Jo-Ann Rolle

Jo-Ann Rolle has amassed 35 years of experience as a consultant, thought leader and academic. Past President of the National HBCU Business Dean’s Roundtable, Jo-Ann facilitates the exchange of information and ideas so that the value of management education at HBCUs is maximised to the highest level through enhanced business programs and incentives. Jo-Ann is also trusted mentor to several entrepreneurs and organisations who require assistance in upskilling and retooling the diverse talent pools we see today. Now Jo-Ann is available to hire as a keynote speaker for a wide range of events.

Jo-Ann possesses a PhD in Economics from Howard University and her career started out as a Research Assistant at The World Bank. Since then, she has held prominent roles such as Economist & Operations Research Analyst at the US Federal Government and Program Manager for IBM before transitioning to a career in academia. After completing her stint as an IBM Visiting Professor, Jo-Ann served as an Administrative Fellow at Harvard University. She has also been the Department Chair of Entrepreneurship, Economics & Information Technology at Hampton University and Associate Dean of Administration at UMGC, where she developed the first every online course – “Women as Entrepreneurs”.

Founder & CEO of JoAnn Rolle Consulting, JoAnn brings expertise from her illustrious career to consult organisations of a myriad of complex business problems. Her niche lies in identifying market needs, improving efficiency for resources and capital and using innovation to navigate change. With a keen interest in instilling diversity & inclusion to the education, finance and technology fields, Jo-Ann also launched The Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Series on her blog where she addresses the need for diverse workforces. Her book “Tech Enabled Futures: Elevating Education in Underserved Areas” addresses the alienation of certain sects of society from technological advancements and why this can prove detrimental to coming generations. Jo-Ann is working towards correcting this by providing a roadmap that can bridge this gap.

Recently retired from her role as Dean of the School of Business at Medger Evers College, JoAnn currently serves as a Future of Work Ambassador at Experfy – a powerful learning platform for upskilling based on industry use-cases. Jo-Ann is best known for mentoring multi-discipline, multi-cultural and divergent thinking leaders and entrepreneurs. Passionate about fostering economic and social transformation through education, Jo-Ann is also available to speak at events sharing her expertise on subjects related to the future of work, the need for diversity & inclusion, and women’s empowerment through her motivational speeches. If you are looking for an experienced keynote speaker with a storied career, look no further than Jo-Ann Rolle!