C-Suite: Denise Thomas

Fast Fact: Thomas joined WTCA in 2007 and was director of Africa, European and Middle East trade before being promoted to her current role in July.

If you weren’t in your current profession, what would you be doing? On a beach. No joke. My husband and I had talked about early retirement.

What is the most used app on your phone? Apple News+. I read a lot of news and like to digest it in short bursts.

What’s the most interesting thing about you that isn’t on your resume? I meditate an hour a day and up to three hours on the weekend. I also teach meditation.

In your company/industry, what are the main differences between pre- and post- COVID-19? We saw a near-complete cancellation of all trade missions. We’re big on face-to-face connections and international travel. That disappeared with the onset of COVID. Although travel is starting to restart, we’ve learned that digital meetings can be beneficial to our mission as well.

What keeps you up at night or worries you the most? Man’s inhumanity toward man.

What is one thing you would change about your company if you could today? Leverage our brand and the skills of our trade directors to help more Arkansas small businesses grow through the international marketplace.

What is the best business advice you have ever received? When people show you who they are, believe them.

What’s the most recent book you read? “The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Jack Canfield.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? Supporting human compassion and helping people live a more divinely-inspired life.

What is the best business advice you have ever given? Listen more, talk less (although I’m still having problems with that!)