Biography
Professor Tomm Polos holds the distinguished honor of receiving the first full-time appointment in Creative Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California (USC). As an early adopter and advocate of short-form media, Polos has been instrumental in pioneering an academic understanding of the creator economy. A professional personality, award-winning spokesperson, and creator economist, Tomm Polos emphasizes the importance of blending modern communication strategies with authenticity to grow viewership across diverse platforms.
Polos has been the prominent face and voice of numerous renowned brands, including the largest telecommunication company in the world: AT&T. His dynamic presence has taken him nationwide, hosting livestreams, red carpets and pregame shows at high-profile events such as the Tribeca Film Festival, Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Oracle Park and the NCAA Final Four, as well as corporate Family Feud, city celebrations and executive events in Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston and more. He has interviewed Olympians, NFL players, GRAMMY-winning musicians and actors from Netflix, Max, Hulu, Prime Video and more. Through the consulting firm K.B.Z.N., he has empowered countless TikTok creators, YouTube channels and even military leaders to gain millions of views and followers. Polos is passionate about connecting people and ideas, advising top streamers, musicians, gamers and major brands on content studio integration.
Polos’s extensive expertise extends from national commercial, radio, television and livestream campaigns to shaping and forecasting trends in the evolving landscape of Web 3.0, always with a focus on content viability and salability. His influence is also felt closer to campus, where he has served on the USC Alumni’s Board of Governors, chaired the SDA Alumni Leadership Council and participated on the advisory board of the Institute of Theatre and Social Change. He has spoken at five commencement ceremonies, was selected keynote speaker at the USC Center for Public Relations, received the prestigious James B. Widney Award and even portrayed the iconic Tommy Trojan for men’s and women’s basketball.
As co-founder of the course Creator as Entrepreneur, alongside Dr. Emily Roxworthy, Polos continues to champion professional preparation for students, equipping them with relevant coursework to navigate an ever-changing professional landscape. His commitment to history, humor and hyper innovation underscores his role as a pivotal player in the realms of creative entrepreneurship and media. The proud Katonah native shares in the philosophy of friend and mentor, Dr. Angus Fletcher, that “creativity boosts self-efficacy and resilience.” You can reliably find Tomm Polos walking, talking, with a Coca-Cola in hand, discussing the new frontiers of storytelling and story-selling.
Professor Polos and his office on Creative Entrepreneurship are located in MCC.