Jake Thompson – Building a Business with Purpose, People, and Perspective
Most Iconic Male Business Leader to Look Out for in 2025
Jake Thompson’s business journey began long before he held any formal title or launched a company of his own. From a young age, he was drawn to the idea of business, leadership, and ownership, even if he did not yet know what shape that future would take. Growing up in a family where entrepreneurship was part of everyday conversation played a major role in shaping his mindset.
Jake Thompson | Speaker
Both of his parents were entrepreneurial in nature, and that environment naturally influenced how he viewed work, responsibility, and opportunity. Business was not seen as something distant or abstract. It was real, practical, and achievable, built through effort, learning, and persistence. We, at The EliteX, are proud to have Jake Thompson as the Most Iconic Male Business Leader to Look Out for in 2025.
His first real taste of entrepreneurship came during his college years. While pursuing his education, Jake joined an organization that allowed students to run their own painting businesses. This experience became a turning point for him. For the first time, he was responsible not just for completing tasks, but for managing operations, making decisions, and seeing how effort translated directly into results. The business was successful, but more importantly, it sparked something deeper. He realized that leadership and ownership were not just goals but passions. That experience planted the seed for what would later become a defining career path.
Do what you have to do today so you can build the freedom to do what you want tomorrow.
After college, Jake continued to build a strong professional foundation by earning a master’s degree in accounting. This decision reflected his practical approach to long-term success. He understood the value of financial knowledge, structure, and discipline in business, and accounting gave him a solid framework to understand how organizations truly operate. With his education complete, he joined BDO, a respected firm where he began what he believed at the time would be his lifelong career.
His years at BDO were formative. He gained exposure to complex tax work, professional standards, and the realities of working in a demanding corporate environment. The role helped him sharpen his technical skills and taught him how large organizations function under pressure. Later, he moved away from the city to take on another tax-focused role, continuing to grow professionally while adapting to new environments and expectations. Each step added depth to his experience, even though he did not yet realize how directly it would prepare him for entrepreneurship.
The most defining moment in Jake’s career came when his mother, Prudence Thompson, and his wife, Ana Thompson, decided to start WRS. At the time, he was deeply invested in his corporate career and did not anticipate making such a dramatic change. Being pulled away from what he thought would be a lifetime role was not an easy decision. However, once he joined the family business, everything clicked. It became clear that this was where his skills, mindset, and passion truly belonged. Looking back, he often reflects on that moment as one he should have reached sooner, though he also recognizes that the experiences leading up to it were essential.
Since joining WRS, Jake has been part of a journey marked by strong growth, confidence, and clarity of direction. The company has experienced several successful years, and the outlook for the future, particularly heading into 2026, is one of optimism and ambition. Being part of a family-led organization has not been a challenge for him. Instead, it has proven to be a strength. The trust, shared values, and aligned goals within the leadership team have created an environment where decisions can be made quickly and thoughtfully.
True leadership comes from compassion, humility, and understanding that growth often begins with challenge.
Jake’s inspiration to become a business leader is deeply rooted in family and mentorship. Entrepreneurship runs through his family tree, with parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles all having pursued their own ventures. Being surrounded by people who took risks and built something of their own made entrepreneurship feel natural rather than intimidating. Mentors along the way also played an important role, offering guidance, perspective, and examples of leadership that balanced ambition with integrity.
When asked about challenges, Jake takes a forward-looking approach. Rather than pointing to a single defining obstacle, he believes the biggest challenges are still ahead. For him, challenges are not setbacks but opportunities for growth. He views success as something that is earned through navigating difficult moments, and he approaches each new phase of his career with the understanding that complexity and pressure are part of meaningful progress. This mindset keeps him focused on what lies ahead rather than dwelling on the past.
Decision-making at WRS is grounded in logic, research, and collaboration. Jake places strong value on understanding the facts, evaluating data, and involving the right people in the process. Experience also plays a key role. Over time, he has learned when to rely on analysis and when to trust informed judgment. This balanced approach allows the company to move forward with confidence while remaining flexible enough to adapt when circumstances change.
His leadership values are simple but deeply held. He believes in working hard, being honest, and trusting that the rest will fall into place. He also strongly believes that no leader should aim to be the smartest person in the room. Surrounding himself with capable people and listening more than speaking are principles he actively practices. For Jake, leadership is not about control or ego, but about creating an environment where others can contribute meaningfully.
WRS stands out in its industry for several reasons. Its drive and approach set it apart, particularly its ability to remain flexible and tailor solutions to unique client environments. The company does not rely on rigid processes or one-size-fits-all thinking. Instead, it adapts to the specific needs of each situation. Teamwork is another defining factor. Being a family business has strengthened collaboration rather than creating conflict. Independence also plays a major role. Each team member brings an entrepreneurial mindset to their work, allowing new strategies to be implemented without unnecessary barriers. Adaptability remains central to the company’s philosophy, with a clear understanding that staying ahead of change is essential for long-term relevance.
Motivating and supporting the team at WRS begins with conversation and planning. Jake believes that understanding challenges at a human level is key to solving them effectively. By identifying pain points and addressing them directly, the team stays engaged and focused. The company culture is built on trust rather than micromanagement. WRS does not operate like a traditional 9-to-5 organization, and there is no emphasis on constant monitoring. Everyone understands their responsibilities and is trusted to deliver results.
Technology plays a significant role in the company’s growth, as it does for most modern businesses. Looking toward 2025 and beyond, Jake sees artificial intelligence as an increasingly valuable tool. While AI has already begun to shape workflows, he expects it to become even more integrated as the company moves through 2026. The focus is not on adopting technology for its own sake, but on using tools that genuinely improve efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making.
Success is built on hard work, honesty, and the willingness to keep learning from the people around you.
Jake believes that compassion and humility are among the most important skills for leaders today. He recognizes that success is often influenced by timing, opportunity, and luck, not just effort. This awareness keeps him grounded and open to learning. Staying informed about market trends is also essential, and he relies on a combination of business news, conversations with colleagues, and carefully curated information sources. For him, staying updated is less about volume and more about relevance.
One of his proudest moments did not feel like an achievement at the time. Leaving his previous career to join WRS was a difficult and uncertain decision. With distance and perspective, it has become clear that this choice defined his professional identity more than any title or promotion could have. It marked the moment he fully committed to building something meaningful alongside his family.
Maintaining balance between business and personal life has evolved significantly for Jake over time. Before the pandemic, long workweeks were the norm, and balance was rarely a priority. Over the years, he made a conscious shift from a live-to-work mindset to a work-to-live approach, a change that feels more important now than ever. Seven months ago, Jake and his wife, Ana Thompson, welcomed their first child, a life moment that reinforced the value of this shift in thinking. He reflects that stepping into parenthood would have been far more challenging without this change in perspective. The ability to be present, intentional, and grounded has benefited him both professionally and personally, proving that sustainable success is not just about output, but about building a life that allows growth at work and at home.
Looking ahead, Jake’s vision for WRS over the next five years is ambitious but focused. He expects the company to more than double its sales without expanding the team. This goal reflects confidence in systems, technology, and people, as well as a belief that smart growth does not always require increased headcount. Through discipline, adaptability, and clear values, Jake Thompson continues to shape a business built for long-term success.
