Shundrawn A. Thomas

Shundrawn A. Thomas

Title: Managing Director, Exchange Traded Funds Group
Education: BS, Florida A&M University; MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
What I’m Reading: Great by Choice, by Jim Collins; Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall; Boundaries, by Henry Could
My Philosophy: Every day is a precious gift. Live, love and lead with that in mind.
Interests: Reading, writing, running, community service

What is your most rewarding career accomplishment?

Although most of my career has been spent in corporate America, my most rewarding accomplishment was starting and operating a business with a partner for 5 years. Although we ultimately closed the business, I learned many things that I apply daily. The experience was rewarding in ways that simply can’t be measured in dollars and cents.

What’s the worst mistake a leader can make?

The worst mistake a leader can make is to betray or abuse the trust of others. You can recover from honest mistakes and even poor decisions. It is however very difficult to regain trust once it is compromised or lost. As such, a leader must act with the highest levels of integrity and humility.

What was the defining moment in your life/career in which you understood that you were a leader?

I was at a conference listening to a speaker on the topic of leadership. It was very early in my professional career. He espoused a philosophy that everyone has the capacity for leadership and can demonstrate it at any level. It occurred to me very clearly I’d been leading without formal authority from a very early age. I have the courage of my convictions and I enjoy serving others. That was a form of confirmation for me.

Company: Northern Trust
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Website: www.northerntrust.com
Business: Asset management & asset servicing
Annual Revenues: $3.7b
Number of Employees: 14,000