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Up From Nothing
Facing a challenging economy, too many Americans despair of improving their lives. But John Hope Bryant insists that America is still the Land of Opportunity. Up from Nothing revives the forgotten story of the American Dream. It’s about our beginnings as a nation of go-getters who believed they were winners before they won.
Using the inspiring story of his own rise from humble beginnings, and that of his parents and grandparents, Bryant shows how individually we can change our mindset from survivor to thriver to winner and move beyond just getting by or being financially independent to becoming wildly successful. Collectively, we need to become a nation of winners once again.
By ensuring that every stakeholder in America has access to the Five Pillars of Success–massive education, financial literacy, strong family structure, self-esteem, and supportive role models–Bryant shows how we can fulfill the promise of America’s greatness. But to do so, we must turn away from distractions–such as political in-fighting or racial and class divisions–and focus on what we can control. This is not a book of tips on how to get a better job or make more money. It’s about adopting a new way of thinking that will do all that for us and more. Up from Nothing is the new (old) business plan to keep us winning as a country.
How the Poor Can Save Capitalism
John Bryant radically redefines the meaning of poverty and wealth and exposes why attempts to aid the poor so far have fallen short and offers a way forward.
Financial Dignity
Though many of us are living without it, everyone is entitled to financial literacy, access to capital and equity of opportunity to create a secure future and realize their aspirations.
Leadership and Relationship Building
In leadership and relationship management, anger is not a strategy. You can lead effectively without creating a fear-based environment by being mindful of the importance of managing relationships so that even your adversaries are left with their dignity.
Championing AI Literacy & The Future of Work
Understanding that AI will define the future economy, but that Black and Brown communities risk being left behind, Bryant has pioneered national efforts to bridge the AI opportunity gap. In December 2024, he announced the AI Literacy Pipeline to Prosperity Project (AILP³) at the HOPE Global Forum tied to the AI Ethics Council, which he co-founded with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
AILP³ is designed to equip underserved communities with AI literacy, workforce training, and digital skills, ensuring that financial and technological literacy go hand in hand. Bryant believes that closing the AI knowledge gap is the new civil rights movement—and that those who master AI will control the jobs, businesses, and economies of the future.
Driving Inclusive Economic Growth
In 2024, Bryant wrote The Business Plan for America, a bold blueprint for inclusive economic growth, and launched the American Aspiration Tour to promote financial literacy and opportunity nationwide. He also launched the Corporate Inclusion Initiative, working to place qualified minority candidates on corporate boards and ensure that corporate America reflects the nation’s diversity at the highest levels.
Bryant’s impact has been recognized with numerous awards, including Oprah Winfrey’s “Use Your Life” Award, American Banker’s “Innovator of the Year,” and inclusion in TIME’s 50 Leaders for the Future. He is a LinkedIn Influencer with over 3 million social media followers and has amassed over 300 million views across digital platforms through his “Straight Talk with John Hope Bryant” series.
Born February 6, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, Bryant now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Chaitra Dalton Bryant. His life’s mission? To help America live up to its promise—one financially and technologically empowered person at a time.
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John Hope Bryant is a visionary entrepreneur, thought leader, and global authority on financial literacy, economic empowerment, and inclusive capitalism. Named to the prestigious Forbes BLK50 List in December 2024 and TIME Magazine’s inaugural The Closers List, recognizing 18 global leaders working to close the racial wealth gap, Bryant has dedicated his career to transforming economic systems for underserved communities and ensuring inclusive growth in the AI-driven future.
He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, Inc., the nation’s largest on-the-ground financial literacy and economic empowerment non-profit. Under his leadership, Operation HOPE has directed over $4.2 billion in capital into marginalized communities, establishing hundreds of financial empowerment centers nationwide. He is also the founder of John Hope Bryant Holdings, Bryant Group Ventures, and Bryant Group Advisors, and previously led The Promise Homes Company, which he successfully recapitalized in 2021 with a $200 million credit facility—one of the largest Black-owned capital raises in over a decade.
A best-selling author, Bryant is one of the only Black thought leaders in the world today writing on economics and business leadership, with six books to his name, including the national best-seller, Financial Literacy for All (2024). He is a CNBC Contributor, host of the iHeart Radio podcast “Money & Wealth with John Hope Bryant”, and a member of both the CNBC Global Financial Wellness Advisory Board and the CNBC CEO Council.
Referred to as the “Conscience of Capitalism” by Fortune 500 CEOs, Bryant’s advocacy helped make financial literacy official U.S. federal policy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He also successfully led efforts to rename the U.S. Treasury Annex as the Freedman’s Bank Building, recognizing the unfinished economic work of Abraham Lincoln for freed slaves. His influence in public policy and corporate America is undeniable—advising three U.S. presidents and working alongside Fortune 500 CEOs to embed financial literacy into American culture.
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