James MacLennan in

James MacLennan

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Founder and Managing Partner at Talking Tree Ventures
📍 Libertyville, Illinois, United States

James is the Founder and Managing Partner of Talking Tree Ventures, focusing on sustainability through innovative forestry solutions. With over 35 years of experience, he is a C-level advisor and best-selling author, specializing in digital strategy, innovation, and venture capital. He earned his BS from the University of Notre Dame and MBA from DePaul University.

Living in the Chicago area, James enjoys the outdoors and is currently writing his second book. His passion for creating a better world for his grandchildren drives his focus on sustainability and forestry, aiming for them to enjoy nature as he has. Colleagues describe him as strategic, charismatic, and highly focused.

He was a finalist for the 2018 Chicago CIO of the Year ORBIE Award in the global category for organizations with over $2 billion in annual revenue.

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Experience
39 Years
Current Role
Founder and Managing Partner
Job Level
Leadership
Location
Libertyville, Illinois, United States
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

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Priorities

Topics James cares about

Forest Tech
His current venture, Talking Tree Ventures, is entirely focused on advising and funding startups in reforestation, forest economics, and fire management.
AI Leadership
He is a frequent speaker on AI, focusing on leadership and strategy rather than just the technology, as evidenced by his recent keynote speeches and posts.
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Career

Work history

8-2024
Founder and Managing Partner
Talking Tree Ventures
1-2024
Corporate Strategy
VentureDNA
11-2019
Founder and Managing Partner
Maker Turtle LLC
8-2019
Author / Publisher
MT Press
1-2021 - 3-2023
Principal - Digital Advisory Practice
Hitachi Solutions America
In the press

Media appearances

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Education
9-1981 - 5-1985
BS
University of Notre Dame
1988 - 1992
MBA
DePaul Driehaus College of Business
Social presence
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Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

Dominance, influence, steadiness, and calculativeness scores with guidance on how this person prefers to communicate and decide.

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