Jim Pickell JD

Jim Pickell JD General Information

Biography

Mr. Jim Pickell served as President at HomeExchange.com. He is also an an advisor, angel investor and frequent speaker on the sharing economy and the future of travel. He joined HomeExchange as the chief operating officer in 2012 and immediately spearheaded three acquisitions, helping to double the company's membership, currently comprising 66,000+ listings around the world. Previously Pickell founded several companies including OpenEnglish.com, Latin America's leading online language school, now with more than 2,000 employees. He served as Senior Vice President of Sony Connect, where he led the digital distribution of films, music and ebooks. He started his career as an attorney focused on mergers and acquisitions, but ultimately sought to collaborate with like-minded thinkers and pursue ideas that influence positive change. His quest led him to HomeExchange.com, first as a member and now as a core part of what he calls "a 24-year-old startup." Pickell's wanderlust has taken him to more than 35 countries, including short residencies in Italy- his wife's home country-Japan, Mexico, and the U.K. He and his wife participate in authentic local experiences whenever they travel and value the relationships they have formed as a result. The couple recently celebrated the birth of daughter, Madison, inside an exchange home-a first for the company. That swap evolved into a long-term stay and a deep friendship with the owner. Pickell is a member of the board of the Family Travel Association and Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Argyros School of Business and Economics. Pickell holds a degree in economics from UC Berkeley, a law degree from Loyola Law School, and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA.