Clifton Taulbert: Session 1

Mr. Clifton Taulbert was born in 1945 in Glen Allan, Mississippi, during the era of legal segregation. Clifton graduated as valedictorian of his high school class, then went on to serve his country in the 89th Presidential Wing of the United States Air Force, and then earned his degree and graduate degree in banking…

From humble beginnings in the Mississippi Delta, Mr. Clifton Taulbert is the author of fourteen books. His first, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, became a national bestseller, a major motion picture — and a requested gift for Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison.

The Last Train North was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. His landmark book Eight Habits of the Heart became foundational to his work on leveraging community as a workplace asset.

But this isn't just a literary story — it's a business story. Today Clifton is President and CEO of The Freemount Corporation, a human capital development company serving Fortune 500 clients, federal agencies, and K-12 leadership — AND the CEO of Roots Java Coffee, an African-American owned national coffee brand importing directly from Africa.

Time Magazine recognized him as one of America's top emerging entrepreneurs. He's lectured at Harvard, spoken at the Air Force Academy and the Library of Congress as the special guest of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and was chosen by CNN at the turn of the millennium to be one of the voices of community.

From the cotton fields to the boardroom. From segregation to the Supreme Court. This is what possible looks like.