Dr. Randal Pinkett is a leading authority in strategic investments, visionary leadership, and adaptive business practices. Though he first gained national recognition as the winner of the fourth season of the popular TV show “The Apprentice,” his career trajectory has been even more impressive since then. Dr. Pinkett has established himself as the CEO and President of BCT Partners, a prominent management, technology, and policy consulting firm headquartered in New Jersey. Under his leadership, BCT Partners has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise known for its innovative solutions and impactful strategies.
They say the first hundred days in office are always the most critical and challenging part of being a CEO. Can you share your personal experience with us?
Absolutely! And I would argue that those hundred days for an entrepreneur launching a company look very different than for someone taking over a company. My first hundred days were unpredictable and challenging. We didn’t quite know where the next paycheck would come from. We were operating amid tremendous uncertainty, which is very different from someone hired to lead an established company. Both have their challenges, but they are different.
My biggest challenge was trying to make something out of nothing. As an entrepreneur, you lack the scaffolding that an established company has. There’s no HR Department, no IT Department, no Finance Department. You are everything to your business and must work hands-on in different capacities daily. The biggest challenge was convincing people to give us business when we had no track record. How do we secure new customers? How do we build a track record when we’re entirely new to the marketplace? That, to me, was the biggest challenge: making something out of nothing.
From the collection of books you’ve written and also co-authored books, which book do you consider your best work?
My first book was, “Campus CEO for Student Entrepreneurs.” My second book was, “No Money Down CEO for Broke Entrepreneurs.” My third book, “Black Face in White Places,” talked about ten game-changing strategies to achieve success and find greatness; that title is not by accident. The book is about how to achieve success, help yourself, find greatness, and help others. I would say that last book stands out the most.
You have a very modern approach to entrepreneurship. How important are social media and technology to the future of business?
I believe social media is paramount to the future of entrepreneurship and the present! These tools are essential to build an identity in the marketplace, engage with consumers or stakeholders, and establish a reputation. So much of the information we receive nowadays is through social media and mobile phones, through channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube – the list goes on. Any entrepreneur would be wise to think about their business plan, which is essential,and their social media plan, because it’s such an integral part of business nowadays.
Marketing and market research played a role in increasing the visibility of BCT Partners. Can you elaborate?
Marketing and sales represent the engine of any business. If you have no marketing and no sales, you have no business! Nothing to do! There’s no need for finance, accounting, or operations when you have no business. Marketing and sales are the engines that make the car move. Nowadays, you can never overestimate the importance of marketing because, as I say, the airwaves are very noisy. There are so many channels to communicate.
As a motivational speaker, what is the most rewarding aspect of speaking to an audience?
I speak to the audience quite frequently, and the rewards are seeing the difference you can make in someone’s life when you deliver the right message, at the right time, to the right people. In my travels, I’ve met people who heard me speak months or even years ago, and they’ll stop and say, “Hey! You spoke to my organization or school, and what you said impacted me. It caused me to go back to college, or it caused me to start my own business, or it gave me greater confidence in my abilities.”
Many people who see your advertisements refer to you as a highly successful person. How do you measure your success and your leadership?
I have a definition of success. I also have a definition of a related concept called greatness. The definitions are straightforward. Success is what you do for yourself, while greatness is what you do for somebody else. Success is power, money, fame, fortune, and influence, but greatness is by service, benevolence, compassion, and things that make a difference in other people’s lives.
My Christian faith is a guiding light for the decisions I make and the behaviours I demonstrate. Faith is one of the core values at BCT Partners. The moral underpinnings of treating people how you want them to treat you permeate what we do regarding how we do the work at BCT, and how we engage with our employees.
How has sustainability been integrated into your business practices at BCT Partners?
Sustainability is integral to our business practices at BCT Partners. We focus on creating long-term value not just for our stakeholders, but also for the environment. We’ve implemented energy-efficient systems in our operations, promote remote work to reduce our carbon footprint, and actively seek partnerships with eco-friendly vendors. Sustainability is not just a buzzword for us; it’s a commitment to ensuring that our business practices contribute positively to the planet.
Reflecting on your time on “The Apprentice”, can you share a memorable experience about teamwork?
Certainly! One of the most memorable experiences was when our team had to create a marketing campaign for a new product. It was a high-pressure situation with tight deadlines, and we had to pool our diverse skills to succeed. We faced disagreements and differing opinions, but ultimately, those challenges pushed us to innovate and collaborate more effectively. That experience taught me the value of diverse perspectives and the strength of uniting toward a common goal.
If you could choose one motto to live by and keep yourself motivated, what would it be?
My favourite motto is, “We should not see through each other, but see each other through.”
Jennifer Williams | Editor In Chief
