About Jamaal Thompson | From Two-Sport Athlete to PhD

TODAY, JAMAAL IS A

DOCTOR, AUTHOR,

LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT,

AND NATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

At 25, he’s earned his Ph.D., launched a leadership company, and delivers game-changing messages to athletes and professionals across the country.

It didn’t start with stages. Or titles. Or letters behind his name.

It started as a walk-on.

A backup. A kid who wasn’t supposed to make it past the depth chart, let alone into a doctoral program.

He walked on at a Division I program.

Did everything right. Still got cut.

Transferred. New school. Same dream.

No scholarship. No guarantee. Just work.

Started at the bottom.

Depth chart said don’t bother.

But he stayed. Showed up. Moved up.

Second string. Then scholarship. Then starter.

Later, walked on to the basketball team too.

Started his Ph.D. at 21.

Earned it by 25.

The path wasn’t perfect. But it was proof.

You don’t have to be chosen to become something.

Today, he’s a doctor, keynote speaker, and trusted voice in leadership spaces.

He’s helped athletes build confidence, helped departments create impact, and helped professionals rethink how they lead.

But the mission is the same as it’s always been:

Show up.
Stay consistent.
Lead from the bottom up.

The bottom didn’t break him. It built him.

This journey started at the bottom. It doesn’t end here. Neither does yours.

His story isn’t just his own. It’s proof of what’s possible when you lead from the bottom up.

The Official Bio

Dr. Jamaal Thompson is a leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and former Division I two-sport athlete. He’s helped student-athletes, professionals, and entire departments rethink how they lead. By 25, he earned his doctorate, launched a leadership firm, and became a sought-after voice for change in athletic and professional spaces.

The Journey

Dr. Jamaal Thompson is a leadership consultant, speaker, and founder of ETB Strategies. A former Division I two-sport athlete, Thompson competed in both football and basketball while pursuing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Tennessee Tech.

By 25, Thompson earned his doctorate in Program Planning and Evaluation and launched a leadership firm dedicated to helping student-athletes, professionals, and departments lead with clarity and impact. He has worked with athletic departments, student affairs teams, and corporate groups to build leadership pipelines and improve institutional culture.

Before launching ETB, Thompson served as Executive Leadership Coach within an NCAA athletic department, where he led fundraising strategy, player development, and DEI training. He also founded the Center of Diversity Education at Tennessee Tech University, guiding strategic outreach and mentorship efforts for five years.

He holds a B.S. in Communications (2021), a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction (2022), and a Ph.D. in Exceptional Learning (2025). A product of humble beginnings, Thompson has built his brand around the mantra “Embrace the Bottom”, a leadership philosophy rooted in resilience, grit, and legacy. His work draws from lived experience, academic rigor, and an unwavering belief in what’s possible — regardless of where you start.

From Scholar to Strategist

Dr. Jamaal Thompson’s work spans locker rooms, boardrooms, and classrooms alike. He earned his doctorate by 25, competed as a Division I dual-sport athlete, and built a leadership brand rooted in clarity, resilience, and identity.

As a speaker, author, and founder of ETB Strategies, Thompson has partnered with athletic departments, universities, and professionals to help them lead with purpose — not just position.

He’s been trusted to deliver keynotes, train leadership teams, and consult across DEI, strategy, and student development. His message is clear: where you start doesn’t limit how far you lead.

Based in Tennessee. Available for keynotes, strategy sessions, and media appearances.