In December, 2025, I was honored to be recognized amongst the 2025 U.S. News & World Report 25 Best Leaders, and to now contribute to their Best Leaders Podcast Series as one of their first guests.

As America celebrates 250 years, one of the things that defines this great but imperfect nation is the American dream. Today, that dream is still a very real thing, and you can find countless examples of people living theirs – including today’s guest. In this episode of the Best Leaders Podcast from U.S. News & World Report, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of U.S. News, and Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, sit down with John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Ventures.

Bryant started his first business at age 10 with a small bit of cash from his mother. He recounts how he grew up in one of the toughest ZIP codes in Los Angeles and endured homelessness earlier in life before going on to direct more than $5 billion in economic activity to underserved communities. He has advised presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs and many others following their own American dreams. His new book, “Capitalism for All,” lays out his vision for inclusive economics and future-proofing America.

Learn more: U.S. News Best Leaders: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-leaders

John Hope Bryant’s U.S. News Best Leaders profile: https://www.usnews.com/news/leaders/a…

John Hope Bryant’s book, “Capitalism For All: Inclusive Economics and the Future-Proofing of America”: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/capi…

More from U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/

John Hope Bryant — founder of Bryant Group Ventures, Operation HOPE, Inc, publisher of the Bryant Journal and author of his 7th book Capitalism for All: Inclusive Economics and the Future Proofing of America, now a bestseller. Bryant was recently named a member of the Forbes 250.