Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Stanley.
Hi Adam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up on the south side of Chicago, I always knew I needed to work hard and push to achieve all that I really wanted to achieve in life. My parents instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I set my mind to achieve. With their push, I have been fairly competitive since my earliest years. I’ve been fairly successful in Corporate America but always sought out ways to do more and to make a greater impact and that’s likely why I became a realtor here in Austin and began working with nonprofits like Teach For America.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a black man in America, to get ahead, you must learn to adapt to working with so many different people. Some will think you are angry. Some will think you are emotional. Some will find you arrogant while others will question your confidence. Some will say you are too aggressive and others will tell you that you are too nice. You are either too masculine or not masculine enough. Black employees are judged negatively for self-promotion yet often left out of lists for promotions because they “are not visible enough”. And heaven forbid if you don’t fit into the stereotypical vision of a black man they expect: straight, religious, macho, “urban”.
Everyone will assume one thing or another about you without really taking the time to get to know you personally because ultimately they either fear you or simply do not find you relevant enough to take the time. As evolution works, those of us who advance are those who figure out the system enough to chart our path through an unequal, unfair, and incredibly biased system using skills that inevitably require us to be tougher, more resilient, and perhaps a bit less sympathetic to those who either have not had the same fight or have given up the fight.
We’ve been impressed with Teach For America and your other roles, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a driven, multifaceted man currently using my experience, education, successes and failures to concurrently perform in five positions. After spending the majority of my career in successful C-suite, in for-profit organizations, I recently decided to diversify my experiences and branched out to areas that would give me the opportunity to help people, give back some of the amazing input so many poured into me.
My current primary position is Transformation Advisor at Teach for America.
I left corporate America to join the fight for quality and equity in education by working as a Transformation Advisor to Teach For America (TFA).
I find my next role to be super rewarding. I am a Licensed Realtor in Austin, TX.
In this role, I strive to keep abreast of market research so that I can advise clients and friends on how to avoid the ups and downs of the real estate market and focus on what matters to their unique situation. I especially enjoy working with first-time homeowners, supporting affordable housing efforts and donating much of my proceeds to local charities. Whether someone is buying, selling or leasing, my job is to help clients reach their desired end as smoothly as possible.
I have the honor of being elected as a Board Member for three diverse companies: GATX, Church Mutual Insurance, and UBS Trumbull Property Fund.
As a member of the board for each organization, it is my responsibility to know and understand the company’s mission, programs, policies, and needs. I am committed to attending board meetings and prepared to actively participate by reviewing the agenda, keeping up with issues and trends that affect the organization and participating in the evaluation of business operations and executives.
Finally, I am a Professor of Practice for the Olin School of Business at Washington University, my alma mater, This position gives me an opportunity to put my education and years of experience into practice. Teaching theory enhanced with practical application will have a direct impact on students and the future of their chosen fields. I’m excited about the prospect of the personal influence my contributions will have on their lives as I give back to the academic community.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I recommend two very important things in this area. Firstly, do not let anyone limit you. Often times people put their mentors so high on a pedestal that the mentor becomes infallible and the reality is your mentors also have blind spots. They may Place limitations on you based on their personal experiences. That’s why my second recommendation is that instead of having one mentor you seek to have a group of individuals each from different areas of your life. This group can serve as a personal board of directors and allow you to seek diverse opinions on each of your major life decisions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adamtimothy.com/
- Instagram: Https://instagram.com/adamstanleyatx
- Facebook: Https://Facebook.com/adamtimothyatx
