Rising ICON #41: Dr. Chris Brooks
What name do you prefer to be called?
Dr. Chris Brooks.
What are your pronouns?
He/him/his
Where did you grow up?
South Minneapolis, MN
What city are you currently based in?
Twin Cities Metro Area
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
I’m an economic Theologian.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
That I love Africa.
Who do you help?
I help people of color.
What are you building now?
I just released my first book, Omówálé: One Man’s Justice Journey, and I am building the writing & public speaking part of my professional life with OBSV Group.
What were you building ten years ago today?
I was rebuilding my broken career. It was a very tough season of life.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I will be working tirelessly on building a global Black economy, working closely with Nigeria.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
I wish people really, really understood that the current global economy was architected to benefit a small, select group of nations and people. It was not built for the human flourishing of all people.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Over the next 25 years, Africa will grow by 800 million people, eclipsing all other continents and regions of the world. Those 800 million unborn people matter to God, and they matter to me.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
My mentor is Dr. Emmett Carson. He keeps me focused on ensuring that the work that I do reaches those farthest from the centers of institutional power.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
I am really, really proud of my new book.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
I can’t wait to appear in The Economist.
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
I would love to be interviewed by Ali Velshi (again).
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
“The Future is Black.”
What award would mean the most to win?
Husband of the Year or Father of the Year.
What makes zero sense to you?
The ongoing pillaging of African resources by non-African nations.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
“best practices”
What game are you changing?
The global economic game. It is time for something new and disruptive to emerge.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Identity discovery: learning more about our complex racial, ethnic, and national identities.
Where can we follow you online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DrChrisBrooks/
Website: https://drchrisbrooks.com
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Omowale-One-Mans-Justice-Journey/dp/1634897072
Speaking: https://www.theobsvgroup.com/speakers/dr-christopher-brooks
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Humility.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Chris, for sharing your story!
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“[I’m changing] the global economic game. It is time for something new and disruptive to emerge.”
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