13th December, 2021
Every year at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, we are very lucky to work closely with our group of advisory board members who help shape the way the IEC runs on a year to year basis. This year, we would like to welcome all of our returning members with a warm welcome and thanks for always supporting our center’s endeavors. The advisory board is an integral part to the IEC’s development with their rich knowledge and expertise in entrepreneurship with all the experience they have. With that being said, we would like to welcome two new additions to our advisory board: Jessie Irwin and James Thompson.
Jessie has spent her career leading marketing, communications, and business development in both corporate and nonprofit organizations, including a decade in the legal services industry. Jessie most recently served as CSO for IME Law, where she led global growth strategy for the firm’s digital media and immersive technology practice groups. She has extensive advisory experience counseling entrepreneurs, content creators, and start-ups in the emerging technology and entertainment industries.
Jessie currently serves on the World Trade Center Seattle Board of Governors and is a co-founder and board member of Open Foundation South Africa, a global NGO dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty, hunger, and violence through the provision of basic needs, psychological support, and sustainable skills training in Cape Town, South Africa. Jessie received her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University, holds a Master’s degree in Executive Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University, and an MBA from Brown University and IE Business School in Madrid.
Jessie says, “It’s an honor to join the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisory Board at Seattle University. I look forward to working with fellow board members and leadership to advance the vision and mission of the IEC, particularly during this unprecedented time of evolution and opportunity for businesses to succeed and make an impact across all industries. It’s a privilege to help steward the legacy and future of the IEC, to engage and prepare business disruptors and change-makers within the Seattle University community and beyond.”
James Thompson has rejoined his friends at Alexander Hutton as an advocate for the entrepreneur community, after leading the sale of HaloSource to Strix, PLC. Half of James' professional life has been spent in corporate finance (banking, investment banking and venture capital) and the other half, running companies as the CEO, CFO or functional leader on the leadership team (He led the team that completed the $80m HaloSource over-subscribed 2010 IPO). Throughout his career he has closed 40+ transactions and raised $250M+ in growth capital (debt and equity.)
James feels quite fortunate to be a member of the board of Directors of Brown Strauss, Inc., a $600M revenue steel distribution business headquartered in Denver Colorado which provides keen insight to overall economic activity across the Western US. He is also on the board of Directors for the Montana Ambassadors, serving at the pleasure of the Governor, which is a volunteer, not-for-profit, bi-partisan organization of leaders in business, education, and the professions with a common dedication to fostering economic development in the state of Montana. Having been on "all sides of the table” (operator, financier and intermediary) James brings a unique perspective to this advocacy work.
James received his BBA from Gonzaga University’s School of Business and his MBA in Entrepreneurship from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. Prior to business school, he held financial analyst roles at Continental Bank and Security Capital Group in Chicago.
While his roots run deep in Montana, he has made Seattle home for 25 years where he has raised his three kids, Sam (18), Maddie (16) and Charile (15) on Mercer Island.
The IEC is excited to welcome Jessie Irwin and James Thompson to the Advisory Board, said Kyle Vixie, IEC Advisory Board Chair. Jessie is an alum of SU who brings a legal marketing background with a focus on driving organizational change and social responsibility for competitive advantage. James has decades of experience in corporate finance and running companies as a CEO or in other executive capacities. We look forward to collaborating with them this school year, and in the years to come, for the benefit of SU students and the community at large.
Welcome to the IEC family and we can’t wait to see what we accomplish this year!