James Whaley

Pioneer
DISC Type : DIS

President of the Board of Directors at Market Research Institute International

New York, New York, United States

Overview

Jim Whaley is the CEO of OvationMR, focused on co-creating growth for brands through data and insights. He is also the President of the Board at the Market Research Institute International and a Laureate at the Insights Association. Colleagues describe him as passionate, generous, and a creative problem-solver.

Outside of his primary career, Jim is passionate about producing Indie films. He draws inspiration from his family and technology pioneers like Gordon Moore. He is a sports fan who holds a strong philosophy of supporting the team as a whole rather than individual players.

In addition to his career in market research, he is also an independent film producer.

Personality Overview

Friendly But Fast

Driven But Considerate

Decisive But Friendly

If they are convinced, they can become very strong champions for your product  They have the unique ability to win both love and respect from their team (or outsiders) They combine a unique set of diverse traits where they are fast and friendly but can slow down to be thorough when needed

Topics They Care About

Data-Driven Insights
His work at OvationMR centers on helping brands make confident decisions by leveraging customer data, understanding behavior, and co-creating actionable insights.
Market Research Education
As President of the MRII, he leads efforts to create and promote educational content and programs that advance skills and best practices in the insights industry.
Indie Film Production
A self-stated passion, this is a significant personal interest he highlights alongside his professional focus, indicating a creative pursuit outside of market research.

Media Appearances

James has no verified media appearances

Work History

1-2026
President of the Board of Directors at Market Research Institute International
1-2026
Member Board of Directors at Insights Career Network
10-2025
Award Recipient 2025 at Insight250
9-2025
Laureate at Insights Association
10-2024
Council Member at Market Research Council

Education

1980 - 1981
Education details unavailable from Emory University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : N/A Location : New York, New York, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : President of the Board of Directors at Market Research Institute International
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Insights For Selling To James

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Showcase existing customers and use case-studies to grab their attention
  • Mostly stick to your standard pitch and qualifying script, but add some stories or anecdotes to it
  • Ask them for a lunch or coffee once some rapport has been established

DONT's

  • Don’t be too verbose or overly friendly; a little bit, however, is fine
  • Avoid focusing only on the product or its ROI, keep building trust subtly
  • Don't lean very heavily into providing too much information, sharing whitepapers etc.

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with James is

  • Nothing less than a strong combination of proof of results, relationship and high levels of professionalism is effective with them.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from James

  • They can say no while staying friendly, but can also be pursuaded to reconsider

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will James move?

  • They are generally fast movers and can take quick decisions
  • Can James take some risk or not?

  • They have high risk-appetite but can get ahead of themselves once in a while. Observe carefully

You And James

Personality Compatibility


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