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.

Feeling the disconnect between officers and members in student organizations? Energize your student groups by helping them strengthen the relationship between their officers and general members. Leveraging leadership theory plus follower and team development models, students will learn:

- How the leader-follower relationship works. Delve into the dynamics of this critical relationship, exploring followership and how it is impacted by leadership.

- The “Five Follower Types” found in every organization. Discover the different personalities in your group, from the enthusiastic go-getters to the quiet contributors and how each type responds to leadership.

- How to navigate group dynamics. Using Eddie’s “Gumbo Theory” framework, explore how the follower types mix and navigate differences while also learning the process of forming and maintaining a team.

Book the customized “Divine 9” version for your NPHC Greeks!

Get your students ready to snag valuable internships and early career opportunities by gaining insider knowledge from a former talent acquisition professional who worked with over 300 hiring managers in several industries to recruit from the entry to executive levels. What will students learn?

- What employers want. Students gain an advantage by decoding the skills and qualities that hiring managers are looking for from internship and job candidates before they finish school.

- The anatomy of a winning resume. Having reviewed up to 200 resumes per week as a recruiter, Eddie shows students the elements that stand out to recruiters and hiring managers while dispelling common resume myths.

- How to build an attractive personal brand NOW. Yes, students have personal brands! Students learn how to form and communicate their unique value propositions based on who they are, their skills, and talents.

Time is built in for an expert Q&A!

Motivate your students with a burning desire to inspire by showing them how to focus on their personal growth and development in order to effectively lead others. Based in leadership research and theory, this presentation will help students learn:

- The importance and impact of self-awareness. Learn why the bedrock of personal leadership is knowing oneself–understanding our strengths, weaknesses, values and biases to act authentically and meaningfully.

- Challenges that every leader must conquer. Eddie reveals the top five obstacles that leaders must overcome in order to lead people effectively.

- How to get the most out of others. Learn what it means to engage in high-quality exchanges and how followership works to gain buy-in for a high-functioning student organization.

This program is for the dreamers. Help your students be the change that they want to see through intentional giving, service and volunteering as a way to build leadership skills through philanthropy. This unique leadership presentation will help students learn:

- How to begin their philanthropic journeys. We will demystify philanthropy as something only for “rich people” by defining philanthropy, helping students focus on the cause they care most about, and where to start making a difference.

- How philanthropy builds leadership skills. This is where teamwork actually makes the dream work! Students learn how to start moving the needle through communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation.

- Models and strategies for effective giving and service. Students learn how to identify resources, sustainable solutions, and how to analyze the results of their efforts.