TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective podcast

Qualified. Black. Passed Over.

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Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/qualified-black-passed-over-

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He trained the employee. The employee got the promotion. When Eric G.W. Jones asked why, management had no answer.

On A Black Executive Perspective, Tony Franklin sits down with Eric for a candid conversation about race, workplace bias, leadership, and what happens when hard work does not translate into opportunity.

From a childhood without electricity in rural Jamaica to a 35-year career and vice-presidential responsibilities overseeing a $4 billion infrastructure portfolio, Eric’s journey reflects both the possibilities and contradictions of the American dream.

Eric shares two defining promotion experiences, the differences between Black immigrant and African American perspectives, and the role workplace politics can play in deciding who advances. He also explores five qualities of effective leadership and why integrity must remain the foundation of a professional career.

Drawing from Life Lessons From Two Worlds: My Jamaican American Journey, Eric explains how he found purpose beyond his title—and became the “CEO of Me.”

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why strong performance does not always lead to fair recognition.

• How history shapes different experiences within the Black community.

• Why speaking truth to power tests an organization’s commitment to leadership.

• How to respond with professionalism while standing on your principles.

• What it means to define success beyond your career.

▶︎ In This Episode

00:00 Passed over for someone he trained

05:00 Growing up in Jamaica: resourcefulness and a mother’s example

17:00 Coming to America: expectations meet reality

23:00 Excellent reviews, unequal rewards

28:00 Black immigrants, African Americans, and shared struggles

35:00 A promotion without a raise—and demanding answers

44:00 A $4 billion portfolio and another promotion barrier

54:00 Merit, workplace politics, and speaking truth to power

1:02:00 Five qualities of effective leadership

1:06:00 Becoming the “CEO of Me” and 136 life lessons

1:12:00 Eric’s memoir and a career built on integrity

1:17:00 Tony’s Tidbit, LESS, and closing reflections

🔗 Resources

Learn more about Eric and his memoir, Life Lessons From Two Worlds: My Jamaican-American Journey:

https://www.ericgwjones.com

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This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email [email protected] .

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