From Transportation Lawyer to Energy Drinks: Meet Thomas Lehrich
College is more than a place to earn a degree — it’s where we learn to be brave enough to stretch ourselves, to say yes to new experiences, and to start shaping the kind of leaders we hope to become. Few embody that spirit more fully than Tom Lehrich (Questrom ’87).
As you’ll see from our recent interview, Tom’s journey began as a business student at Boston University and evolved into a remarkable career that bridges business, law, and purpose.
Over the years, Tom has served in general counsel roles leading complex organizations and advising leaders on some of the nation’s largest infrastructure projects. His tenure as Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General exemplified his commitment to ethics, strategy, and public service.
Beyond his legal career, Tom is a fitness enthusiast and endurance athlete, constantly experimenting with training, diet, and mindset. Shortly after graduating from Questrom, he embarked on a months-long cycling journey across eight countries in Europe and nearly 5,000 miles, a testament to his perseverance and curiosity. Whether hiking, skiing, or cycling, Tom’s love for endurance mirrors his approach to leadership: courageous, bold, and forward-looking.
It’s no mystery why Tom was chosen as I Am Power’s first General Counsel. The company’s founder, NFL veteran and sports mentor Wali Rainer, instantly recognized the natural connection between Tom’s fitness philosophy and his business acumen. Together, they are building I Am Power, an endurance-driven movement that empowers individuals to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirit. The two motivate each other daily, trading fitness notes and fueling a shared mission to elevate wellness and human potential.
Through his insights, Tom reminds us that success is not a destination but a journey built on learning, mentorship, and resilience. His story challenges us all to take in every experience, to seek guidance from those who’ve walked before us, and to be the inspiration and the change we wish to see in the world.
Please join us in congratulating Tom on his new role as General Counsel at I Am Power, where he continues to merge business, law, and personal purpose to elevate the human spirit.
Read on for the full interview.
Q: From transportation lawyer to energy drinks — that’s quite a leap! What inspired you to pivot from government and law into the fitness and wellness industry with I Am Power?
Tom: When I graduated from Boston University’s school of management and before law school I joined Fidelity Investment in Boston. I was in a group involved with helping build businesses, staffing and consulting. As a young graduate I learned so much about companies and emerging markets in my first post college job. Part of that experience was learning from the variety of people at Fidelity that had deep business and finance experience. It began my path where I have enjoyed in most corners of my career building new organizations. In government, and while most folks don’t see government having start-ups-I was involved in building new organizations that were either new or did not exist. I am Power is part energy drink, part movement to inspire and build individual potential and growth. Leading the legal lines of business is a perfect match to tap my legal and business experience from government and startup. And most endurance athletes seem to think the same way. They know the path is a constant work in progress and you can’t be afraid to fail.
Q: You’ve spent your career advising leaders in both public service and the private sector. What leadership lessons have carried over from your time as Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation, OIG into your role at a fast-moving startup?
Tom: Making the best decisions possible goes to the heart of being a leader. To make and advise on making better decisions I have been comfortable in asking colleagues I trust for input on more difficult issues. The biggest lesson I can share today is developing a high level of self efficacy. Being proactive and knowing what needs to be done without being told what to do is essential.
Q: You’ve always pushed your own limits — cycling across eight countries and skiing intense alpine terrain. How has your passion for endurance and fitness influenced your approach to business and risk-taking?
Tom: I think about fitness training and business leadership as having enormous similarities. For instance-when we are working on a project I often use a fitness training lesson like discussing with the team that starting the project and finishing is the hardest part. I often need to tell myself the same thing. Having the resources to make the accent takes discipline and motivation. After climbing the mountain or hill you need to have enough energy to make the descent. That is important lesson for a cycling event as well as a business activity. I design much of my exercise as a functional component. That means I train for a specific activity, a cycling trip, a ski trip or a race. That involves visualizing the finish line and what needs to be accomplished. Starting a company is the same. Being able to visualize the finish line ahead of time is very important to success.
Q: The partnership between you and NFL veteran Wali Rainer brings together law, business, and athletics. How do those worlds intersect in building a brand like I Am Power?
Tom: The power of motivation, wellbeing and mentorship makes this such an amazing venture. Applying legal scholarship to building a brand that wants to elevate the human spirit. It is a homecoming for me. Both of us have also been lifelong mentors. Wali in athletics and I have enjoyed mentoring for decades young lawyers and entrepreneurs.
Q: Looking back at your time at Questrom, what advice would you give students and alumni who want to merge their professional expertise with their personal passions — just as you’ve done?
Tom: There are two dimensions in my journey to impart. First, I will tell students-every single day since college I use something I learned at Questrom.
At BU I gained a sense of independence and learned business acumen in many of the management strategy courses. My approach is to look at this as a journey and be open to reinventing yourself over and over. If you see a place in your journey to merge passion and work go for it. For instance I quietly started a publishing company called Red Barn Publishing which was an outgrowth of creating my own children’s book series the Adventures of Backpacker Billy and Shave. Those stories are books published based on trips, treks and hikes I have done in nature, and documenting wildlife. When I realized the barriers for children’s authors needed to be lowered to publish books, we started Red Barn Publishing. That comes to my final observation. Each individual business leader has their own strategy. Mine is storytelling and visualizing the finish line. Being able to tell the story, build relationships and collaborate is how I have navigated and it has helped merge for me passion and business. Telling the story, making the connection through telling the story is something I have used in all aspects of my professional and personal journey.
Interview and intro by Dee Polat, ICF-PCC, Director of Alumni Engagement, Questrom School of Business.
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