Meet Brenton Thompson

As an Associate Partner at ghSMART based in Omaha, Nebraska, Brenton advises Fortune 100 companies and private equity clients on high-stakes leadership decisions, from CEO succession to executive coaching and next-generation development. With an MBA from Kellogg and a background spanning federal bank regulation and strategy consulting at Bain, Brenton brings a grounded, people-first approach to helping leaders reach their full potential. His work is fueled by long-term client relationships, a passion for inclusive leadership, and a commitment to making a lasting impact – one leader at a time.

Meet Brenton: Discovering the Power of Leadership—and a Career with Purpose

Brenton Thompson didn’t grow up imagining he’d one day advise Fortune 100 executives. But looking back, it’s clear that each chapter of his career, beginning in bank regulation during the financial crisis, was quietly preparing him for the work he now finds so deeply fulfilling.

“Even in those early days, I was struck by how much leadership mattered. The strongest teams could navigate real adversity. The ones that couldn’t… struggled. That stuck with me.”

Brenton began his career at the U.S. Treasury, spending five years working directly with bank executives during moments of real stress. It gave him a front-row seat to decision-making at the highest levels, and sparked a growing interest in what set great leaders apart.

That curiosity eventually led him to pursue an MBA at Kellogg, where he broadened his view of business and discovered a passion for strategy. Consulting was a natural next step.

Leading Strategy and Organizational Design

Brenton spent seven years at Bain & Company, working across industries on growth strategy and organizational design. He loved the challenge, the collaboration, and the opportunity to learn from clients and colleagues alike.

But over time, something else began to emerge.

During an internal rotation leading Bain’s associate consultant program in Chicago, Brenton found unexpected joy in mentoring and coaching others. Supporting 150 early-career consultants, and helping them navigate staffing, reviews, and big career decisions became a highlight of his time there.

“It lit me up in a different way – guiding people, helping them figure out what energized them. I realized I cared as much about the person across from me as the problem we were solving.”

It was a formative experience – one that shifted how Brenton thought about impact. He began to see leadership not just as a business function, but as a human endeavor. And eventually, he found himself asking what kind of leader, and person, he wanted to be.

A Defining Moment

During COVID, Brenton hit a turning point. He was on a demanding retail case, working 7 AM to 2 AM while his wife, pregnant with their second son, managed life at home with a toddler. Though technically remote, the pressure of work left little room for family.

“I was physically there, but I barely saw them. And I looked around and thought, this isn’t the life I want long-term.”

He moved into a staffing leadership role to create more space and relocated back to Nebraska to be closer to extended family. Around that time, he got a call from ghSMART. He didn’t know much about the firm, but as he learned more, the opportunity struck a chord.

Here was a firm that combined high-stakes advising with real autonomy – where work didn’t have to come at the cost of being present for your family. Where you could do meaningful work with leaders and still make it to school drop-off.

Finding the Right Fit

Brenton joined ghSMART four years ago and describes the transition as both energizing and clarifying.

“It felt like I got to take all the parts I loved about Bain – working with smart people on big problems –and let go of the things that didn’t fit the life I wanted to build.”

Today, Brenton leads work primarily with Fortune 100 companies, focusing on CEO succession, executive coaching, and next-generation leadership development. He also supports a handful of private equity clients that keep his work dynamic and varied.

He’s especially drawn to long-term relationships, embedding with client organizations over time and earning the trust that allows real transformation to happen.

Purpose in the Next Generation

One of Brenton’s most rewarding areas of focus has been ghSMART’s NextGEN leadership work, helping clients identify and elevate emerging talent deeper in the organization.

He recalls a powerful example: a call center leader who had spent nearly two decades supporting customers, starting straight out of high school and eventually earning a degree through night classes. On paper, they didn’t look like executives. But Brenton and the team saw something different.

“They had incredible insight into the customer and their analytical thinking and strategic instincts were exceptional. They just hadn’t had a spotlight on them.”

Brenton’s work helped the company see their potential. That leader was promoted to Vice President, expanding their influence across the customer experience. The impact was immediate – and lasting.

It’s these stories that stay with him. Helping someone step into their potential. Watching an organization evolve because of one person’s untapped leadership. And knowing he played a small but meaningful role in it.

Designing a Life That Works

Brenton is quick to point out that the model at ghSMART isn’t just more flexible—it’s more sustainable. He works across multiple engagements at once, allowing him to adjust his bandwidth when life requires it.

“When our third son was born, I dialed back. When I’m ready to lean-in more, I do. That’s the beauty of it. I’m in control, and I’m still doing the work I love.”

Today, he picks the clients he works with, the hours he works, and the kinds of challenges he wants to take on. And perhaps most importantly, he has the space to be present at home.

From school pickups to coaching sports teams, Brenton no longer must choose between being a great advisor and being a great dad. And that, he says, is a game-changer.

Energized by the Long View

As he looks ahead, Brenton is most excited about the slow, steady impact that comes from deeply embedded advisory work. He’s coaching future CEOs, supporting CHROs through critical transitions, and helping entire leadership teams think more clearly about what’s next.

“There’s something incredibly powerful about walking alongside a leader for years – helping them grow, make better decisions, and have an even greater impact. That’s where I find the most meaning.”

He sees ghSMART not just as a firm, but as a place where talented, kind, and curious people come together to make leaders better and, in turn, make the world better.

Brenton’s full bio can be found here.