Vickie Thomas, a Georgia Tech alumna, has been named Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business’ Associate Dean for Executive Education. Thomas joins Scheller after an accomplished corporate career including the Coca-Cola Company and Equifax and served as an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leader at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. She is a results-oriented professional with a unique blend of strategy development, business planning, and operational execution experience.
“I am excited about the Executive MBA program continuing on the path of becoming one of the best in the country and the world. Excellence and innovation are in Georgia Tech’s DNA and we are uniquely positioned to lead in the areas of Management of Technology and Global Business. Our faculty, staff, and proximity to the technology ecosystem are assets that will continue to enable us to attract the top business minds. We also have some of the most ardent and committed alumni in the world. I plan to engage them more in our programs.
Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business is home to some of the world’s most renowned faculty and business minds. These thought leaders bring their expertise to our non-degree offerings. Companies are operating in a dynamic and competitive environment. Our non-degree programs are a critical part of how Scheller helps them to adapt and compete. It is critical that today’s leaders are updating their skills and knowledge base to innovate and grow their businesses in addition to advancing their careers. I am committed to continuing the excellence that the Executive Education and EMBA programs at Scheller deliver to the business community,” said Thomas.
Thomas is an alumna of Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and received her MBA from Georgia State University. In addition, she has a Six Sigma Green Belt certification, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Tech Women’s Alumnae Network.
“One of the proudest moments in my life was when I “got out” of Georgia Tech. I am just as proud to be coming back,” Thomas said. “The values, capabilities, and trailblazer spirit that I learned here continue to serve me well in my professional and personal life. Being part of bringing that and Georgia Tech tradition to others is an honor.”
Thomas spent 17 years with The Coca-Cola Company, starting her career as a Senior Project Engineer and holding roles such as Senior Manager for New Products and Packaging Innovation and Director of Innovation Capability and Business Transformation. She led the implementation of complex strategic initiatives including employee engagement and directed the rollout of the innovation process and IT solutions for the Coca-Cola North America business. She ended her tenure at The Coca-Cola Company as Chief of Staff to the President of Coca-Cola North America and drove the strategic plans for their sparkling business unit.
Following Coca-Cola, Thomas worked for five years at Equifax Information Services, first as Vice President for Strategic Growth and Business Unit Planning, and subsequently as Vice President for International PMO Strategy and Effectiveness. In her role as VP of the International Program Management Office at Equifax, she established the execution framework and led the change management efforts for that business.
Since 2017, Thomas held the role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leader at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Key objectives of this role included creating, developing, and implementing Backed by ATL program and directing the digital marketing efforts for the program. The initiative is geared towards accelerating revenue growth for next-generation technology companies, particularly the middle market technology companies in the metro Atlanta region. One key focus of the Backed by ATL program is talent development, which involved working with executives from universities and technology firms to identify key skills needed for the workforce of the future.
“I have been where a lot of our students are,” Thomas said. “I know the challenges that they face, and I understand what it takes to excel in the changing business environment. I also understand what it means to be a Georgia Tech alumna. I view this role as the capstone for my career. This is a rare opportunity to bring all my education and development experiences and networks together in one role. To have this experience at Georgia Tech is a dream come true.”
Learn more about the Georgia Tech Executive MBA program
Learn more about the Georgia Tech Executive Education programs