Jim Clifton is chairman and CEO of one of the most important and influential companies in the world today — Gallup. Jim Clifton is a gifted leader, a brilliant thought leader, and author of one of the best books I have read in 20 years, THE COMING JOBS WAR. But more so for me, Jim Clifton is my dear friend. He is also a mentor for life. Quiet literally, Jim is one of the smartest people I have ever met; ever.
Jim has a heart for people, and wants only the best for the future of America. I once asked Jim Clifton, who also serves as chairman of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, why he liked Black people so much (he was also awarded two honorary doctorate degrees from HBCU's). Jim's response was just classic. It wasn't that he particularly 'loved' Black people, or not, by the way. To quote Jim Clifton, in his visionary own unique language, "John, I just want America to win."
As I have told many after hearing this, I just fell in love with Jim's spirit and energy, and intent, that very moment.
We are honored to partner with Jim Clifton and the Gallup Organization as lead partners in our youth division, and we now call it the Gallup-HOPE Index. The Gallup-HOPE Index powers and measures our master interventio strategy, HOPE Business In A Box Academies.
At the Global Summit, Jim Clifton will be announced as our new co-chairman for America 2020, which is the national campaign which will drive success for Project 5117, our plan to change everything during our lifetime by year 2020 in America. Jim will also make a special announcement at the Global Summit, focused both around the new national Gallup-HOPE Index youth economic energy survey results, as well as a special new commitment announcement, which will transform our work on the ground, in school districts, across America.
If America had 100 leaders like Jim Clifton, we simply would not have many problems we could not solve.
Read more about Jim Clifton, and the Global Summit, below.