Jesse Tyson's keen business acumen for strategy and aggressive business tactics have propelled his career in marketing and sales. His regional expertise in energy policy, road transportation, safety and efficiency operations at the world's largest oil and gas corporation, Exxon Mobil, the Global Aviation business for Exxon Mobil based in Brussels, Belgium, excelled under his direction as he led a $10 billion business with clients in more than 50 countries and 500 locations that delivered over 40% in returns and $30 million annually in operating efficiencies. Tyson is a global marketing and operations expert and a recognized name in the multinational oil and gas industry, and led the South America Fuels Marketing efforts for Exxon Mobil as Marketing Director and President of Exxon Mobil Inter America. He represented Exxon Mobil as a spokesperson with the Council of the Americas, the United States Departments of Commerce, State, and Energy. In 2011, Tyson announced his retirement from a 35-year career at Exxon Mobil as Global Aviation Director to begin a new chapter in life, philanthropy. Jesse Tyson has received numerous awards for his philanthropic work and benevolence. Black Enterprise magazine named Tyson "one of the most influential people of the 20th century."

Most recently, he received The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Global Diversity Award and the Pacesetter Award and the 100 Black Men of America Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service. He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, where he participates in the development of leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for diverse, multicultural communities. Jesse and Cheryl Tyson, married for 30 years, have three beautiful daughters, Tamika, Cormisha and Christina, and one grandson, Christopher. Reared by grandparents, both of whom were sharecroppers, Tyson grew up in rural Jackson, Tennessee, to humble beginnings. The family atmosphere was one of love, hard work and compassion, with lessons on remaining moral and ethical "in all his dealings." He had a very close relationship with his grandmother, Lena Taylor, who received a 10th grade education; and David Taylor, his grandfather, who held no formal education, yet made tremendous sacrifices and encouraged him to strive for excellence through the pursuit of education. In 1970, Jesse enrolled at Lane College where he studied business and economics, and was awarded a prestigious Economic Internship with the US Department of State to study the economic impact of the drought in Senegal, West Africa. Tyson entered The Ohio State University, earning a Master Degree in Business Administration in Marketing.

Later in his career, Jesse attended the Brookings Institution a renowned nonprofit public policy organization and the International, Institute for Management Development Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. To this end, Jesse made a commitment to his grandparents that he would pursue his personal obligation to "give back" to ensure other black children had equal access to educational programs and growth incentives. As a child growing up in the segregated south, Jesse experienced limited access to educational opportunities, scholarships and academic advancement. For more than 45 years, Jesse worked with nonprofit and civic organizations to promote the welfare of others, by generous donations of money, time and resources. He's a former resident of Coral Gables, FL and honorary member of the 100 Black Men of America. He also served on the advisory board of the local United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and Dean's Executive Advisory Board at Florida International University. His noblest charitable pursuits are in the form of endowments at Lane College, Ohio State University, and Spelman College.