St. Louis-Based Tech Leader to Headline Annual Rockhurst University Leadership Series
Innovator and entrepreneur Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Block, Inc. (formerly Square), and former chair of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, will headline the 2026 Rockhurst University Leadership Series event, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108.
A passionate and dynamic speaker on the importance of using innovation to solve problems, McKelvey will draw on an eclectic background at the ground floor of a game-changing tech startup, as a guide for U.S. monetary policy, and as a high-profile glass blower to argue for entrepreneurship as a foundation for community improvement.
McKelvey’s impact on global commerce is visible to anyone who has used a Square device, which allows small businesses like food trucks the ability to accept non-cash payments through their smartphone. Co-founded by Jim McKelvey and Jack Dorsey, also known for co-founding Twitter (now X), the company now employs over 10,000 people and has a market value exceeding $30 billion.
Since co-founding Block and witnessing its valuation surge to over $100 billion, McKelvey has continued his mission to drive innovation. He founded LaunchCode, a nonprofit organization that offers accessible programming education and enables individuals to secure full-time tech jobs in under six months. Now in its second decade, LaunchCode has helped thousands of graduates, all free of charge, with hub sites in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Kansas City (a site hosted by Rockhurst University). He is also the founder of Invisibly, giving online visitors more control over their data through micropayments. Other projects include developing the world’s first plastic-free disposable diaper and working to streamline the FDA drug approval process.
In addition to his work in tech, McKelvey served six years on the board of the St. Louis Federal Reserve, including serving as chair in 2022. He currently serves as a trustee of Washington University, now called WashU. He is the author of several books, including “The Innovation Stack” about how world-changing companies are built on a foundation of innovative, competition-proof strategies. His other works include two textbooks on computer programming and “The Art of Fire,” the leading guide on glassblowing, a field in which he is considered a master artist. His work in industrial design is featured in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. McKelvey also co-founded Third Degree Glass Factory, one of the largest centers for glassblowing arts in the United States, located in St. Louis. He and his wife, Anna, have pledged to give away their entire multi-billion-dollar fortune.
Following his keynote presentation, McKelvey will take part in a moderated panel discussion featuring local tech luminaries.
This year’s event marks the 14th edition of the Rockhurst University Leadership Series, a long-running tradition bringing some of the world’s foremost thinkers and luminaries to Kansas City to speak on aspects of their leadership. Past guests have included David Brooks, Caroline Kennedy, Joe Montana, Condoleezza Rice and Capt. Scott Kelly.
Also during the event, Rockhurst University will honor the recipients of the 2026 Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics, which is named for two of Rockhurst’s influential leaders: the late Tom Lyon, Ph.D., and the Rev. Nick Rashford, S.J. Established in 2014, the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics honors recipients who exemplify high ethical standards of business conduct with excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work and inspiration to others. Past recipients include Tom Lyon, Ph.D.; Jane Chu, Ph.D., ’05 EMBA; Mayor Sly James, ’80; Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.; Tom McCullough, ’64, and Tom McDonnell, ’66; Jean Dunn, Wendy Doyle, ’94, Lisa Ginter, ’87, Ama Karikari, M.D., ’07, Marny Sherman, ’75, and Bridgette Williams, ’16 EMBA; Joe Reardon, '90; Madeline Romious, ’95 MBA; Dave Harrison, ’81, and Denny Thum, ’74.
