When preparation meets inspiration amazing things tend to happen. Alumna Akilah Thompson, also known as ACT, has merged her passions into her purpose. The former corporate America business professional made a risky career move and is now in the business of inspiring and empowering others.

North Carolina A&T State University has had a legacy of molding students into diamonds. Thompson’s story is no different. The 2005 summa cum laude graduate regards North Carolina A&T Stateas the institution that changed an “underachieving young girl” into an “overachieving dynamic young woman.”

Thompson graduated at the top of her class as No. 1 in the school of business and economics with a degree in accounting and business economics. Post gradation the high achiever entered the corporate world and after six years she purposefully ended her corporate career as a tax manager at Deloitte Tax LLP.

“It was challenging leaving a career that most people would think was going perfectly well,” she said.

Her aha moment came after she spent a month in India on a work-related excursion.

“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.”

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native decided to follow her dream. In 2011, she started her accounting firm, ACT Advisors Group, which led to her trademark company ACT Inspires. Thompson 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.

“I am passionate about inspiring others and truly believe that is my life purpose, which keeps me going every day,” she says.

Her future plans are to travel the world as a motivational speaker, bestselling author and TV personality “inspiring people to “Release The BEaST…Become the BEST You.”

“I would like to create a youth conference and TV show that travels the world to empower young people to reach their fullest potential,” Thompson declares.

The business maverick and inspirator encourages all A&T students to strive for excellence, network and get involved.
“Learn from every experience you have,” she says.

For Thompson, she is thankful for her experiences at A&T.

“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."