During his senior year at Georgetown University, James O’Connor Jr. wasn’t sure what to do after graduation.
So he asked his brother, Fred, and Fred’s friends, all five years older, what they wish they’d done.
“They suggested I do a year of service,” said O’Connor, an English and government major. “If I didn’t do it then, once I’d started down a career path, married with kids, they said I’d never have another chance.”
That’s how O’Connor ended up one of the first three Americans teaching 600 freshman boys at an African Catholic high school.
“It was the most difficult challenge of all of the places I could have gone,” said O’Connor, who had never taught before. “People were living in mud huts. I was away from my family with no phone and no television. It taught me to adapt, integrate into the community and be part of a team.”
O’Connor, 40, is corporate vice president for technology acceleration at Motorola Inc., the Schaumburg-based cell phone-maker. “We connect the unconnected by getting technologies across the world,” O’Connor said.
Q. You’re the child of a former Chicago chief executive — your dad is James O’Connor Sr., retired Commonwealth Edison chairman and CEO. Why did you choose corporate life?
A. I’ve wanted to do that since I was 10. By watching my dad and his friends, I learned how a CEO-civic leader could make a major impact in the community. There’s something unique about the Chicago business community. They give back more than any other place I’ve been. I wanted to return here and do the same thing.
Q. If big business was your goal, why major in English and government?
A. I talked to many people about possible majors. The consensus was the ability to communicate by speaking and writing was key to whatever I wanted to do. So, I majored in English.
With government, I always found Commonwealth Edison’s involvement in government and public-policy work fascinating. I started reading historical biographies about political figures. That increased my interest.
Q. Your dad and mom are major players in civic organizations here. What did you learn from them that you’ve incorporated into how you approach work?
A. I learned the absolute importance of giving back. They never sat me down and told me to do it. But ever since I can remember, I’ve watched them and tried to do the same.
In grade school, my brothers and I had a lawn-cutting business for about 25 neighbors. When we’d go to camp, my dad cut their lawns so our customers wouldn’t be disappointed and we wouldn’t lose customers — teaching us character-building.
A neighbor said he almost drove off the road when he saw my dad, in his suit after a dinner event, cutting the neighbor’s lawn.
Q. You work about 80 hours a week; started the Field Museum Associates, a board for young professionals; and have twin boys. How do you balance work-life?
A. The year the twins were born, I helped start Motorola’s venture fund. We did 35 investments. It was the most intense year of my life.
I learned to adapt and balance. And I’ve got a great, understanding wife, Julie. Our sisters were college roommates. They set us up.
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Step by step
2004-present: Corporate vice president, technology acceleration, Motorola Inc., Schaumburg
1999-2003: Co-founder, managing director, Motorola ventures, Motorola
1998-99: White House fellow, special assistant to Bob Rubin and Larry Summers, Treasury Department, Washington
1996-98: Manager, A.T. Kearney Inc., Chicago
1996: Master of management degree, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston
1995: Summer associate, A.T. Kearney
1994: Law degree, Georgetown University Law School, Washington
1992-94: Trade law associate, Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington
1993: Summer law associate, Knauthe & Partner, Berlin
1992: Summer associate, Ariel Capital Management, Chicago
1991: Summer intern, Finance Committee, City of Chicago
January-June 1991: Paralegal, Sidley & Austin, Chicago
1990: Volunteer teacher, Pax High School, South Africa
1989: Summer associate, Ellinger Heath & Western, London
1989: Bachelor’s degree, Georgetown University, Washington
1989: Intern, office of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington
1986, 1988: Summer construction worker, McKay Contractors, Chicago
1987: Runner, Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago
