors for the NJ Economic Development Authority, the NJ Public Policy Research Institute, the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network, and the National Visionary Leadership Project. He is also a national spokesperson for Autism Speaks, NJ Reads, Junior Achievement of NY, and the Minority Information Technology Consortium.
Dr. Pinkett holds five degrees, including a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University (where he competed on the track and field team as a high jumper and long jumper); an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Oxford in England; and M.S. in Electrical Engineering, MBA, and Ph.D. degrees from MIT. He also received an honorary doctorate from NJIT. Most notably, he was the first and only African American at Rutgers to receive a Rhodes Scholarship and was the winner of NBC’s hit reality television show, The Apprentice.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Pinkett attends First Baptist Church. He is happily married to his wife, Zahara, and they are both proud parents of their daughter, Amira. Dr. Pinkett firmly believes that “for those to whom much is given, much is expected,” so throughout his endeavors, he places great emphasis on his desire to give back to the community.
For more information visit: www.randalpinkett.com and www.redefinethegame.com
Jeffrey A. Robinson, Ph.D., is an award-winning business school professor, international speaker, and entrepreneur. Since 2008 he has been a leading faculty member at Rutgers Business School, where he is an assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship and the founding Assistant Director of The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development. The Center is a unique interdisciplinary venue for innovative thinking and research on entrepreneurial activity and economic development in urban environments.
Dr. Robinson’s research describes how business practices and entrepreneurship can be used to impact societal issues. He is particularly concerned about community and economic development issues for urban metropolitan areas in the United States and abroad. He is the author of books and articles on such topics as social entrepreneurship, African-American women in entrepreneurship, and Black unemployment. In 2007, he received the Aspen Institute’s Social Impact Faculty Pioneer Award for his research, service, and teaching activities at the intersection of business and society.
Dr. Robinson is a sought-after speaker, author, and media commentator, appearing on Dateline NBC and NBC Nightly News, PBS, NJN News, NJBIZ, and in The Star-Ledger and The New York Times. He has been the keynote speaker at international events and conferences in China, Nigeria, and England and has been invited to present his work on six continents.
Dr. Robinson is co-founder and member of the Advisory Board of BCT Partners, based in Newark, NJ, a firm that provides management, technology, and policy consulting to non-profits, foundations, corporations, and various government entities as they plan and implement change strategies and improve organizational effectiveness. In 2008, Dr. Robinson and his wife Valerie Mason-Robinson opened Eden Organix, a day spa and retailer of organic skin and beauty products, in Highland Park, NJ, which was recognized by New Jersey Magazine as “one of the 10 best spas in the New Jersey.”
Dr. Robinson has completed five academic degrees in the areas of engineering, urban studies, and management, including a Ph.D. in Management and Organizations from Columbia Business School. He lives in Piscataway, NJ, with his wife and their three children.