Early Life
James Morgan McKelvey Jr. was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School and later graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with bachelor's degrees in economics and computer science in 1983. During his time at Washington University, he also worked as a glassblowing instructor.
Rise to Success
McKelvey's career began with founding Mira Conference Inc. in 1989. In 2002, he founded Third Degree Glass Factory, a glass art studio and gallery in St. Louis. In 2009, he co-founded Square, Inc. (now Block, Inc.) with Jack Dorsey, which transformed mobile payments. Square's card reader design was recognized by the Museum of Modern Art in 2011. McKelvey served as chairman of Square until 2010 and remains on Block's board.
Key Business Strategies
McKelvey has demonstrated a knack for solving problems, as seen with Square's creation. His willingness to embrace new technologies and build stable organizational structures highlights his strategic approach. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, he founded LaunchCode, a non-profit focused on tech education.
Philanthropy
In 2016, McKelvey donated $15 million to Washington University's School of Engineering and Applied Science for a new computer science and engineering building. He and his wife Anna signed The Giving Pledge. Their philanthropic endeavors are managed through The Alpha Epsilon Fund.