I think in seasons, not days.
Most people optimize for the next quarter. I'm focused on longer arcs: building sustainable practices, multi-year training blocks, creating a family, investing in things that compound over time.
Core Beliefs
I believe AI is exposing a truth most people don't want to admit: most knowledge work roles were never actually jobs. They were poorly defined collections of tasks someone got paid to do. Now that software can handle 60% of those tasks, we're forced to ask what the actual job was supposed to be.
I ask uncomfortable questions, not to be contrarian for its own sake, but because industry consensus is usually wrong, or at least six months behind reality.
I build things to learn, not just to ship. Syndicate Running teaches me to step out of my comfort zone, as it's an apparel brand I'm building from scratch. Running teaches me about consistency. Writing teaches me about thinking clearly.
Current Season (2025-2026)
Work: President of Consulting & Growth at Talivity, leading AI and talent acquisition strategy. I help employers tie technology decisions to measurable ROI and cut through vendor noise.
Availability: I am available to speak on AI and talent acquisition topics at conferences, virtual events, and on podcasts. While I'm not available for competing consulting projects or advisory work in the talent acquisition space at this time, I am open to board positions in non-competing industries.
Building: Syndicate Running (Pacific Northwest running brand, late nights and weekends) and Battle of the Run Clubs platform. Publishing when I have something worth saying about AI, work, or building companies.
Training: 60-70 miles per week preparing for Boston Marathon 2026 (stretch goal: 2:39). Based in Bellingham, WA. Run with the Wet Bandits in Seattle.
Personal: Expecting my first child, a daughter, in March 2026 with my wife Emma.
Previous Seasons
2019-2025: Founded Change State (recruitment marketing consultancy), sold to Recruitics in August 2025. Successfully bootstrapped from $0 to a peak of $7M ARR.
2023: Was coached by the Mochary Method team for a season. That experience instilled a bias toward action over delay. Most problems don't need more analysis. They need someone to start fixing them.
2014-2019: Led global solution architects and sales engineering at CareerBuilder, scaling the team from 1 (me) to 84 at peak growth. Learned how to build systems that scale without breaking.
2012: Co-founded SeatSync, a mobile ticket marketplace in Chicago. Learned hard lessons about product-market fit and timing.
How I Learn
Most of my learning happens on solo runs through Audible and podcasts. Current rotation: Founders, Tim Ferriss, deep dives on business building. Recently finished Breakneck by Dan Wang (China's manufacturing iteration speed thesis).
I read voraciously but selectively. See what I'm reading.
Want to Connect?
Email me: grahamdthornton@gmail.com
Twitter: @thewaynorth
LinkedIn: grahamdthornton
Substack: gdthornton.substack.com
For speaking inquiries (AI and TA topics, building in public, founder journeys, running and business): email me directly.
For board positions in non-competing industries: email me with details about your company and what you're looking for.