About
James Slezak is founder and CEO of Swayable. Previously he served as executive director of digital strategy at the New York Times, was a founding partner at Purpose.com, worked as a consultant at McKinsey, and co-founded Peers.org; he also holds a PhD in experimental physics from Cornell and studied economics with World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu.
Founder & CEO at SwayableYC W18
Intro paths
YC
James went through Y Combinator (Winter 2018) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Gustaf Alstromer — the partner who ran Swayable's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
→
In turn, James can intro founders to Swayable's investors below.
Experience
- SwayableCEO and Foundercurrent2017 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
- Advertising Research Foundation (ARF)Member Board of Trusteescurrent2026 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
- World Economic ForumCouncil Member, WEF Global Future Council on Information Integritycurrent2025 — presentDavos, Switzerland
- The New York TimesVice President and Chief of Operations, NYT Global2016New York City Metropolitan Area
- The New York TimesExecutive Director of Strategy (Digital Product and Technology)2014 — 2016
- The New York TimesDirector of Strategy2013 — 2014
- Peers.orgCo-Founder, Chairman2013 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
- PurposeFounding Partner/Director2010 — 2013New York
- McKinsey & CompanyEngagement Manager2007 — 2010
- Win Back RespectCo-Founder, Head of Digital2003 — 2004Washington D.C. Metro Area
- East Village Radio and othersRadio Show Host1997 — 2003
- United NationsGraduate Intern, Division for Sustainable Development2002Greater New York City Area
Skills & more
Entrepreneurship95Business Strategy70Start-ups60Strategy77Sustainability32Social Media43Strategic Communications18Nonprofits20Strategic Partnerships15Public Speaking13Management20Digital Media16
+12 more
E-commerceStrategic ConsultingStrategic PlanningPolicyManagement ConsultingSocial NetworkingAnalyticsSustainable DevelopmentLeadershipTeam ManagementWritingVenture CapitalLanguages French
From James's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is James Slezak?
- James Slezak is founder and CEO of Swayable. Previously he served as executive director of digital strategy at the New York Times, was a founding partner at Purpose.com, worked as a consultant at McKinsey, and co-founded Peers.org; he also holds a PhD in experimental physics from Cornell and studied economics with World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu.
- Where does James Slezak work?
- James Slezak is Founder & CEO of Swayable.
- What companies did James Slezak found?
- James Slezak founded Swayable.
- Where did James Slezak go to school?
- James Slezak studied at Y Combinator (Founder, W18 batch); Cornell University (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Physics); University of Sydney (BSc (Hons I), Mathematics).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
+ 8,766 more
Y Combinator mafia4,716
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3
+ 4,709 more
McKinsey & Company mafia337
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilConsultantFounded Brain Co.Tony XuBusiness AnalystFounded DoorDashAlexandre ProtAssociateFounded Smartven +1Inaki BerenguerAssociateFounded InfiniteWatch +2Ryan XueManagement ConsultantFounded Andco +2Max AhrensFellow InternFounded Maihem +2
+ 330 more
Cornell University mafia218
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
John ZimmerBSFounded Lyft +1Ian JanickiBachelors of ArchitectureFounded Outfit +2Ryan XueBachelor of Science (B.Sc.)Founded Andco +2Don MuirDyson School of BusinessFounded Arc +2Uri LopatinBAFounded Pardes Biosciences +1
+ 212 more
University of Sydney mafia35
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Jesse BuckinghamBachelor of EconomicsFounded Vooma +2Alek SafarianB.Pharm.Founded Vantage Biosciences +1Ryan JuneeBComFounded Parsable +1Ben SandComputer Science - 3.5 years completed.Founded Strong Compute +1Daniel DarlingEconomics Social SciencesFounded FocalPaul HunyorLLB / EconFounded OpenSC
+ 28 more
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyArhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports Ventures
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Cornell University919
Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerJenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesJohn ZimmerCo-founder of LyftMichelle FernandesInvestor at Index VenturesMicah RosenbloomGeneral Partner at Founder Collective
+ 913 more
Also attended University of Sydney355
Clay RobbinsForward Deployed Partner at Slow VenturesClare McCartney BeerCOO & Managing Director at Burda Principal InvestmentsTony NystenPartner at OpenOceanGustav von SydowInvestor at EQT VenturesMarlene Söderberg JohanssonInvestor at EQT VenturesNaomi GunasekaranDeputy Chief Financial Officer, Funds - Finance at Magnetar AI Ventures
+ 349 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Swayable1
Also worked at Peers.org2
Also worked at McKinsey & Company1,878
Elad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalAnn Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateJeremy LiewPartner at Lightspeed Venture PartnersMike SpeiserManaging Director at Sutter Hill VenturesJeremy LevinePartner at Bessemer Venture Partners
+ 1,872 more
Also worked at United Nations130
Michela PudduSenior Investment Manager - Sustainable Materials and Circularity at Emerald Technology Ventures AgVarun VarmaPrincipal at Fireside Ventures Advisory LlpMuna AbuSulaymanFounder & Managing Partner at Transform Capital ManagementMadi JacoxPrincipal at Dorm RoomAmanda AguayoCo-Founder, Hunted Labs at Red Cell IncubationMartina ValottaInvestor at Riverwood Capital
+ 124 more