James MacLennan

Commander
DISC Type : D

Founder and Managing Partner at Talking Tree Ventures

Libertyville, Illinois, United States

Overview

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.

Personality Overview

Very Quick

Impact-Driven

Strong-Willed

They do not care very much about building rapport or relationships.  They are less concerned about the product and more about its potential impact. They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms.

Topics They Care 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.
Digital Transformation
A core theme of his 35+ year career and the subject of his best-selling book, "Don't Think So Much. "

Media Appearances

James has no verified media appearances

Work History

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

Education

9-1981 - 5-1985
BS from University of Notre Dame
1988 - 1992
MBA from DePaul Driehaus College of Business

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 39 Location : Libertyville, Illinois, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Founder and Managing Partner at Talking Tree Ventures
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Insights For Selling To James

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Be respectful but crisp
  • When negotiating terms, help them build an impression that they are the ones calling the shots
  • Hold your ground without indulging in one-upmanship

DONT's

  • Do not hesitate from asking counter questions, just avoid challenging their authority
  • Don’t take too much time in sending them information if they ask for any
  • Don't try too hard to forge relationships with them

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with James is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from James

  • If they decide not to go ahead, they will say no without hesitation.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will James move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can James take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And James

Personality Compatibility


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