Students throughout the U.S. have referred to Eddie Francis as very interactive, insightful, inspiring, relatable, and amazing. Known for his energy and humor, Eddie spreads the gospel of ethical leadership with keynotes, workshops and talks about:
• The leader-follower relationship and followership,
• Personal leadership,
• Personal branding and career preparation,
• Leadership through philanthropy, and
• National Pan-Hellenic Council members’ leadership development.
He also talks about these topics on his Greek life podcast “Ethocast.”
Eddie has spoken for such institutions and organizations as the Northeast Greek Leadership Association, McNeese State University, the Big XII Conference on Black Student Government, the University of North Alabama, the American Marketing Association, Southeastern Louisiana University, Wiley University, and Texas A&M University-Commerce. He has written for Watch the Yard, AFLV Connections, HBCU Lifestyle and The Huffington Post; and he has commented about Greek life for Al Jazeera America. Eddie also contributed to the 2024 Greek University book “From Letters to Leaders: Perseverance and How to Be a Great Fraternity or Sorority Alumnus.”
A passionate NPHC speaker, Eddie began his leadership journey as president of his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity chapter at Loyola University New Orleans where he was also vice president of the Interfraternity Council. Because of his leadership, Eddie earned the Spirit of Loyola Award for Racial Understanding. He even choreographed a step routine that won second place at the ever popular Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands and Greek Show! Eddie later served as an alumni chapter president and campus chapter advisor.
Professionally, Eddie continued leading as the interim director of promotions at Clear Channel Radio New Orleans at 24 years old. He later became an area manager for Monster.com before leading marketing and communications at Southern University at New Orleans, Paul Quinn College, and Dillard University. In a pivot to talent acquisition, Eddie recruited for such brands as Quest Diagnostics, Staples, Sprouts Farmers Market, Caliber Collision, and Lowe’s.
Among Eddie’s honors are New Orleans Magazine’s “30 People to Watch,” the Press Club of New Orleans’ Best Radio Entertainment Feature, and two nominations for the AMA Foundation’s Higher Education Marketer of the Year.
The New Orleans native earned his master’s degree in strategic leadership from Tennessee State University, and he is a member of the American Marketing Association. Eddie is the proud husband of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. member, Dr. Halima Leak Francis, and the proud father of Stevie.