Inspirational Black Men and Women of the C-Suite: Thomas Young, President & CEO Of The World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia On The Five Things You Need To Succeed As A C-Suite Executive
1. Always be prepared. Preparation is key to building confidence and success in any situation.
2. Be like water. Stay flexible and adaptable. Life will throw challenges your way, but you need to be able to shift gears and go with the flow when necessary.
3. Trust the people around you. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Surround yourself with a team you can rely on and trust them to do their jobs.
4. Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and it’s okay not to have all the answers right away.
5. Take responsibility for your actions. Don’t shy away from ownership — whether it’s praise or criticism, take it in stride and keep moving forward.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Thomas Young. Thomas brings a unique and international perspective to his role as president and CEO of the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia. A Philadelphia native, after a successful high school and collegiate basketball career, Young played professionally in Germany before returning to the U.S.
In the decade-plus since, he’s worked in and around Government, establishing himself as a seasoned professional in the field. His background encompasses significant involvement with elected officials, notably supporting State Representative Donna Bullock as her Chief of Staff.
Young also worked for the Philadelphia lobbying and advocacy firm Bellevue Strategies. There, he managed a portfolio of minority-owned companies to gain access to procurement opportunities, helped clients secure over $27 million in state funding for local capital improvement projects, advocated for policy change for numerous nonprofits, and was the Chair Liaison for Chairwoman Cherelle Parker at the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA).
In August 2023, he was named head of the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia, the first Black individual to hold the role at the nonprofit organization that works to accelerate global business growth in the region. Since its founding in 2002, the organization has helped local companies generate over $2.5 billion in export sales, while helping secure over 27,000 jobs.
Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
My career path was anything but traditional. I started out as a professional athlete, playing basketball abroad in Germany. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with my Big Brother mentor that I really started thinking about my long-term future. He asked me, “I know what you want to do with the next 5 years of your life. What do you want to do with the next 30 years of your life?” That question made me reflect on my purpose and led me to realize that I wanted to find a way to help people.
I transitioned into government work, first as Chief of Staff in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where I served for five years. That role gave me a front-row seat to policymaking and advocacy. From there, I moved into government lobbying, where I spent another five years learning how to navigate the intersection of government, business and public policy.
It was during my lobbying career that I was presented with an opportunity by a mentor — someone I had worked with closely. He had the chance to join the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) Board of Directors, but couldn’t take it, so he passed it along to me in 2022.
When the CEO position became available for WTCGP in 2023, I was offered the role. At first, I wasn’t sure I had the experience to take on such a responsibility, and I turned it down twice. But after consulting with my family and mentors, I accepted the offer. I’m so grateful for the guidance I received during that pivotal time.
Now, I’m incredibly excited about the future of WTCGP and especially looking forward to hosting the 56th Annual World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Global Business Forum in the spring of 2026. We’re committed to exploring ways to help our member companies make more strategic global connections, which will open doors to new global opportunities for growth.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
As a lobbyist, I once took a trip to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, looking for inspiration for Philadelphia. Around that time, my colleague and fellow board member, Stephen Bradley — WTCGP’s Board Vice-Chair — brought up the idea of me becoming President & CEO of WTCGP. At first, I declined, unsure if it was the right fit. It all sounded important, but I didn’t see where I fit into the equation.
Coincidentally, I didn’t ride back on the bus with them, which I’m sure made Stephen think all hope was lost and that I wasn’t interested in WTCGP at all.
Looking back, I realize I didn’t see the vision and perseverance that others saw in me. I was too focused on my own limitations to recognize the bigger picture. It wasn’t until I embraced the idea of being open to new opportunities — “being like water,” as I like to say — that everything started to shift.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting and what lesson you learned from that?
When I was just starting out, I felt a lot of pressure to do things on my own. At 26, I was the youngest Chief of Staff in the state, and I thought I had to handle everything myself. I relied heavily on my instincts and wasn’t fully comfortable delegating to my team, even though they were incredibly capable. Over time, I realized that part of being a leader is trusting the people you’ve hired to do the job. Giving others the space to take ownership and letting them shine is crucial for success. It was a big lesson for me, and it helped me understand that leadership is all about collaboration and empowering those around you.
Can you share three reasons with our readers about why it’s really important for a business to have a diverse executive team?
When you have a team of people from different backgrounds, you have a wide range of perspectives, which leads to more innovative ideas. No one person can have all the answers, and diverse teams provide the opportunity for creative, and often more comprehensive, solutions to complex problems. Additionally, a diverse team reflects the diversity of the outside audiences that are trying to be reached, especially if the organization is people-focused like we are at WTCA, an international trade organization comprised of more than 300 World Trade Center (WTC) locations in nearly 100 countries. This allows you to better understand and serve your community and customers in a way that would be impossible with a homogeneous leadership group.
More broadly can you describe how this can have an effect on our culture?
When leadership reflects diversity, it communicates that a range of perspectives and experiences are valued, not only within an organization, but across broader society. This can create a ripple effect, encouraging more inclusive thinking and challenging long-standing stereotypes. It contributes to a culture where voices are heard and people from all backgrounds are given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully. Over time, this can foster a society that is more cohesive, with greater understanding and collaboration across different groups and sectors.
Can you recommend three things the community/society/the industry can do help address the root of the diversity issues in executive leadership?
First, there needs to be intentional outreach to young people from diverse backgrounds to expose them to leadership opportunities early on. Mentorship programs and internships are powerful ways to help individuals from underrepresented communities build the skills and networks they need to succeed in leadership roles. Second, organizations need to be transparent about their commitment to diversity and hold themselves accountable by tracking their progress in hiring and promotions. Third, it’s essential to create equitable environments where all voices are not only heard, but are actively supported and empowered to contribute meaningfully to the decision-making process. This goes beyond hiring diverse talent — it’s about ensuring that those individuals have the resources and opportunities to succeed and make an impact.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is the ability to see the big picture and guide your team toward a common goal. It’s about entrusting others to do what they’ve been hired to do and giving them the autonomy to succeed. I often tell my team, “I don’t need to see how the sausage is made, but as long as you keep bringing it, we’re good.”
But leadership also means taking responsibility for both the wins and the losses — taking ownership for the strategic work behind the results. When I hear of leaders who avoid accountability for their decisions or their team’s outcomes, it signals to me that they don’t truly understand what leadership is. It’s not about the praise — it’s about owning your decisions, and helping your team navigate both successes and challenges. This mindset is something I carry with me from my time as an athlete. As a team captain, it’s your job to support your team through losses, take ownership of setbacks and create a path forward for success.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
1. Always be prepared. Preparation is key to building confidence and success in any situation.
2. Be like water. Stay flexible and adaptable. Life will throw challenges your way, but you need to be able to shift gears and go with the flow when necessary.
3. Trust the people around you. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Surround yourself with a team you can rely on and trust them to do their jobs.
4. Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and it’s okay not to have all the answers right away.
5. Take responsibility for your actions. Don’t shy away from ownership — whether it’s praise or criticism, take it in stride and keep moving forward.
You are a person of influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I would focus on rebuilding trust across all industries and walks of life. Right now, we’re living in a time when trust in business leaders, government officials and even neighbors is at an all-time low. This lack of trust is damaging our ability to move forward as a society. If we could find a way to restore trust, I believe it would have a profound impact on our culture and society at large. Trust is the foundation of healthy relationships, businesses and communities.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
If you’ve been listening closely, you’ve probably guessed it by now!
My favorite quote is “Be like water.” It’s something I’ve come to live by over the years.
Water can flow through anything, no matter the obstacle. It doesn’t force its way, but it finds a path. That’s how I approach challenges — being flexible, adaptable and finding a way through, even when the route seems unclear. In my life and career, I’ve learned that staying open to new possibilities and being willing to shift directions is my key to growth and success.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
I’d love to have a private breakfast with former President Barack Obama. I admire how he handled the enormous pressures of leading this country, and I’m curious about how he balanced being a President for all people while also advocating for policies that specifically helped black and brown communities. I’d also be interested in discussing leadership and the challenges he faced during his time in office.
Another person I’d like to meet is Robert F. Smith. I’m inspired by his success, particularly as a Black man in the venture capital world. I’d love to learn more about his journey and what it takes to get to his level of success in business and finance.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
To stay connected with my work, you can follow me on LinkedIn, where I regularly share professional insights. You can also learn more about my role with WTCA here: https://www.wtca.org/users/607-thomas-young, and stay up-to-date with WTCGP here: https://www.wtcphila.org/.
