Gabby Thomas, an Olympic medalist and Harvard graduate, has always prioritized purpose over profit. Her success in athletics and business stems from the values instilled by her mother, Jennifer Randall, who raised her as a single parent, as per Afro Tech.
Randall, now a professor at the University of Michigan, relocated the family from Georgia to Massachusetts with limited means while pursuing her Ph.D. Thomas considers her a role model, crediting her with shaping her work ethic and commitment to giving back.
“She showed me what leading with work ethic and compassion looks like on a daily basis,” Thomas told Afro Tech. “Furthermore, she led with a focus on education and giving back. She taught me that leaving a place better than you found it is not only the nice thing to do, but the right thing to do. She showed me that being great can be done in many ways — through discipline, kindness, and passion. This mindset carried me through every chapter of my life- from Harvard, to training for the Olympics, and now becoming a businesswoman.”
At Harvard, Thomas excelled as a student-athlete, setting records. Her career took off in 2018 when she won the NCAA 200m Indoor Championship, set a collegiate record, turned professional, and signed a multi-year endorsement deal with New Balance. This partnership marked a turning point, allowing her to build her brand with a full support team, including agents, financial advisors, and PR professionals, as per Afro Tech.
“My New Balance partnership was my first sponsor, and it was a total game-changer,” she expressed. “When I was in college, NIL (name, image, and likeness) didn’t exist yet, so my relationship with New Balance was my first time having a sponsor. Signing with them wasn’t just about a paycheck either, it was about aligning with a brand that truly believed in me from day one and a brand that could be a long-term partner.”
“New Balance saw me as more than an athlete; they invested in my higher education, they leaned into my interests outside of sport, and gave me opportunities to be vocal about causes that I cared about — all while providing me with the resources I needed to train at the elite level. So New Balance not only helped me make it to the Olympics, but they also helped set me up for a successful career beyond track.”
Beyond competition, Thomas is dedicated to improving community health. With a master’s in public health from UTHealth, she has worked with uninsured patients in Austin. Recently, she joined Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day for their Lots of Compassion initiative, which converts empty lots into community gardens. The project aims to establish 50 gardens by 2027, with 20 already completed.
“When I learned about Mrs. Meyer’s Lots of Compassion initiative, I was immediately inspired by its focus on health, wellbeing, and community. With my background in public health and my work at a volunteer health care clinic in Austin, I’m especially passionate about promoting equity in underserved communities,” Thomas detailed. “Supporting a mission rooted in compassion is a natural fit, and it just makes sense to me — it’s exactly the kind of work I believe in.”
For Thomas, success is measured not by accolades but by the impact she leaves behind. Whether on the track or in underserved neighborhoods, she remains committed to uplifting others.
