Lamell J. McMorris is a nationally recognized leader at the intersection of business, government, and governance, and the USA Today bestselling author of The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience. In his book, McMorris shares the mindset and habits behind his rise from Chicago's South Side to boardrooms and government affairs offices nationwide — a practical blueprint for turning pressure into purpose.

What began as a book has evolved into a resilience movement. McMorris launched The Power to Persist podcast, where he sits down with changemakers and leaders for candid conversations on resilience, governance, and transformative leadership. He has since brought that same framework to corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational systems, and governing boards through keynotes, workshops, and workbooks for adults and students.

McMorris most recently served as Principal and Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs at Edward Jones, where he led the firm's federal and state government affairs strategy and advised executive leadership on legislative, regulatory, and reputational risk. He is the founder and CEO of Phase 2 Consulting™, a Washington, D.C.–based strategic advisory firm that helps corporations, institutions, and public sector leaders navigate government relations, regulatory risk, and stakeholder engagement. Phase 2 Consulting™ is a trusted partner to Fortune 100 executives, nonprofit leaders, and public sector decision-makers across energy, financial services, and telecommunications.

He is also the founder of Greenlining Realty® USA, a mission-driven development firm revitalizing communities across the U.S., beginning with his childhood neighborhood of Woodlawn, Chicago. Greenlining partners with municipalities to deliver mixed-use developments that drive economic impact and expand homeownership in underserved communities.

McMorris serves as Senior Vice Chair of the National Urban League Board of Trustees, with board seats on the National Action Network, PGA REACH, and Rainbow PUSH, and past trusteeships at Morehouse College and Elmhurst University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University.

Guided by the belief that persistence is not just how we keep going, it is how we create lasting change, McMorris is focused on bringing that same discipline into boardrooms and governing bodies — advising organizations through today's regulatory, reputational, and governance challenges, while continuing to lead a growing movement for resilience that unites people, strengthens communities, and empowers industries.