James Barrood
17 years leading an entrepreneurship center, then a 1,000-member tech council — now he elevates New Jersey's top innovators and champions the lifestyle business.
James Barrood is one of the driving forces of New Jersey's innovation ecosystem. From an entrepreneurial family, he led a university entrepreneurship center for 17 years, then headed the New Jersey Tech Council, growing it to over a thousand members across the New York–New Jersey–Philadelphia corridor. He created Innovate 100, the program honoring the state's top innovation leaders, and is launching a media venture — a TechCrunch for New Jersey. His counsel to founders: surround yourself with mentors, learn to leverage AI, respect the lifestyle business, and remember that taking an idea from vision to execution is one of life's greatest pleasures. Hear him on episode 042 of Return on Identity.
