Duvalier Malone selected as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 business leaders
Alcorn State University alumnus Duvalier Malone continues to prove that he is one of today’s most exceptional young businessmen.
Malone has been selected as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 business leaders for 2016. Malone, along with other honorees, will be recognized Thursday, April 7 at a special luncheon at the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road in Jackson, Mississippi. The journal will publish a magazine with profiles of each of this year’s winners in May.
“I am so honored to have been selected as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 business leaders for 2016,” said Malone. “I am truly humbled, grateful and excited to return home to Mississippi to receive this award.”
As Malone prepares to accept the award, he remembers the odds he had to beat in order to get this far. After growing up in a poor environment, he is proud of the progress he is making as a businessman. He also credits African-American leaders of the past as his inspiration to succeed.
“I like to call this achievement one of life’s full circle moments. This allowed me an opportunity to reflect on all the great pioneers of the civil rights movement. I am a living witness that you can live your dream. I was born and raised in poverty. I have had many hardships, but today I stand in the light of those who paved the way for me.”
Malone is passionate about his career. He emphasizes that choosing a profession that you love is key to having a successful career.
“I truly started my company with a big dream of giving back to my home state of Mississippi. I didn’t go into business to make money. I was only following my passion. Whether we’re thinking about starting a small business or what career path to choose, it’s important that we follow our passions. When we think about what is needed to be successful in life, we usually think about characteristics like value, talent, ambition, intellect, discipline, persistence and luck. What many of us often fail to include in this recipe for success is passion.”
