Early Life and Education
James Morgan McKelvey Jr. was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School and later earned bachelor's degrees in economics and computer science from Washington University in St. Louis.
Rise to Success: Square and Beyond
In 2009, McKelvey co-founded Square with Jack Dorsey. Square developed a mobile payment system that allowed small businesses to easily accept credit card payments, democratizing commerce for small business owners. McKelvey served as Square's chairman until 2010 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Block, Inc. (formerly Square). Beyond Square, McKelvey has founded several other companies and initiatives. He is also the founder of Invisibly, which focuses on online content and LaunchCode, a non-profit that provides tech education and job placement.
Key Business Strategies
McKelvey's success is rooted in identifying and solving problems. His experience as a glassblower, struggling to accept credit card payments, inspired the creation of Square. He emphasizes innovation and a customer-centric approach. His book, "The Innovation Stack," details strategies for building defensible businesses.
Philanthropy
McKelvey is actively involved in philanthropy. He co-founded LaunchCode in 2013, a non-profit organization that offers pathways into the tech industry. In 2016, he donated $15 million to Washington University to construct the James M. McKelvey, Sr. Hall, which would be a hub for their growing programs in computing and data science.