Guided by Purpose, Grounded in Community
By Alena Williams
When Michael James ’94 thinks back to his college years, one decision still feels defining: choosing American International College. He wanted to stay close to his family while pursuing a strong education and had aspirations of becoming a defense attorney. Growing up in Roxbury, MA, fueled that path. He saw injustices within his community and imagined changing things from within the system, not just enforcing it. AIC’s Criminal Justice program caught his attention, and so did its competitive basketball team. Despite having interest from other colleges, James trusted his instincts and chose AIC. He walked onto the team his first year, earned scholarship support soon after, and realized he’d landed in a community where academics, athletics, and family could all matter at once.
James recalls basketball being one of his first lessons in leadership. From high school captain to AIC Yellow Jacket, he learned to collaborate, adapt, and trust his teammates—skills that would later define his professional approach. He played for three years in college before an injury sidelined him after his junior season but stayed close to the team and those friendships. His teammates, including Cleon Williams, Orlando Vandros, James Hector, and Donald Mitchell, became lifelong friends and colleagues whose success stories still make him proud to this day.
Community took on deeper meaning through his involvement with AIC’s P.R.I.D.E. organization, led at the time by the late Naomi White-Inniss (affectionately known as Mrs. White), who remains one of his greatest influences. The organization, which is still running to this day, created a space where students of color could connect, celebrate, and serve together. It was through P.R.I.D.E. that his lifelong commitment to giving back truly took shape. He participated in community projects throughout Roxbury, especially around holidays that held deep significance for the Black community. The experience taught him that impact starts locally and lasts long after college ends. “I unknowingly was developing that [community-nurturing] muscle just by being part of programs like that,” he shared.
Though he once pictured himself in a courtroom, new professional opportunities after college opened the door to the insurance and financial services industry—work he quickly found himself drawn to for both its challenge and impact. Over the next three decades, he built his expertise, grew into leadership roles, and ultimately stepped into the position of Chief Sales Officer at NFP, a global P&C insurance broker and benefits consultant.
Taking on that role in 2022—after already spending three decades in the industry—has been, as he puts it, “invigorating.” The expanded responsibility reignited his curiosity and allowed him to see the company from a wider lens. He spent a year traveling, listening, and connecting across NFP’s global offices—an experience that reminded him that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about remaining open to growth. “It’s awesome to know you’ve had a chance to impact people where they are, learn new things at a late stage in your career, and find ways to take my unique ability of bringing people together to work towards a common goal and have some real results from it,” he said. “We’ve built lots of infrastructure and momentum around the sales organization, domestically and internationally. Today, I have people reaching out to me from all across the world—and it’s a great feeling.”
At NFP, James also serves as a special advisor on social justice issues, helping lead the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. That role emerged in 2020, during a time of national upheaval. He recalls being asked to speak when many were struggling to process both the pandemic and the wave of social unrest that followed. “People wanted to hear: Do you understand what I’m feeling?” he said. “Maybe it was divine intervention, but I felt I could share and understand where people were.” His voice became a trusted guide for company leadership. “Our CEO would call me at critical moments,” he explained. “He’d say, ‘You bring a perspective I don’t have, and I want to know what you think.’”
For James, connection isn’t just part of the job—it’s the part he loves most. “I do love bringing people together. That’s the fun of the job,” he said. “When people open up thoughtfully, you always learn something, and when you learn something, then you have a new chance to impact people in a different way. And so I love it. That is the fuel that drives me.” That kind of mindset has helped shape real change at NFP, from expanded employee resource groups to policies designed to build long-term equity across the company. “[These] strategies are becoming a part of our DNA,” he said. “The journey’s not over, but we’re committed.”
That same sense of commitment defines his ongoing relationship with AIC. College, he believes, is where students can “test drive where your heart is” and discover what drives them beyond the classroom. His desire to mentor began there and has never faded. In 2021, during the pandemic, he spoke virtually with AIC’s men’s basketball team. Seeing their faces reminded him of his own younger self—and the responsibility of his words. “Every word that came out of my mouth had to deliver something of value,” he said.
James continues to empower young people across Boston and beyond, drawing from the same foundation of service he built at AIC. Whether supporting youth programs, mentoring students, or helping AIC athletes find their footing, he views community engagement as both a duty and a joy. “Giving back to AIC, now giving back to my local community, being involved in things that are bigger than just my profession, my everyday life is important,” he said.
That legacy now extends to his family. James and his wife, Jessica, have three children—all collegiate athletes who’ve mirrored their father’s leadership both on and off the court. Each began their journey with an internship, just as their father did, gaining early exposure to social and professional spaces that shaped their goals. “They worked at it. Nothing was given to them. They had to earn their way. They listened to the ‘why’ behind it all,” he said. Watching them grow into their own careers within his industry has been one of his proudest achievements.
Reflecting on his time at AIC, James describes it as “a great place to plant the seeds.” He encourages students to stay present, to fully engage with every moment, and to appreciate how those experiences will shape the person they’ll become. “Try to show up as much as you can,” he said. “The moments that you show up and you are present will stay with you. They’ll build knowledge, instincts, understanding, and awareness that is going to be with you for the rest of your life.”
He also remembers the importance of listening to the mentors who surrounded him. Coaches, teachers, and Mrs. White all offered guidance that didn’t fully sink in until years later. Today, he often reminds young professionals that “we don’t have to share—we’re choosing to share,” encouraging them to slow down and really hear the wisdom others offer. The lessons he received at AIC continue to echo across his leadership philosophy and in the way he connects with others today.
If Mrs. White could see him now, he imagines she’d “give me a big old hug and maybe kiss me on the top of my head and say, ‘Well done, keep it up.’” That, he says, is what drives him—to honor the people and the place that first invested in his future. “The investment you’re making in your future life starts with where you are right now at AIC,” he said. “And so I’m proud of all of you. I will continue to take steps each year as I feel like my impact is resonating. So I’ll commit to you if you commit to investing in yourself, too. You’ll have alumni like me that’ll show up for you at important times.”
Michael James was featured on the cover of the spring 2025 issue of Korsgaden Insights Magazine, a leading publication in the insurance and financial services industry.
Michael James received the Spirit of Life Award by City of Hope® on November 14, 2024, presented to Industry leaders who exemplify compassion, service, integrity, curiosity, excellence and collaboration.
James (left) with members of the men's basketball team.