Janice Bryant Howroyd
About JBH
Janice Bryant Howroyd, fondly known as JBH and referred to by many as the Queen of the Workforce, is the first African American woman to found and build a multi-billion-dollar company. ActOne Group, a multi-billion-dollar (USD) workforce solutions organization, operates in over 45 countries, engaging some of the world's best technologies and systems to help organizations of all sizes provide jobs and careers for millions of workers across the globe.
Her technologies service over 50 languages, and she leads from a culture of humanity, discipline and excellence instilled by her parents. Growing up in a segregated educational system in the deep south, the values of transparency, accountability, and the dignity of every person frame her leadership style, her public and media engagements, her charity and the culture of her organization.
“Never compromise who you are personally to become who you wish to be professionally.”
JBH partners with some of the world's best-known brands in business and academics to support education and business initiatives that advance all populations. She is a sought-after speaker at universities, national and international organizations, and corporations on the subjects of economic opportunity, personal and professional development, and entrepreneurship in a tech-fueled economy. She provides subject matter expertise on how work is occurring, the impact of business on communities, business and entrepreneurship, and network and digital media.
Honors & Appointments
- 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards
- Honoree, BET HBCU Honors, 2025
- Honorary Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 2025
- Black Enterprise Woman of the Year, 2022
- First-ever BET Honors Entrepreneur of the Year
- Presidential appointee, Barack Obama's Presidential Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Appointee, Federal Communications Commission's Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE)
- Serving member, International Trade Advisory Committee 10 — Professional Services
- Former Chair, Women's Leadership Board, Harvard University
- First African American to gift $10 million to the University of Southern California
- Major benefactor, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University — her alma mater and the nation's largest HBCU
- Ecovadis Sustainable Corporation, Silver level, 2021
- Member, United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
- Author of two #1 Amazon best-selling books
The Companies
The ActOne Group is a minority/woman-owned, global enterprise providing employment, workforce management and procurement solutions through its subsidiaries AgileOne, AppleOne Employment Services, All's Well and AllSTEM Connections. Its client base includes Fortune 500 organizations, local and mid-market companies, and government agencies.
Media
Press Reel
Press
- VarietyShirley Caesar, David Banner and Janice Bryant Howroyd to Be Honored at BET's 2025 HBCU Honors Ceremony(opens in a new tab)
- BETHBCU Honors Salutes Three Trailblazers: Shirley Caesar, David Banner, and Janice Bryant Howroyd(opens in a new tab)
- North Carolina A&TDelta Sigma Theta Sorority Inducts N.C. A&T Alumna, Trailblazer Howroyd as Honorary Member(opens in a new tab)
- Harvard Business ReviewActOne Group Founder Janice Bryant Howroyd: Never Compromise Your Values in a Quest to Succeed(opens in a new tab)
- LA TimesMeet Janice Bryant Howroyd, the first African American woman to run a $1-billion business(opens in a new tab)
- Los Angeles Business JournalAct 1 Group Named One of Fastest Growing Women-Owned Businesses
- Wall Street JournalIt's Not What They Call You, It's What You Answer To
- White HousePresident Obama Appoints Janice Bryant Howroyd, ACT-1 Group CEO, to Key Administration Post(opens in a new tab)
- Forbes#39 in Forbes America's Self-Made Women List(opens in a new tab)
- NPRHow I Built This(opens in a new tab)
- Inc.How to Create Your Own Dream Job(opens in a new tab)
- CNBCHow Janice Bryant Howroyd turned a $900 loan from her mom into a billion-dollar business(opens in a new tab)
