Alumni in Action | Q & A with Ahmad Thomas

By Aimee Newsom Alumni Relations Coordinator

Ahmad Thomas is a NOLS Custom Education Wharton Leadership Venture graduate and member of the NOLS Board of Trustees. A former investment banker and senior Congressional aide, Ahmad was recently named CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

Tell us about your background.

As a child and young adult, my family ingrained in me the value of education and giving back. I deeply appreciate the opportunities I’ve received, and I know my parents and family have played a huge role in all of my achievements.

My mother is a Caribbean immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago, who has experienced this country as an outsider looking in. She instilled in me an intensity to be proactive in all facets of life. My father was born and raised in rural Alabama, where opportunity eluded him and my family in the Jim Crow south. My family’s tradition of military service can be traced back to the Civil War; my father is a Vietnam vet who served for 23 years on active duty in the Air Force. While I didn’t serve in the military, exposure to this ethos influenced my commitment to civic duty.

I’m fortunate to have “grown up” with my wife, who was my college sweetheart. She’s on the medical faculty at Stanford. We’re fortunate to have made decisions so far that have put our family and careers in positions to thrive (in that order!). Our two sons are 7 and 10 years old.

Share a bit about your career path.

I’m a small-town guy from Lompoc, California. From there, it was off to the east coast for college at Cornell and then I attended graduate school at the London School of Economics, where I studied public policy.

My first job after graduate school was on Capitol Hill, working for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. This was a pivotal moment in my career, and one of the most rewarding. Like the great outdoors, Capitol Hill is a real proving ground and playing-field leveler.

Next, I transitioned to a career in finance. I worked for a decade as an investment banker and went back to business school to earn my MBA from Wharton. I managed $15 billion in debt financings, including one of the most innovative socialdebt issuances brought to market.

In 2020, I became CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, California’s most dynamic business association. Our more than 350 member companies provide nearly one of every three private-sector jobs in Silicon Valley. In my first year, we’ve focused on initiating change around diversity, equity, and inclusion, from the boardroom to the C-suites and beyond.

Describe your time as a NOLS student.

My NOLS experience helped me to learn more about my own leadership style, and to discover what worked well for me as I motivated and related to those around me. Far from the comforts of home, I learned to work constructively with others towards a common goal.

What’s your definition of leadership?

The best leaders are those who put others in a position to succeed. A great leader brings out things in you that you didn’t see in yourself, allowing you to achieve things you never thought possible. They show you that, by putting one foot in front of the other, you can accomplish virtually anything when pointed in the right direction.

Aimee Newsom always chooses tea over coffee and never leaves home without a book. She loves exploring Wyoming with her husband, daughter, and Great Dane.