Aggie steps out on faith
Thompson leaves corporate America to do her own thing
North Carolina A&T State University has had a legacy of molding students into diamonds. Alumna Akilah Thompson, also known as ACT, is testament to that.
The former corporate America business professional made a risky career move and is now in the business of inspiring and empowering others. The 2005 summa cum laude graduate regards North Carolina A&T State as the institution that changed an “underachieving young girl” into an “overachieving dynamic young woman.”
Thompson graduated at the top of her class in the school of business and economics with a degree in accounting and business economics. Post graduation, she entered the corporate world, serving as a tax manager at Deloitte Tax LLP.
“I was no longer mentally stimulated by my career,” she admits. “I wanted to change lives and do for others on a larger scale what many of my mentors did for me: inspire.”
In 2011, the Brooklyn, N.Y. native started an accounting firm, ACT Advisors Group, which led to her trademark company, ACT Inspires, where she uses every talent she has – from acting to writing to modeling and motivational speaking – to inspire others to “Release the BEaST” and “become the BEST.”
Thompson is now living her best life yet. She credits “proper planning and plenty of favor from God” for her transition to entrepreneurship. A&T also deserves lots of credit, she said.
“North Carolina A&T prepared me for any career I should ever choose to embark on and, most importantly, A&T prepared me to be successful in life in general,” Thompson said. “I will forever be indebted to this university for how it allowed me to see how great I could truly be. Dean Craig and the faculty at N.C. A&T shaped me for success and in everything I do. I hope to make the university proud that I am an Aggie.”
