Jesse E. Thomas

Born: May 26, 1942

Jesse E. Thomas, formerly Norfolk Southern assistant vice president IT, did not let difficult or challenging tasks stand in the way of his desire to achieve his goals as a leader at work and at home. An Atlanta native, Jesse graduated from the historical Booker T. Washington High School and went on to study mathematics at Morehouse College. His son currently works for NS in the Accounting department. Below, Thomas shares some of his thoughts on leadership.

How did you lead or contribute to your community?

During my early years at NS, I was somewhat of a workaholic. However, I always found time to support my wife Charlotte with her projects. My initial obligation was to be involved in my children's activities as they grew, but this involvement motivated me to get involved in church and community activities as well. I am still active and supportive in my church.

What else motivated you to be a leader in the community and in the workplace?

I always aspired to be a high achiever, and I received great satisfaction in reaching goals with the help and through the input of others. Also, learning the biblical teachings of my church and the principles of Kwanzaa kept me grounded during trying times.

How important were these leadership roles to you?

In my opinion, if one leads by example and respect, the chances of completing a difficult task increases multi-fold over some other form of strict delegation. That principle has served me well in many supervisory situations. I led in the workplace by example and would characterize my leadership style as participatory, and hands on.

How do you recommend current NS employees get involved in their communities?

Just take a stand. So many issues need attention. You have to be willing to accept the difficult and challenging tasks. These tasks require some soul searching and burning of the midnight oil to be successful.

Who, in present or past society, do you consider a great African-American leader?

There have been so many great African-American leaders. I consider Martin Luther King Jr. to be the greatest. If I have achieved anything in the workplace or in life, the Rev. King paved the foundation. He was a leader by example, and he gave his life so many of the opportunities I experienced in the workplace could become a reality. From my perspective, if he could lay the foundation, I could certainly play on the playing field.