Tim James
HE / HIM / HIS
Tim James is a business leadership speaker, focused on the role that effective leadership has on communities, and the intersectionality between community development and business growth. He is Chair of the Board for the Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF), an organization that works to develop deep relationships among people and communities to advance social, economic, and racial justice.
The belief that all people have value and that the most rewarding form of work is to help people reach their maximum potential.
Popular Talks
Leadership, Community Building, and Business Growth
My talks focus on business leadership, the role that effective leadership has on communities, and the intersectionality between community development and business growth. Fundamentally, my talks help the audience realize that perhaps the best way to succeed in business is by meeting critical human needs. Correspondingly, talks I give that pertain to social justice leave the audience realizing that with the right attitude, they truly can change the world in which they live.
Workshops & Consulting
Workshops
My workshops center around teaching the art of business leadership for an inclusive world. Through these workshops, teams learn how to embrace the challenge of leading with an inclusive mindset and how to pivot and get back on track when things go off the rails. In the end, participants leave feeling hopeful and optimistic about navigating the deep waters of effective leadership.
Consulting
As Chief Executive Officer and Chair of a social justice fund, I have a wealth of experience in advising organizations on how to grow, thrive, and make an impact. Drawing on years of experience as a consultant in various capacities, my service helps partners, identify, pursue, and achieve seemingly difficult goals. Your needs are unique, and so are my services. I’ll partner with you to come up with solutions that align with your areas of greatest need.
“Tim is one of those rare gems who possesses all the elements of effective leadership. He is very smart, empathetic, forward-thinking, goal-oriented and ambitious. Additionally, he is humble, very funny and a great listener. Tim’s commitment to make a positive social impact and help others understand the benefits of diversity and inclusion is extraordinary. He is a powerful and dynamic communicator, able to engage both small groups and very large audiences. We regularly invite Tim speak to students, alumni and prospective students; he always exceeds expectations.”
– Brendan McNally, Program Director, Brown University
“As universities and corporate groups convene emerging leaders in discussions about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, having business leaders like Tim James join that discussion adds measurably to the dialogue. Our students are eager to hear from Leaders with real-world experience, both professional and personal, that inform their strategies for navigating and changing existing structures, and often fuel their interest in achieving not just business goals, but social impact from those efforts. In this work, Tim calls upon his experience as a leader in the financial sector, Chair of a social justice fund, as a colleague among a cohort of Presidential Scholars, and as a father, son, husband and brother. In these conversations, Tim invites individuals to bravely share their experiences, in order to shape dialogues of purpose and understanding, and build teams and organizations with inclusive practices.”
– Bridget Akinc, CEO, Building Impact
“I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Tim James speak on several occasions and each time I am amazed. I hosted Tim on my business podcast to discuss leadership from the perspective of a rising leader in the corporate sector. He offered valuable insight that truly added value to our listeners. Recently, I had the chance to hear Tim speak to a large crowd of about 150 people at a charity event. I was in awe of Tim’s speech from a content perspective and found his delivery style to be top-class. When you watch or hear Tim speak, he is informational, poised, confident, and entertaining. As an aspiring speaker in my own right, I look forward to learning more from him.”
– Thomas Noah, Founder, Noah Legacy Consulting Inc.
Tim James is Chair of the Board for the Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF), a social justice fund that works to develop deep relationships among people and communities to advance social, economic, and racial justice. The LZF’s mission is to listen to those most impacted by inequity and provide the funding, essential resources, and support they need to create lasting change. Since its founding in 1995, the LZF has awarded over 1,500 grants and millions of dollars to grassroots organizations that are under the radar and generally not visible to large individual and institutional donors. In his role as Chair of the organization, Tim leads efforts to provide funding, leadership training, networking opportunities, and pro bono legal support to grassroots organizations across Massachusetts.
In the corporate space, Tim is Enterprise Head of Funds Transfer at State Street—a global bank with trillions in assets under custody and administration. In this capacity, he is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the funds transfer function across the globe. Prior to joining State Street, Tim worked as a program manager for the United States Air Force, where he managed a $1.9 billion systems engineering contract—assuring that 200+ projects directly supporting the U.S. military were on task and on budget. He began his career as an intern in the office of Newton Mayor, Setti Warren.
In 2022, Tim was selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar. This program brings together bold and principled leaders who are committed to facing critical challenges, both at home and around the world. The program is ultimately composed of leaders interested in honing their leadership abilities through
interactions with former presidents, key administration officials, leading academics, and business and civic leaders.
Tim is also a sought-after keynote speaker and leadership expert. He has addressed crowds at top universities and institutions. He deeply enjoys public speaking as well as teaching aspiring leaders how to improve their communication skills.
He holds an Executive MBA from Brown University and IE Business School, and serves on the board of Building Impact.
Let’s collaborate to ensure a transformative experience.