Randal Pinkett

Randal D. Pinkett (born 1971) is an American business consultant who in 2005 was the winner of season four of the reality television show The Apprentice. Pinkett is the first African American to win the American version of The Apprentice.

With an educational background in engineering and business, Pinkett is both a Rhodes Scholar and a Walter Byers Scholar, and holds five academic degrees. Before entering the reality show, Pinkett had already established a career in business and had become co-founder of business consulting firm BCT Partners in 2001. As winner of The Apprentice Season 4 in December 2005, Pinkett undertook a yearlong apprenticeship with Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

After The Apprentice, Pinkett has continued as chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, while also acting as a public speaker and appearing on later editions of the show, and on CEO Exchange; he has also entered politics.

Early life Raised in East Windsor, New Jersey, Pinkett graduated from Hightstown High School in neighboring Hightstown. He was a three sport athlete (soccer, basketball, track and field) in high school. with a BS in electrical engineering. At Rutgers, he was the recipient of the James Dickson Carr and Paul Robeson scholarships. He was captain of the Men’s Track and Field Team, competing as a high jumper and long jumper, In 1994, he was named the Walter Byers Scholarship winner as the NCAA's top male scholar athlete, and received recognition as an USA TODAY College All-Academic First Team member and NCAA Academic All-American. Moments after the announcement, Trump asked Pinkett his opinion as to whether Trump should take the unprecedented step and hire the "outstanding" Jarvis, too. In his reply, Pinkett asserted that there could only be one winner of the contest, a view which Trump chose to agree with. The reactions had taken Pinkett by surprise, but he later stated he remained on good terms with Jarvis.

Pinkett started his apprenticeship on February 6, 2006. His task was to oversee the $110m renovation of the Trump Taj Mahal, the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, and the Trump Marina, three casino resorts operated by Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

On July 14, 2009, it was reported by a number of sources that Pinkett had emerged as the frontrunner to be New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's selection for lieutenant governor in the 2009 Gubernatorial election. Some reports indicated an announcement would be made on Thursday, July 16. However, no announcement took place, and criticism appeared in the media and from some political leaders regarding Corzine's potential selection of a running mate with no experience in public office. due at least in part to public criticism of the idea of a political newcomer as the Governor's running mate. On July 24, Corzine selected State Senator Loretta Weinberg. In 2009, Pinkett was the chair of the State Democratic Committee's Yes We Can 2.0; its name based on Barack Obama's campaign slogan, it sought to turn out newly registered voters from the 2008 presidential election for the gubernatorial election.

Personal life

Pinkett is married to Natasha Williams-Pinkett, and the couple have four children. The family resides in Dayton, New Jersey.

Pinkett is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Theta Psi Lambda Chapter.

Awards and honors

2006—Paul Robeson Leadership Award, Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts. 2023—Axiom Award (with Jeffrey Robinson) for Black Faces in High Places: Ten Strategic Actions for Black Professionals to Reach the Top and Stay There. 2024—Axiom Award, Gold medal, Business/Human Resources/Employee Training, for Data-Driven DEI: The Tools and Metrics You Need to Measure, Analyze and Improve Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 2024—Hightstown High Hall of Fame, basketball inductee