Jaylon Smith
Professional Athlete | Dallas Cowboy
Jaylon Smith is the starting middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, along with being the Founder & CEO of 9 Enterprises LLC. An organization that specializes in private equity investments and real estate development.
In 2017, Jaylon made his NFL debut on September 10, starting at middle linebacker against the New York Giants in the season opener. He recorded 7 total tackles and a forced fumble. In the following game against the Denver Broncos, Jaylon recorded 14 tackles. During the start of the season, injuries to other linebackers forced the Cowboys to play Smith more than expected (63 tackles in the first six games). Jaylon was exposed a great deal, specifically in passing situations, which caused struggles for other teams. In the last 10 games he was used as a backup. He finished with 1 sack and 81 tackles, which is one of the highest single-season totals by a first-year player in franchise history.
Philanthropy
Going to Africa and giving back has meant everything to Jaylon because it has exemplified his purpose beyond athletics in a unique and wonderful way. Giving back has always been a huge part of Jaylon's life whether it has been through donating time, money, resources, knowledge or anything at all because to him, it is about giving back to the world and helping himself grow. Jaylon views giving back to his community and the world as his purpose and he learns greatly from people who have given back to him.
South Africa was extremely important to Jaylon because he was able to gain so much knowledge regarding his ancestors and where he originated from. Growing up hearing stereotypes and later in life getting the opportunity to actually travel to South Africa was a great feeling and very eye opening and changed many perceptions for Jaylon. Traveling to South Africa meant so much to Jaylon that he actually got the continent tattooed on himself. He is very proud to have originated from such a place and counts himself as extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to have traveled there. Jaylon can't wait to travel back to South Africa in the future and is excited for many more opportunities to give back.
PODCASTS FOR THE FAITH DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR
Here's a wild idea: What if teenagers never had to unlearn the gap between faith and entrepreneurship? That's the vision behind Faith Driven Students, as Justin Forman and Lara Casey Isaacson launch a groundbreaking initiative to equip teens with Kingdom business principles from the start. Featuring Lecrae, Coby Cotton, and a host of others, they're helping the next generation build their entrepreneurial dreams on spiritual bedrock rather than spiritual band-aids.
In this powerful conversation, pastor and teacher Chip Ingram joins hosts Justin Forman and Dan Owolabi to explore the evolving relationship between pastors and entrepreneurs in today's church. They discuss how the traditional church model is being disrupted and reimagined, creating unprecedented opportunities for collaboration between pastoral and business leadership.
In a world where darkness lurks behind every screen, can capitalism become an unlikely hero? This eye-opening episode reveals how entrepreneurs and investors are wielding the power of business to combat sexual exploitation and human trafficking. From AI-powered solutions to disruptive economic strategies, discover how faith-driven innovators are turning the tables on predators and reshaping the battlefield in the fight for human dignity. Prepare to have your perspective challenged and your hope rekindled as we explore the cutting edge of redemptive entrepreneurship.
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman reflect on the recent Faith Driven Entrepreneur conference and introduce a powerful message from Derwin Gray, former NFL player and pastor.
In this joint release episode Richard Cunningham and Justin Foreman discuss the problem of joblessness as part of the initiative, Solving the World's Greatest Problems. They are joined by Keren Pybus, CEO of Ethical Apparel Africa, and Ronald Ishak, CEO of Hacktiv8. They explore the impact of job creation and upskilling on individuals, families, and communities.
Join us for an inspiring discussion with Mark Batterson, Bill Job, and Justin Forman as they unpack the concept of "holy curiosity" in entrepreneurship.
Discover how entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned 'for such a time as this,' featuring insights from David Platt on leveraging your gifts for a pivotal time in history and reflections from Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman.
In this episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, join Justin Forman as he honors the life and legacy of Richard Garnett, a faith-driven entrepreneur and actor who recently passed away after a courageous decade-long battle with cancer.
Join Grammy-nominated artist Lecrae Moore and Faith Driven Movement co-founders Justin Forman and Henry Kaestner as they delve into the challenging yet crucial topic of handling criticism
Joey, Justin, and Henry discuss the new initiative called Solving the World's Greatest Problems.
Henry and Justin discuss a merger between Halftime and Faith Driven Movements alongside Halftime co-CEOs Jim Stollberg and Tom McGhee.
Justin, Henry, and Joey talk about how entrepreneurs trade up and find significance through surrender.
Jordan Raynor talks about how entrepreneurs can redeem their time.
The world has problems. Entrepreneur. Investor. Christ-follower. Solving problems is what you do. Join friends of the Faith Driven Movement as we explore entrepreneurs and the initiative Solving the World's Greatest Problems.
Dude Perfect's Coby Cotton plus entrepreneurs Mickey Peters and Scott Weiss share different experiences that show how valuable community can be for entrepreneurs.
Ricky Dickson, the retired CEO of Blue Bell Ice Cream, joins the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast to discuss his experience leading and scaling a national company through growth and incredible pitfalls.
Dr. Bryan Loritts joins Joey Honescko and William Norvell to discuss the importance of deep, long-lasting friendships in the context of entrepreneurship.
Hear three Christian entrepreneurs give their perspectives about how to navigate the complex issue of layoffs.
Dylan Wilk, CEO of Human Nature, joins the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast to share the story behind the company’s no firing policy and to explain why he believes grace and forgiveness are the greatest HR policies.
Hear the story of radical transformation that took Dylan Wilk from Greed to Grace in this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast: Stories of the Movement.
Andy Crouch, Patrick Lencioni, and Mary Miller give practical guidance for entrepreneurs looking to build a positive company culture where their employees can flourish.
Savannah Bananas’ President Jared Orton joins the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast to talk about the value of innovation, fun, and excitement for businesses and for the world.
In this episode of Stories of the Movement, we look at Booster, one of the largest school fundraising companies in the country for insight into how to build a culture of virtue, joy, and celebration and how company values can get you and your team out of difficult circumstances.
In this edition of the Riff, Joey Honescko, Henry Kaestner, and Justin Forman discuss the themes of battling idolatry and identity in entrepreneurship.
Nicky Gumbel, Kim Avery, and Jeremy Lin talk about how entrepreneurs can hear from God to fight against their idols.
Basketball team owner, trained physicist, seminary grad, and venture capitalist, Phil Chen joins the show to talk about his storied career and share how entrepreneurs can root themselves in scripture to find their true identities.
Hear how the biblical story of Abraham and Lot inspired Sam Rhee to step aside from the role of his dreams for the sake of a colleague and how God used that sacrifice to pave a path for victory.
Renowned author Patrick Lencioni joins Henry Kaestner for a conversation about some of the hidden idols of entrepreneurship before Henry, Justin, and Joey riff on how we all might learn to fight against the temptation to worship “safe” idols.
What happens when a medical device salesman gets fed up with his undershirt? For Tommy John founder Tom Patterson, it sparked a revolution in the men's comfort wear industry. From a $7,000 trade show investment during the 2008 financial crisis to a multimillion-dollar brand, Patterson's journey showcases how faith, persistence, and authenticity can transform a simple solution into an industry-changing success story.