For over 20 years, hundreds of thousands of people, both national and international audiences of all sizes, have experienced the passion, creativity, storytelling, unshakeable positivity and mind-shifting power of Dr. James Smith, Jr. CSP. Dr. James is a lightning rod in the professional and personal development spaces, creating performance breakthroughs for organizations, teams and individuals looking to improve in the areas of authenticity, diversity and inclusion, personal power, leadership, presentation and/or facilitation skills.

After 14 years in corporate America, and four years working with several training and development and diversity and inclusion consulting firms, Dr. James formed his own company (now called Dr. James Smith, Jr.) to help others remove self-created and/or organizational barriers to ​jump into their BIGNESS​. He says that he “disrupts ordinary”. His mother (Nanci Smith), 12th-grade, English, high school teacher (Mrs. Brodie), a former manager at the Vanguard Group (Kathy Cook) and little league baseball coach (Sam Gallman) fueled his motivational spirit and he continues to fuel others. A personal-power expert, educator, speaker and coach, Dr. James has started a “no excuses personal accountability” revolution. He does this through virtual and in-house workshops, public BOOT CAMPs, best-selling books, blogs, coaching, and motivational keynotes. Those who have been JIMPACTed say that he has the rare ability to walk the line between direct and encouraging. His teaching and coaching methods have worked regardless of the industry or the country.

Dr. James has​ taken his message to over 25 countries and has taught presentation skills, leadership and diversity and inclusion for the Rutgers University Executive and International Executive MBA Programs since 2008. In addition, he serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Temple University Fox School of Business and for Rushford Business School in Genève, Switzerland. He has worked with and coached speakers, trainers, television and radio personalities in how to make compelling, engaging and “game-changing” presentations. He has achieved the National Speakers Association Certified Speaking Professional designation – a designation that only about 17 percent of NSA members worldwide have earned. His clients include Biogen, Sabic (Saudi Arabia), AstraZeneca, Accenture, Aflac, Genentech, Jockey, Comcast, KenCrest, The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Tweezerman, Bristol Myers Squibb, IHI Energy, The American Club (Singapore), Celgene, Western Union, Aimco, Genworth Financial, Metlife and Lockheed Martin.

Dr. James has authored three books with ​The No Excuse Guide to Success: No Matter What Your Boss or Life Throws at You book earning an NAACP Image Award nomination. His most recent book (a co-authored book project), A Collective Breath: Stories of Being Black in America and Visions of Change, was recently released. His James’ Journal blog reaches audiences all over the world. When he’s not JIMPACTing, Dr. James helps to raise awareness and support for people on the Autism Spectrum.