Meet Grady J. Connolly

Here’s the short version of my story:

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I grew up in a small town in southern Maine with incredible parents and a sister I’m lucky to call my friend. My parents didn’t go to college and never fell in love with their work, so from a young age I was on the hunt for my “why”—and determined to do work I actually loved.

 

I’ve been working as long as I can remember—pushing wheelbarrows of mulch for my aunt’s landscaping business at 10, bussing tables through middle and high school, and juggling multiple jobs during college. I've always loved to work.

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I earned the Archdiocesan Scholarship to The Catholic University of America—one of six full-tuition awards given to incoming students—plus enough private scholarships to cover all my room & board expenses. It was my dream school, and I'm beyond grateful to God. 

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While at CUA, I fell in love with the startup world. After graduating in 2021 with a business degree, I took a job in fintech for less than three months—just long enough to confirm it wasn’t for me—and jumped into the creator economy.

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I spent a year at a creator tech company securing brand partnerships for TikTok campaigns before deciding it was time to build something of my own. In 2022, I launched Social Thomist (named after one of my heroes, St. Thomas Aquinas), a social media agency helping creators and organizations harness social media and create content. 

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It’s been anything but boring—crafting strategies for pop artists, building six-figure audiences for exorcist priests (yes, really), sharing morning tea with the Dalai Lama (twice), and producing content in 20+ countries.

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I also create my own content where I share my travels, inspiring stories of faith, and document my 'Basilica Bucket List': visiting all 94 minor basilicas in the United States (churches granted special status by the Pope).

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Beyond content creation, I'm working on new projects and ventures with one big goal: helping shape a more virtuous and inspired humanity through technology and media.

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I live in Washington, D.C.

 

If you’re building something meaningful, let’s talk.