Donald Thompson was 8 years old when his grandfather told him he would be the first millionaire in the family.
“And I remember hearing it and kind of, you know, brushing it off,” Donald said. “But as I started to grow and work, one of the things that always drove me was not the money, but the choices that financial stability, and then success, gives you. Those choices to give where you want to give. Those choices to invest in different things that you want. Those choices to work with people that you believe in, not from a financial standpoint only, but in the way they treat and grow people.”
In the premiere episode of The Path Uncut, host Greg Ng kicks things off with a powerful conversation with Donald Thompson—CEO, entrepreneur, and leadership coach—who shares his journey from humble beginnings to leading successful businesses. If you’ve ever wondered what separates good leaders from great ones, or how mentorship and mindset can shape a career, this is the episode for you.
Donald’s journey started in an unlikely place: a makeshift candy empire in elementary school.
“I had a Jolly Rancher sales business in elementary school and it was so successful I almost got suspended several times,” Donald said.
He wasn’t just selling candy—he had employees, supply chain management (lockers stashed with inventory), and even a lesson in corporate regulation when the school shut him down.
That early entrepreneurial spirit carried into his professional life, where he took an unconventional path.
“I had three different job offers, and Grant’s was the lowest base salary of all the three,” Donald said. “And 30 years ago, $10,000, $15,000 difference is a huge amount of money when you’ve got a young family and you’re not doing amazing, right? But I chose mentorship. And it was one of the best decisions.”
Donald believes that leadership isn’t about titles or authority—it’s about relationships.
“Leadership is a relationship,” Donald said.
He credits his success to great mentors who challenged him and invested in his growth. He’s now paying that forward, helping others navigate their careers and leadership roles with a focus on equity, inclusion, and empowerment.
One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is Donald’s approach to getting ahead, even when mentorship isn’t readily available.
“Most calls don’t need to be as long as they are, and most meetings are longer than they are,” Donald said. “I recognized that early in my career, so when I was selling to an executive at a company, when I was working with a partner, I would ask this very simple question: We have a 30-minute meeting. If we handle the things on the agenda in 20 minutes, could I ask you a few questions about how you became successful? I never had someone tell me no to that.”
That willingness to learn, paired with a fearless attitude, has been a driving force in his career. Throughout the conversation, Donald emphasizes the importance of taking risks and believing in your own potential.
“I order for us to have a problem-solving session, the best idea needs to win,” Donald said. “In order the best idea wins, we’ve gotta have true collaboration.”
It’s that kind of thinking that helped him grow multiple companies and coach executives on how to build cultures of success. And it’s the kind of insight that makes this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to level up in their career or leadership journey.
Donald Thompson’s story is packed with lessons on resilience, mentorship, and what it takes to build a career you’re proud of. Don’t miss this powerful episode of The Path Uncut—listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
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