Jay Bailey, President & CEO at Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE)

James M. Bailey (Jay) is a dynamic force committed to his unwavering motto, “Build As We Climb.” With a transformative vision, he embodies the essence of a change agent, thought leader, entrepreneur, and emerging philanthropist, directing his life’s mission towards uplifting others.  

As the President and CEO of the H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), he leads the world’s largest entrepreneurial hub dedicated to empowering Black businesses. In just four years, under Jay’s visionary leadership, RICE supports over 360 entrepreneurs full time, generating an impressive $117 million in annual revenues, sustaining 1,600 jobs in the community, and sparking a staggering $470 million of new economic impact in the Metro Atlanta area. Jay and his team have transformed RICE into an economic empowerment and innovation powerhouse.  

An Atlanta native, sought-after speaker, three-time TED Talker, and die-hard Georgia Bulldog, Jay has a proven track record of success. His leadership and commitment to the community have been recognized by three U.S. Presidents. In 2012, he was one of eight Americans honored at the White House as a “Champion of Change: Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”. In 2016, President Barack Obama bestowed upon him the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his dedicated volunteer service.  

Jay has received the esteemed National Point of Light Award and has been featured as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s POWER 100 Most Influential Leaders in the City. He was also named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential” in the state.  

Focused on education, he serves on the University of Georgia Board of Visitors, as an Agnes Scott College Trustee, a Board Director for the Atlanta Speech School, and the Executive Board of the Veritas School of Social Sciences. Jay is a nationally recognized landowner and serves as a trustee for the Georgia Forestry Foundation and will be launching the Black Land Institute in the fall of 2024.