James Keyes Interview
Former 7-Eleven and Blockbuster CEO, author, jet-rated pilot, and philanthropist James Keyes shares insights from his Amazon bestseller Education Is Freedom. He discusses overcoming early life adversity, harnessing curiosity across diverse ventures, confronting fear in corporate leadership, and why broad humanistic knowledge remains essential in an AI-driven era.
Q. You wear many hats, but how would you describe yourself as a human being to our readers, beyond what they see on social media?
I like to think of myself as a citizen of the world, with gratitude for the opportunity to have seen all of the blessings this world has to offer. When you come from nothing, you appreciate everything… so gratitude is a feeling that I wake up to every day, anticipating the new adventures that tomorrow may bring.
Q. What inspired you to write your first book, Education Is Freedom, and how did it feel to see your ideas come to life as an author?
Growing up with adversity, I learned at a young age that life has no safety net. While many of us are blessed with family and resources, I had to carve a path for myself. Thankfully I had teachers who believed in me, libraries that opened their doors, and books that opened my eyes to a bigger world. Education was indeed my path to freedom. Nearly 25 years ago I created a foundation by the same name to encourage young people to achieve their full potential. I then decided to take this important message to the world with my book, Education Is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands.
Q. If you could share one message from Education Is Freedom with our readers to inspire them to read your book, what would it be?
Be fearless. Change is inevitable, but if you have the ability to embrace change, have confidence, and bring clarity to your thoughts and words… then anything is possible. Knowledge is the antidote to fear and the enabler of opportunity.
Q. You're an author, a businessman, and an active voice on social media. What drives you to explore so many different paths and keep creating?
Curiosity is the foundation of all learning. My curiosity continues to drive me to explore new ideas and new opportunities. I am not the typical demographic for social media, but I have discovered its global reach and now have 40% of my followers from other countries.
Q. What challenges have you faced throughout your journey, across all the different roles and responsibilities you've taken on?
The biggest challenge that I've faced is a repeating weakness of humanity… the fear that causes people to behave badly. Fight or flight responses were built into our human DNA. While we no longer have natural predators, that behavior shows up from the playground to the boardroom. Fear represents the biggest obstacle to progress in an individual or in a company. That fear among others has represented some of my biggest challenges… but my recognition of that fear has represented my greatest opportunity.
Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to young people who want to explore different interests and build something of their own?
Be an entrepreneur or learn a trade… but also get a degree. In this "Information Age," especially with the advent of more powerful artificial intelligence tools, breadth of knowledge will be more important than ever. Individuals may need to pivot in their career or take on multiple responsibilities beyond their core strength. The humanities will also be more important than ever because ultimately, those skills will be what separates human knowledge from machine knowledge.
Q. A fun one to end with: What's your favourite book, series, or movie, and why?
My taste in literature, music, or movies is just as eclectic as my personality… so it ranges from the classics (Homer's Odyssey, Bach, and Capra) to the popular (Grisham, Bono, and Spielberg).
Bio
James Keyes is an author, business leader, jet-rated pilot, and philanthropist. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. Nearly 25 years ago, he established the Education Is Freedom foundation to empower youth through learning, later authoring the Amazon bestseller Education Is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands. Keyes active voice across business, education, and digital platforms focuses on leadership, adaptability, human potential, and navigating technological change.
Interviewed by Himanshi Bhatt
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