Cory L. Thames- Entrepreneur and Author of Every Kid's A Superhero

By Staff

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Honestly, there are several things that inspired me to become an entrepreneur. First and foremost, I have been a long time believer that the true vehicle to building generational wealth is through entrepreneurship. Second, as I continue to get older, legacy is becoming more and more important to me – not only from the imprint and impact that I leave on the world, but also building something that can be passed down to the next generation should they decide to pursue my industry. Lastly, throughout the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to take on some amazing roles in the government and nonprofit sectors. Starting my own firm allowed me the opportunity to capitalize on my experiences – both professionally and through organizations and/or boards that I’m affiliated with – to work on and with clients that I truly believe in with hopes of moving the needle forward for communities like mine.

Tell us about your book.
Every Kid’s A Superhero is an affirmational poem set to a children’s book that is designed to empower kids around the world to know just how special that they truly are. The book encompasses a series of affirmations that children would ideally read aloud daily with the goal of manifesting positivity no matter the circumstances that they come from.

What would you like for people to walk away with from reading your book?
I want readers to walk away feeling inspired. I want them to feel reaffirmed that they can do whatever they put their mind to. I want them to feel and embody the self-love that we all deserve. And lastly I want them to know that there is a superhero inside of each of us.

In such a competitive market, what inspired you to write a book?
This book – just like anything else that I really believe in – is a passion project and a long time coming. I have always considered positive affirmations to be a practice that I do daily. With so much negativity circulating through media about our communities as well as a slew of blanketed public perceptions, I wanted to produce something that reminded anyone who reads it – whether a first grader or an adult – that each of us are truly special and we can be the positive light that we want to see. But honestly, I wanted to produce something that reinforced the importance of believing in yourself.

What was your favorite book you read as a young person and how does it resonate with you today?
Dr. Seuss’s collection. The Dr. Seuss collection teaches valuable lessons that we can apply through the course of our life – lessons on friendship and leadership just to name a few.
What does success look like for you?
For me, success is directly correlated to the impact that I’ve had on the lives I’ve others. At the cornerstone of every decision that I’ve made thus far – whether professionally or through volunteering/mentoring – is the question, “how is this helping others?”. Therefore, if I can say that through the work that I’ve done I have made the lives of others better in some way, then that in itself is success.

What are your sweet spot topics for public speaking?
Government/Politics, Motivational Speaking, Resiliency, Black Male Experience

About Cory L. Thames

For more than a decade, native Chicagoan Cory L. Thames has worked tirelessly to bring about positive change to the city he has called home for his entire life – Chicago. With a career heavily rooted in the government and nonprofit spheres, Cory remains focused on empowering and bridging marginalized communities by using his experiences to create opportunities for those in need.

Cory currently serves as President & CEO of Thames Strategies, a full-service public affairs firm committed to delivering individualized strategies, tactics and solutions to a diverse clientele spanning the private, public, nonprofit, and political arenas. Our firm specializes in crisis management, government affairs, grassroots community engagement, communications, political strategy, and DEI initiatives.

Most recently, Cory served as Chief Engagement Officer for the Business Leadership Council (BLC) – Chicago’s premier association of African American entrepreneurs and senior executives. The goal of the BLC is to help cultivate opportunities to create generational wealth and grassroots economic development within the African American community.

Prior to BLC, Cory served as Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) where he led the Intergovernmental Affairs and Community Engagement divisions for one of the City of Chicago’s largest departments overseeing O’Hare and Midway International Airports. Prior to CDA, Cory served as Deputy Director of Community Engagement for the Obama Foundation where he led community engagement and government affairs efforts to bring the Obama Presidential Center to the south side of Chicago. In addition, he has held multiple roles across the government and nonprofit sectors including Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the City Clerk of Chicago, Assistant to the Mayor for Government Affairs under Mayor Rahm Emanuel and as Associate Director with Mentor Illinois.

Cory has long been an active advocate in his community. As Chairman of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, he is passionate about ensuring South Shore’s business community not only has the tools and resources necessary to operate, but the ongoing support and network required to thrive. Cory also serves on the Board of Trustees for Chicago State University and as a board member for Youth Guidance and Emerald South. Formerly, he served as the City of Chicago appointed board member for Metra. In addition, Cory hosts the CAN TV produced podcast, In My Own Words airing on Channel 19. Cory is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Cory earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree from Indiana University. Thames is a lifelong Chicagoan and proud resident of the South Shore community