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"Society throws up a lot of hurdles to people really trying to do it the right way, right? We, and the rest of society, should knock down those hurdles, but also give space so that people can thrive.” - Tom Vozzo
Success has everything to do with circumstance. Tom Vozzo believes that with the right support and opportunity, everyone has the ability to do good in them. His commitment to wanting to do good for others is what drove him to the nonprofit space after a nearly three-decade career in the for-profit world.
As the CEO of Homeboy Industries, Tom and his dedicated team focus on the rehabilitation and re-entry of gang members through transformative programs. Through firsthand experience, he has witnessed the profound effect of offering empathy and fresh opportunities to individuals facing challenges. This empathetic approach stands as a foundational pillar in Homeboy's remarkable success as an organization.
In this episode, Tom delves into the fusion of his corporate expertise with his unwavering commitment to investing in people. He shares insights on overcoming the scarcity mindset and imparts valuable advice for leaders in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
Contents
1 - Tom’s corporate experience
2 - Joining Homeboy
3 - Overcoming the scarcity mindset
4 - Building a supportive culture
5 - Balancing business and compassion
6 - Advice to leaders
CEO
Thomas Vozzo is the CEO of Homeboy Industries, the largest and most successful gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. He has over 35 years of global business experience in the service, retail, and distribution industries, where he led highly profitable and innovative businesses, such as ARAMARK, Galls, and WearGuard. Additionally, he has expertise in strategic positioning, mergers and acquisitions, work force development, and social impact investing.
In 2012, he joined Homeboy Industries as a volunteer and became its first-ever CEO, bringing his business acumen and vision to implement a mission-driven development plan that doubled the size of the organization. He has cultivated Homeboy's portfolio of job-training businesses, such as Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café, and Homeboy Electronic Recycling, and increased revenues from its enterprises to decrease its reliance on donations and government funding. He is passionate about helping those who live on the margins of society and addressing the challenges of racial, economic, and systemic injustices.
Tom is also an opinion columnist, author, and speaker on The Homeboy Way, a radical approach to business and life that is based on compassion, kinship, empathy, and social justice.
