We recently connected with Jamaal Jackson and have shared our conversation below.

Jamaal, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?

I have lots of stories from when I served as a student manager, player, and assistant coach, but most need to stay in the family. One that sticks out though is when I was a manager in December 2000, our last game before winter break was at Kentucky Wesleyan College , who I want to say went on to win the national championship that year, so everyone was on a high in preparing for the game. Before we left on each road trip, I, as the loan team manager, I packed our uniform and equipment bags myself. I guess that I didn’t have a good enough system for double and triple checking because upon unpacking the uniform bag in the locker room before the game, I had forgotten someone’s jersey. Our head coach Winston Bennett came from under Rick Pitino, and if anyone knows either one of them, they’d understand what I thought was about to happen. But, instead of murdering me, the coaches had mercy and we just found a solution and moved on, although they did let me know to not let it happen again. I think Coach knew how badly I felt already because they knew how serious I was about doing my job well, so there was no point in jumping on me. This definitely informed my leadership style because when someone screws up, they usually know they screwed up, so it’s better to find a solution and using those opportunities as teachable moments than to dwell on the mistake and make it worse than it already is. That’s what proper discipline is; teaching.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Dr. Jamaal R. Jackson, a higher education and athletics leader, entrepreneur, and problem solver with more than 20 years of experience—primarily within Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I began my career as a student-athlete on the track and cross country team, continuing on to the basketball team where I began as a manager, then a player, student assistant coach to assistant coach to head coach. Those experiences continues to shape how I approach my work: identifying challenges early, building practical solutions, and creating pathways for long-term success.
Throughout my career as a coach and senior administrator, I’ve worked in under-resourced environments where innovation and adaptability weren’t optional—they were necessary. I’ve led fundraising and partnership efforts, secured competitive grant funding, and helped strengthen programs by aligning athletics, academics, and community engagement. Those experiences naturally pushed me beyond traditional roles and into entrepreneurship.
Today, I own and operate three businesses focused on solving problems in athletics, education, and community development. My work includes developing nationally funded training platforms, providing strategic consulting in leadership and fundraising, and designing programs that help institutions better support students and staff.
What sets me apart is my ability to connect vision with execution. I understand systems from the inside—coaching, administration, fundraising, and innovation—and I use that perspective to build solutions that are practical, scalable, and sustainable. What I’m most proud of is impact: helping people thrive, strengthening institutions, and turning ideas into results that last.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale starts with clarity. From day one, I believe in communicating expectations and standards plainly—what success looks like, how we operate, and what people can expect from me as a leader. When expectations are clear, trust grows, and people can focus on doing their jobs instead of guessing what’s required.

I also believe in setting goals that are ambitious but realistic. Teams perform best when they’re challenged to stretch while still believing success is attainable. Lofty goals create purpose, but they have to be paired with a clear plan and consistent feedback so people understand how their daily work connects to the bigger picture.

Another key is addressing issues head-on. Conflict doesn’t disappear when it’s ignored—it grows. I make it a point to confront problems early, have honest conversations, and resolve issues before they fester and impact culture or performance. Respectful, direct communication is essential.

Finally, fairness and transparency matter. People don’t expect perfection, but they do expect honesty and consistency. When leaders are transparent in decision-making and fair in how standards are applied, morale stays high because people feel valued, respected, and invested in the team’s success.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One resource that has had a lasting impact on my management and entrepreneurial thinking is Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen. The book explores how organizations don’t just survive—but actually thrive—amid uncertainty, adversity, and constant change. That message resonated deeply with me, especially given my experience leading teams and building organizations in environments where resources are limited and conditions are rarely ideal.

I was given the book by Bill Dunphy in 2018, and it’s one I still carry with me to this day. Its emphasis on disciplined leadership, consistency, and making purposeful decisions—even when circumstances are unpredictable—has shaped how I approach leadership and entrepreneurship. The idea that success is often about preparation, focus, and steady execution rather than reacting emotionally to chaos is something I return to often in my work.

Great by Choice reinforced a philosophy I live by: adversity doesn’t have to derail progress if you’re intentional, disciplined, and committed to doing the right things consistently.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ksu_cojac
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamaal-jackson-edd-mpa-mat-55217316/
• Twitter: @ksu_cojac

Image Credits

Hannah Brown, Amanda Gerton, Kellynn Thompson