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GLOBAL I AM CONVERSATIONS (ARCHIVE SERIES)
Clifton L. Taulbert
From the Mississippi Delta to Black Wall Street: Building Communities That Endure
Long before "purpose-driven leadership" became fashionable, Clifton L. Taulbert was living it.
Born in the Mississippi Delta during the era of segregation, Taulbert transformed the lessons of a small rural community into a global philosophy of leadership, entrepreneurship, and human dignity. His Pulitzer Prize-nominated memoir, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, introduced millions to a world where character, resilience, and community were the greatest forms of wealth.
In this timeless Global I AM Conversation, Taulbert reflects on the values that built not only families, but businesses, neighborhoods, and nations. Drawing from his celebrated work Eight Habits of the Heart, he reminds us that trust, generosity, accountability, and service remain the true currencies of lasting success.
Today, as President and CEO of Freemount Corporation and Roots Java Coffee, Taulbert continues to demonstrate that commerce and conscience can walk together—connecting African coffee growers to global markets while helping organizations cultivate stronger leaders and stronger communities.
His journey—from the Mississippi Delta to Tulsa's historic Black Wall Street—offers an enduring blueprint for entrepreneurs, executives, educators, and anyone seeking to build a life of significance rather than mere success.
"Being a good person is the best gift you can give your children... Being principled really speaks to your better self."
— Clifton L. Taulbert
This archival conversation is more than an interview—it is a masterclass on resilience, values, and the quiet power of principled leadership.
The Culture. Our Capital.
The Culture. Our Capital.
Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.
Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados.
Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ.
"The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."
Global I AM Conversations
The Culture. Our Capital.
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