Most bios about founders are written in third-person which is impersonal. I decided to do mine in first-person.
After all who is better to tell you about me than me. I guess this is an "autobio".
Lesson One: Know what rules to break and when to break them.
In my role as CEO/President of The Wright Group, LLC (TWG), I am involved in transforming ideas into products, services, or businesses; business
development; and the strategic alignment and integration of the portfolio. A primary requirement for investing in a
new venture is that the venture must have a connection with an existing TWG business or brand. My responsibility
is finding that connection. Lesson Two: There is a connection with everything. Finally I am responsible for
the financial growth of TWG.
Before launching TWG, I had a diverse career that included being an organizational
transformation consultant, strategic mangagement consultant, data strategist, parallel entrepreneur, systems
architect, project manager, software developer, educator/corporate trainer, business/entrepreneur coach, lecturer,
author/writer, poet, and musician. I worked with diverse clients that included startups to Fortune 500 enterprises in
various industries; non-profits; local municipalities; and legal, medical, and healthcare entities. I taught
for two New Jersey colleges and provided training to employees at corporations throughout the NJ/NY/PA area. While I
occasionally still teach and consult, the majority of my time is dedicated to managing TWG's portfolio.
I believe my diverse background has been the second most valuable asset in building TWG. Recognizing the connection
between my careers was invaluable. Each career or role made be better in the others. Being an instructor, consultant,
and entrepreneur made me a better instructor, consultant, and entrepreneur. Being able to tap into my creativity possibly
from being a poet or musician, made me a better professional.
More valuable than my experience was my "mindset transformation" whereby I recognize that "intellectual and
creative capital" were more valuable then financial capital. There is truth to the cliche, "poor, smart, and hungry" or as the billionaire
fund manager and founder of Gabelli Asset Management Company Investors (GAMCO Investors, Inc.), Mario Gabelli once
stated, "I like PHD's: Poor, Hungry, and Driven". A hungry dog hunts best! Rich, dumb, and well-fed people are not looking to change things. I believe in education as I
have spent quite a bit of time in schools but education does not make you smart. Smart people may or may not have
formal education. Smart people are resilient, adaptive, and responsive. During these complex, chaotic times, I trust
in surrounding myself with smart people with enormous imaginations who are driven to make the future better by doing
the right things today.
TWG was founded with purpose, passion, and drive and more intellectual than financial capital. Looking to do
something different and more challenging than my previous entrepreneurial ventures, I decided to take the risk and
launch TWG and thrust myself into the private equity industry with no previous knowledge. After almost 6 years in, I am
still a neophyte but I have been able to grow the portfolio.
TWG's initial portfolio consisted of the three businesses that I owned at the time. Then I used a
technique, "Entrepreneurial Development Process" (EDP) that I developed years ago which is a way of transforming
ideas and problem solving into products or businesses. I went through my digital and printed archives and dusted off
every idea that I jotted down. I worked on updating and transforming each idea into a meaningful product, service, or
business. It did not matter whether any of those products, services, or businesses made it to market because this was
a skill-building exercise to develop my idea transformation ability.
Lesson Three: Being creative does not require money. Lesson Four: Learning and access to knowledge are
available for free. Lesson Five: When you are financially challenge (aka "broke") make sure you have a
public library card which is free and access to the Internet. The former will provide the latter.
Lesson Six: No excuses.
Currently the TWG portfolio has over 100 brands at various stages of development consisting of independent
businesses, products, services, and community development initiatives. TWG is aligned with my life purpose which
is to make the world a better place so our portfolio is mainly comprised of personal, professional,
organizational, and community development entities.
The vision for TWG is to expand the portfolio in 2021 by investing in artificial intelligence, healthcare, and
eco-friendly/sustainability opportunities.
For my education, I completed the Executive Masters of Technology Management Master's program at Stevens Institute
of Technology and my undergraduate studies at the U.S. Naval Academy. I also studied at Wharton, University of PA.
I have taken a multitude of business, entrepreneurship, technology, and nutrition online courses at institutions
across the globe. I recently completed the Global Climate Reality Training program to become a Climate Reality
Leader.
I close by saying, I am thankful that I respect "poor, smart, and hungry" folks because I've been one during this
journey! Pursuing your passion requires sacrifice but its worth it. There is something majestic about creating
things especially things that will outlast you.
Here is the last lesson:
Lesson Eight: Create something every day. A poem, a song, a joke, a solution. It does not have to perfect.
Just create!
Feel free to reach me via email at dwright@thewrightgroupllc.com.
The I M portfolio is comprised of 4 major entities: