Over the next few weeks, we're inviting you to get to know the speakers at this year's State of Innovation beyond the professional bio with our new Series, "4 Questions With...". Catch our previous interview with Diane Hessan here.
Corey Thomas is the President and CEO of Rapid7, a Boston-based IT security and analytics specialist, and the one-and-only Boston-based tech IPO of 2015. (Coincidentally, Rapid7 also won Tech Madness last year.)
Corey brings more than 15 years of experience leading companies to the next stage of growth to the Innovation at Every Stage panel at State of Innovation on June 7. Featuring companies of every stage and size, the panel will discuss how to create and maintain an innovative culture as a company scales.
4 Questions With...Corey Thomas
BostInno: How would you describe the "state of innovation" in Boston? Corey Thomas: Boston gets high marks in innovation from me; from our universities to Boston’s legacy of technology innovation, this city is consistently pushing the envelope. Companies in Boston, like Rapid7, are in a unique position to constantly innovate and build new technologies, driven by an ecosystem of top talent. You don’t get that in the vast majority of places. We’ve also found that Boston in particular is community-driven, and local collaboration designed to serve the greater good is also a powerful, positive influence.
BostInno: What's the best career advice you have ever received? Corey: Today is when you build the skills and perspectives that will serve you in the future. If you wait ‘til then’ it will be too late.
BostInno: What was your first job? Corey: My first job was a weekend janitor for local churches, which taught me that cleaning up messes didn't get easier with time. Sometimes you just got to get to it. After graduating from Vanderbilt, I started at Deloitte Consulting.
BostInno: What's your favorite watering hole in Boston? Corey: There are so many wonderful restaurants in Boston it’s really hard to pick just one…we had our annual holiday party at House of Blues Boston this past year and that was a great time.
Thank you, Corey! Follow Corey on Twitter at @Rapid7 and join him on June 7 at State of Innovation. See the full lineup of speakers at bostonstateofinnovation.com.
