Company > Advisory Board

Lynda M. Applegate

Lynda M. Applegate is the Henry R. Byers Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and serves as head of the school’s Field-Based Learning programs.  Prior to joining the HBS faculty, Applegate was on the faculty of the University of Michigan, University of Washington and University of Arizona. In addition to her academic positions, Applegate worked at Ford Motor Company in the 1960s and held management positions in the health care industry during the 1970s.

Applegate is an active international consultant and has served on the board of directors of both public and venture-backed companies. She is an advisor and advisory board member for senior executives launching new business initiatives in established companies and for entrepreneurs launching independent ventures. In addition, she is on the board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Technology Council, is a member of the Technology Advisory Board for NASDAQ, and serves on the advisory board for the World Bank’s Global Development Gateway. She also serves as a policy advisor on business and technology to the Comptroller General of the U.S., David Walker.

James S. Mahan III

James (Chip) S. Mahan III is the Chairman and CEO of Live Oak Lending, Inc, a specialty finance company.  Prior to Live Oak Lending, Inc., Mahan was the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of S1 Corporation, and co-founder of Security First Network Bank (SFNB), the world’s first Internet bank. Under his leadership, S1 Corporation grew to become a $234 million software and services provider in only six years, averaging more than 200 percent growth year over year. Prior to founding Security First Network Bank and S1 Corporation, Mahan launched Cardinal Bancshares, located in Lexington, KY, where he served as Chairman and CEO.  Mahan built Cardinal from the ground up to an $800 million institution in a few short years.  Before launching Cardinal, Mahan served as President, COO and Vice Chairman of Citizens Union National Bank & Trust Co. and moved into the roles of Chairman and CEO by 1984.  In 1986, Mahan formed an investment group that purchased Citizens Union and sold it to Bank One Corporation.

Mahan began his career in 1973 at Wachovia Bank & Trust Co. in Winston-Salem, NC, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Washington & Lee University.

James F. Walker

James F. Walker is a Managing Director and COO of Smith Barney’s Investment Advisory Services (IAS) division. Prior to joining Smith Barney, Walker served as CAO Americas for Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Group. In this role he had a variety of strategic, operational, and design responsibilities in support of Merrill’s $10 Billion Private Client business.  He served on the Firm’s Client Relationship Group (CRG) Operating Committee, and Deposit Pricing Council. Prior to his role as CAO, he served as a Managing Director of Merrill’s Wellesley, Massachusetts Complex, Director of the Norfolk, Virginia Complex and as Regional Sales Manager for the Mid-West District. 

Walker received a B.A. in Economics from the Catholic University of America and was a Sloan Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a SM in Management Science.  He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation and is a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association.