Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Foley.
Thomas, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I had the fortunate opportunity to attend Colgate University and Villanova University Law School, where I earned my BA in Economics and Political Science and my Juris Doctor. I always wanted to be an attorney and jumped into practicing in the north east. I started my legal career in New York City, focused on litigation matters, business law, and real estate law. Although I enjoyed practicing for more than a decade, I wanted to be in business, not just consulting to businesses. I decided to take on the role of a chief operating officer at a national service company. Although this served as my springboard into business, it came at a costly price. The company was investigated for accounting matters and ultimately shuttered. I was forced to step back and decide what I “really” wanted to do. Indeed, out of this failure came opportunity. I aligned my priorities with my professional efforts. I knew I wanted to make a positive difference and be a true role model for my children!
I have a passion for driving social justice. I didn’t know, at first, how I was going to spark social impact, but I knew that I wanted to be guided by passion, principles, and purpose. After some great experiences and learnings, I knew my mission: to close the gender and racial wealth gap. And, along with key strategic partners and colleagues, we aim to achieve our mission in three ways. First, we work on assisting small women-owned and minority-owned businesses to drive greater revenue performance and profit. Second, we focus on driving awareness, action, and accountability for corporate inclusivity. And, finally, we look to leverage data and technology to improve the opportunity for all residents – this is our definition of a “smart city.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always bumps in the road — the only smooth part is making sure that I do my best to always “take hold of things by the smooth handle.” We all know that launching a business requires sacrifice. There are times – and I think this is without exception for every entrepreneur – that you are not sure if your effort will be enough. But, it is at these tough times that you have to remember your “why” – your passion. You must take hold of the “smooth handle” and face challenges. And, we must trust that many of our most challenging times lead to our greatest successes. For me, my greatest struggle forged my path to be an agent of social justice. After deciding to leave the daily practice of law and join my client’s business, I was faced with having to pursue a business turnaround and then blindsided when I learned that the business had a myriad of accounting irregularities. This struggle allowed me to reflect. It allowed me to flex. It forged a path that I may not have otherwise discovered.
Please tell us about the business.
As I mentioned, my goal is to close the gender and racial wealth gap. At The Study, our mission tells our story: Striving for gender parity and racial equity by empowering women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and the next-generation entrepreneurs through the collaboration of academic partners, companies, and the community. Beyond The Study, I advocate for equity in our corporate community and challenge our leaders to explore innovative measures for systemic change. We must create a system founded on equity. And, all voices must be heard. I have some new exciting projects in the works that I think will be transformative. I hope we can catch up in a few months and I will be ready to share more!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
No – not because I did everything right, but because I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for my experiences. I love the quote from C.S Lewis, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thestudyusa.com
- Phone: 2143069334
- Email: tom.foley@thestudyusa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.study.usa/
- Twitter: @txfoley
Image Credit:
Dear World (Personal Photo only)
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