Be bold. Stay curious. Lead with integrity. And never underestimate the power of perseverance.

A Voice for the Next Generation

Throughout her career, Dr. Jacobs-Young has remained committed to expanding opportunity—particularly in STEM, public service, and leadership pathways for underrepresented communities.

She believes that leadership is not reserved for the few.

It is cultivated through experience, mentorship, courage, and an unwavering commitment to purpose.

Today, she speaks to organizations, universities, and leadership forums around the world, sharing lessons drawn from decades of navigating complexity at the highest levels of public service.

Her message is clear:

Be bold.
Stay curious.
Lead with integrity.
And never underestimate the power of perseverance.

My Personal Journey

Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young

A legacy defined by purpose, perseverance, and the boundless possibility of scientific innovation.

A Journey Shaped by Purpose, Perseverance, and Possibility

Long before she would lead a $4 billion national research enterprise or represent the United States in global scientific forums, Chavonda Jacobs-Young was simply a young woman with big dreams and a mother who believed deeply in the power of education.

Raised by a single parent who worked tirelessly to break the cycle of poverty and become a first-generation college graduate, Chavonda grew up understanding that opportunity is precious—and that hard work is nonnegotiable. College was not a question. It was an expectation.

When she arrived at North Carolina State University in 1985—far from home and stepping into unfamiliar territory—she carried with her equal parts determination and uncertainty. She was a Division I athlete, majoring in Paper Science and Engineering, navigating a world where excellence required more than talent. For the first time, she had to learn not just how to succeed—but how to study, how to persist, and how to compete at a higher level.

Those early lessons would shape her life.

In athletics, she was told that what had worked in the past would no longer be enough. To compete at the highest levels, she had to change her technique entirely. It was uncomfortable. It felt risky. But she embraced it. That willingness to adapt—to recognize that “what got you here won’t get you there”—became a defining principle of her leadership philosophy.

She went on to become a three-time ACC high jump champion and later the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in her field.

But her story did not stop there.

Rising to National Leadership

Over the next two decades, Dr. Jacobs-Young built a career at the intersection of science, policy, and public service. She rose through the ranks of the United States Department of Agriculture, eventually serving as Under Secretary and Chief Scientist.

In that role, she directed a $4 billion research, education, and economics enterprise spanning five national science agencies and more than 8,000 employees. Her leadership helped shape national and global efforts addressing food security, climate resilience, agricultural innovation, and nutrition security.

She represented the United States at international scientific forums, mobilized billions of dollars in research partnerships, and helped advance initiatives at the highest levels of government.

Her leadership has been recognized with two Presidential Rank Awards—among the highest honors for career federal executives—and she is a Fellow of both the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Yet for Dr. Jacobs-Young, leadership has never been about titles.

It has always been about impact.

Leadership Rooted in Experience

Dr. Jacobs-Young’s journey—from first-generation college pathway to national science leader—shapes the way she speaks about leadership today.

She understands what it means to feel uncertain and still move forward.

She understands the power of mentors who see potential before you see it in yourself.

She understands that resilience is built not in comfort, but in challenge.

And she understands that leadership is not a solo endeavor. The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.

Her talks blend personal narrative with executive insight, offering audiences both inspiration and practical frameworks for leading through complexity.