Integrity in Action: The Story of Jim Carlough
In a world where leadership is often defined by titles, Jim Carlough stands out for defining it through action, empathy, and enduring impact.
Growing up in the modest town of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, Jim’s life was shaped early on by both family tragedy and a strong foundation of resilience. From a young honor student to a psychology graduate and local political leader at just 22, his path has been marked by a rare blend of public service, corporate ascent, and unwavering commitment to helping others rise.
Today, as Chief Sales Officer at mPulse and author of The Six Pillars Of Effective Leadership, Jim continues to lead with purpose. His professional milestones are impressive, yet it's his dedication to developing future leaders, navigating team challenges with compassion, and promoting a values-based approach that truly defines his legacy.
In this exclusive feature, Jim opens up about the life experiences that shaped him, his proudest achievements, and the leadership philosophy he now shares with aspiring professionals. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a young professional charting your own course, his insights promise to inspire, inform, and encourage you to lead with integrity.
Read on to discover how Jim Carlough transformed adversity into purpose and carved a leadership journey worth emulating.
Early Life, Education, and Career Journey
Tell us about your early life, education, and career journey?
I grew up in a small town in Northern New Jersey, Pompton Lakes, population probably 12,000 at the time. My Mom and Dad were both born in NJ, Mom in Midvale, and Dad in what was called Franklin Township, or Wycoff today. Dad was a carpenter early on, his dad a mason before he ultimately went to work for DuPont at a local manufacturing facility. Mom took charge of focusing on the five children.
The focus on the children would become increasingly important in January 1969 when George, second oldest and oldest male, was killed in Vietnam. Six months prior, Sue, the oldest, graduated college and in September started teaching in the town we all grew up in. The younger three, ages 10, 8, and 6 at the time, became Mom's focus. To say this hit my Dad hard is a massive understatement, one in which he likely never fully recovered from and which changed his personality and demeanor.
For me, I was the middle of the bottom three and a classic middle child. I did manage to graduate high school as an honor student and then studied Psychology at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, graduating in 1983.
After entering the workforce, I also ran for local political office and won a City Council seat in November 1983. I was re-elected three years later before being relocated to Texas in 1988 by The Travelers Insurance Company. At Travelers, I stepped into mid-level management positions that further shaped my leadership path and advanced my career trajectory greatly.
Current Role and Passion
What is your current role, and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I currently serve as Chief Sales Officer for mPulse, a leading digital engagement company in healthcare. In addition, I released my first book in December 2024, The Six Pillars Of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap To Success. I spend my free time mentoring other leaders, speaking about leadership, and traveling.
What I have enjoyed most throughout my career is helping to develop other leaders and watching them lead with integrity, transparency, compassion, and empathy.
Proudest Professional Accomplishment
What has been your proudest professional accomplishment
There have been many, being elected to a City Council position at the age of 22, becoming a Regional Director before the age of 30, but most importantly, the many people I’ve helped grow and develop to be better leaders, coaches, or parents.
Career Challenge and Overcoming It
What is one major challenge you've faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I once ran a software engineering and support organization for a product that was slated to be sunset. The product itself worked great despite its legacy green-screen technology, which was rapidly being replaced with Windows-based solutions. The team was also not very large; I would say there were less than 25 people in total. The challenge was a declining customer base as we migrated people over to newer technology.
I made a personal commitment to them, which I lived up to. First, if a software engineer wanted to be retained to work with the newer technology, I would allow them to learn that while still supporting the current product. This ensured them the potential to transfer to the newer platform’s engineering team when the time came. For those who wanted to volunteer for new roles, we targeted relevant roles for each person and allowed them to be trained to fulfill these while still performing in their current capacities. Then, for those who didn’t see a future in retraining or new roles, I promised to give them as much notice as possible before reductions in workforce occurred.
For example, if we knew that a client was not renewing our contract or they were not interested in migrating to the newer platforms, that meant some level of staffing would be cut based on the reduction in revenue.
The amazing part about this story is that 100% of that team was never without an income, not even for one day, even if they left the company. I’m very proud of that statistic, but even more proud to say that this team also had the highest level of employee satisfaction within the entire company, an organization that had over 20,000 employees.
Staying Ahead in the Industry
How do you stay ahead in your industry?
Constantly reading, news releases, internet, forums, LinkedIn, and more. I probably spend 60 minutes early each morning catching up on industry-related updates, the latest leadership articles, and more.
Advice to Young Professionals
What advice would you give to young professionals aiming for success?
Keep your focus on your career goals, both long term and short term. Don’t focus on the money, money is not the pathway to happiness or fulfillment. Focus on enjoying what you’re doing and the positive impact you’re having on your business and your life. Most of all, Pay It Forward.
Conclusion
Jim Carlough’s journey is a powerful reminder that true leadership isn’t about position, it’s about purpose. From his early days in New Jersey to influencing the future of healthcare engagement and leadership development, Jim has consistently led with integrity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility to those around him.
As he continues to inspire the next generation of leaders through his work, mentorship, and writing, Jim remains grounded in the principles that have guided him from the beginning. His story is not just one of professional success, but of resilience, service, and impact.
To learn more about Jim’s work, insights, and leadership philosophy, visit his official website at www.jimcarlough.com. You can also follow and connect with him on:
Let Jim’s journey be a guide, for those striving to lead with heart and for those ready to turn challenges into opportunities.
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