Turning Adversity into Opportunity: Damien Howard’s Story

Truly understanding an organization doesn’t start with social media posts, mission statements, or marketing dockets. The origin of the idea, the unwavering belief in the founder’s solution, and the desire to improve the lives of all its partners are the differentiators!

CEO and Founder of Grant Wagner Talent Solutions, Damien Howard, has used the fuel from his upbringing to create a solution that will serve all communities with an unwavering commitment to the community he was raised in and others like it throughout the country.

Roots and Resilience

Born and raised in Harlem, Damien experienced both the highs and lows of life in the city. Most of his life was spent in the Grant Housing Projects, a place where he witnessed some of the best moments of his life, but also faced the harsh realities of gang and street violence. In a place where daily survival overtakes many future aspirations, Damien was determined to become a leader in his community and beyond. Although constantly challenged, Grant Projects taught Damien some valuable lessons – resiliency and the importance of helping others whenever you can. Times were challenging, but those difficult times created a deep sense of commitment and purpose that drove Damien’s passion for helping others. His ability to find the positive in every situation has kept him moving forward with determination and gratitude. It has allowed him to rise above the tribulations and stay focused on his goals.

A Strong Partnership

Damien will be the first to tell you that you shouldn’t do anything unless you have a strong why and even with a laser focus on your goals, you can’t do it alone. Damien’s best friend, Kevin Forbes, is a vital character in the story. Kevin’s outlook on life mirrored Damien’s. The desire to succeed and avoid a violent existence, while still maintaining a connection to the community is a bond that Kevin and Damien shared.

With Damien representing Grant Housing Projects and Kevin representing Wagner Housing Projects, it was here the two friends made a pact to create a legacy that would honor their roots and uplift others from similar backgrounds.

Overcoming Challenges

Once the goal was established, next came the hard work to achieve that goal. Statistics show that overcoming the challenges of street life is no small feat. From 1990-2019, almost 80% of people with criminal conviction records in New York City were Black or Latinx. That’s nearly 400,000 people or the population of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In neighborhoods like Harlem, only a small percentage of individuals manage to break free from the vicious cycle of violence and poverty. For every success story, there are countless others who struggle. Damien was determined to pave the way for others to follow.

Realizing the Vision

The vision for the path started to become a reality after Damien joined Per Scholas, an organization dedicated to advancing economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers. Learning from their mission to upskill underserved communities was in line with Damien’s dream to positively impact his community. During his tenure at Per Scholas, he started the national conversation series called Diverse by Design.

Damien wanted to go beyond the mere rehearsal of documented challenges as it relates to hiring brilliant and diverse talent. He wanted to help corporate partners implement real solutions and best practices for improving tech workforce inclusion, now and in the future.

After 23 years of ascending through the workforce development and staffing landscape, Damien identified one final missing piece in his boyhood dream. He wanted to run his own firm and show others that anything can be achieved through the right vision, mentoring, partnership, and support!

The Birth of Grant Wagner

The role of a minority business owner goes beyond profit. While Damien has fought his way to the role he’s in, there are various degrees of challenges within all underserved communities. Recognizing these roadblocks was the final piece to Damien’s puzzle. It’s why he started Grant Wagner.

Damien wanted to create an organization that spoke beyond his community of impoverished, Black and Latinx people. This is why organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF), and Vets Who Code, trust Damien and Grant Wagner. Providing opportunities for all, regardless of your identification, orientation, neurodivergence, language, or a veteran without opportunity, Grant Wagner sees you and serves you.

Transforming Lives

Damien has committed his life to providing transformative careers and skills to often-overlooked groups. His personal journey fuels his passion and his purpose. He understands the struggles these groups face because he has lived them. His mission is to create opportunities and build authentic relationships that transform lives.

Under Damien’s leadership, Grant Wagner Talent Solutions has grown into a firm renowned for its commitment to inclusion and excellence. The company excels in providing hard-to-find and even diverse talent across various specialties, including AI, Data Scientist, UX/UI, AWS, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Healthcare IT, and many more. Grant Wagner prides itself on its ability to connect businesses with top-tier talent while also giving individuals the chance to embark on transformative careers.

Grant Wagner’s North Star is rooted in the authentic relationships it builds and the lives it transforms. Damien’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, purpose, and the unwavering commitment to creating a legacy that honors where you come from while making a positive impact on the future. When you partner with Grant Wagner, you are partnering with an organization that performs at a high level but also cares about the impact being made across the country.