Get to Know Travis Bole, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Human Resources Officer

When Travis Bole talks about his career, he often starts with a surprising confession.

“I am the accidental HR leader,” Travis said.

Originally a math and economics major, Travis, upon graduation, first considered a role as an actuary at a consulting firm in Seattle. That plan changed during the interview process when a leader who had just interviewed him pulled him aside to share that he saw him as too much of a “people person” to be happy as an actuary. He then recommended that Travis consider a consulting role on his team instead. That unexpected conversation redirected Travis to a role that first opened his eyes to the disciplines of organizational behavior, leadership and resource management.

More than 25 roles and 20 years at Bank of America later, that unlikely detour eventually led him to Foundation for the Carolinas.

From Banking to Purpose-Driven Work

For 20 years, Travis built his career in banking, taking on increasingly complex leadership roles and helping organizations navigate change.

“I always joke that I was 20 years into my three-to-five-year plan,” Travis said.

While he enjoyed the work, he began thinking about how he could apply his experience in a different way. Outside of his professional life, he spent years serving as a Scoutmaster, working with youth through his church and supporting community organizations like the Ada Jenkins Center.

Those experiences sparked a desire to connect his professional expertise with mission-driven impact.

When the opportunity to join FFTC arose, it felt like the right next step.

“I wanted to apply what I’d learned in a place where it felt more meaningful and substantive,” Travis said.

What drew him most was the Foundation’s unique position in the community. The organization manages significant resources and supports a wide range of charitable initiatives, while still operating with the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of a smaller organization.

“It’s a weird intersection,” Travis said. “You need process, structure and efficiency to survive, but you don’t have unlimited resources. You’re constantly trying to find the right balance.”

Learning Through Failure, Growth and Experience

When asked what has shaped his leadership style most over the years, Travis didn’t point to a promotion or professional achievement.

“All the tough experiences,” he said. “All the failures, disappointments and challenges.”

He believes some of his most valuable lessons came through making mistakes, learning from them and remaining humble enough to change course when needed.

Throughout his life, Travis considered himself a careful observer of people. His curiosity and strong desire to know how others think and respond to challenges has influenced the way he leads teams today. It has also played a significant role in helping him navigate challenging life situations. “Life brings us all enough stress and pain – one of my goals as I’ve gotten older is to avoid needlessly manufacturing more.”

One of the most formative experiences came at age 19 when he spent two years living in Italy as a missionary. Living abroad challenged him to adapt to a new culture, communicate in a different language and serve people from a variety of backgrounds.

Those lessons continued throughout adulthood as he raised four sons and spent a decade serving as a Scoutmaster.

Embracing FFTC’s Next Chapter

As FFTC enters a new era with new leadership, a refreshed brand and evolving priorities, Travis sees opportunity everywhere.

“There are a lot of meaty problems to solve,” Travis said. “Big ones that require new thinking.”

What excites him most is the chance to build upon the Foundation’s long history of community impact while helping address increasingly complex challenges facing the Charlotte region.

For someone who came to FFTC from outside the philanthropic sector, learning more about the organization’s history was eye-opening.

“It’s been amazing learning about all of the impact the Foundation has had throughout its history,” Travis said.

He believes the Foundation’s future success will come from combining its strong legacy with fresh perspectives, new partnerships and a willingness to embrace change.

“We’re in a moment where the environment around us is changing rapidly – forcing us to figure out how to adapt,” Travis said. “I like those moments where there’s a little discomfort because that’s where growth happens.”

Building a More Connected Culture

As COO and CHRO, Travis spends much of his time thinking about workplace culture and what helps organizations thrive.

For him, a strong culture starts with consistency.

“People want to know what to expect,” Travis said. “When culture is visible and predictable, it’s easier for people to onboard, integrate and operate in a way they know aligns with the organization.”

He also believes relationships matter more than ever, especially in an increasingly digital workplace that leverages AI more and more each day.

One area where he sees opportunity at FFTC is encouraging more informal communication across teams and departments.

“If there’s an email that could be an in-person conversation, we should err on the side of interacting,” Travis said.

Those conversations, he believes, foster understanding, create context and help people feel more connected to one another and to the Foundation’s mission.

“We’re an organization that’s trying to impact people,” Travis said. “So we should stay connected to people.”

A piece of leadership advice that has stayed with Travis throughout his career is a simple question: Who else needs to know?

That reminder continues to guide his approach to communication and collaboration.

“Making sure information travels appropriately, both formally and informally, is key,” Travis said. “Who else needs to know helps you think through how information should flow and how people stay connected.”

Life Beyond Work

Outside of work, Travis focuses his energy on two things: family and adventure.

He and his wife married after their sophomore year of college and spent their early years balancing full-time coursework, full-time jobs and the challenges of building a life together from scratch.

In their first year of marriage, the couple accumulated 12 W-2 forms. Between teaching Italian, working in a call center, serving tables at Denny’s, completing internships and holding research positions, they did whatever it took to make ends meet.

Today, they are the proud parents of four boys, ages 25, 22, 19 and 12.

Travel has become one of their greatest shared passions. Some of his favorite family memories include vacations at Lake Powell — on the border of Utah and Arizona — hiking remote canyons in the American Southwest and visiting destinations throughout Europe.

One recent highlight was completing the 18-mile, top-to-bottom Narrows hike in Zion National Park in Utah with his wife and two of his sons.

Closer to home, Travis finds balance through physical activity.

“I have to do something for an hour a day that makes me physically tired,” he said.

Whether he’s running, cycling, mountain biking, playing pickleball or wake surfing, movement serves as a way to reset and recharge.

In many ways, that mindset mirrors the approach he brings to his work: stay engaged, keep learning and don’t be afraid of a challenge.

 

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