William W. George
Encyclopedia
William W. George is a professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School
, where he has taught leadership since 2004. He is the author of three best-selling books: True North, Finding Your True North, and Authentic Leadership; and is a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Medtronic
.
in 1966, where he was a Baker Scholar (highest honors). He holds his B.S. in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology
, where he graduated in 1964, where he became a member of the Beta Psi Chapter of the Sigma Chi
fraternity
. More recently, he received an honorary doctorates of philosophy from Georgia Institute of Technology and of business administration from Bryant University
During 2002-03 he was professor at IMD International and Ecole Polytechnique in Lausanne, Switzerland, and executive-in-residence at Yale School of Management.
; he was elected Chief Executive Officer
in 1991 and Chairman of the Board
in 1996. Prior to leading Medtronic, he held several executive positions with Honeywell
and Litton Industries
, including president of Honeywell's Space & Aviation business. He also served in the U.S Department of Defense. Mr. George currently serves on the boards
of Exxon Mobil Corporation (since 2005), and Goldman Sachs
. Formerly, he was a director of Novartis AG, Target
, and the National Association of Corporate Directors. He is a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
, World Economic Forum USA, and the Guthrie Theater.
He has served as chair of the board chair of Allina Health System, Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, United Way of the Greater Twin Cities, and Advamed.
. He is the recent recipient of East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation's Distinguished Alumni Award and received the same award from the Harvard Business School in 1997.
External links
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, where he has taught leadership since 2004. He is the author of three best-selling books: True North, Finding Your True North, and Authentic Leadership; and is a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO) of Medtronic
Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. , based in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the world's largest medical technology company and is a Fortune 500 company.- History :...
.
Education
George received his Master's in Business Administration from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1966, where he was a Baker Scholar (highest honors). He holds his B.S. in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, where he graduated in 1964, where he became a member of the Beta Psi Chapter of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
. More recently, he received an honorary doctorates of philosophy from Georgia Institute of Technology and of business administration from Bryant University
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
During 2002-03 he was professor at IMD International and Ecole Polytechnique in Lausanne, Switzerland, and executive-in-residence at Yale School of Management.
Career
Mr. George joined Medtronic, a medical technology company, in 1989 as President and Chief Operating OfficerChief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
; he was elected Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in 1991 and Chairman of the Board
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
in 1996. Prior to leading Medtronic, he held several executive positions with Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
and Litton Industries
Litton Industries
Named after inventor Charles Litton, Sr., Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001.-History:...
, including president of Honeywell's Space & Aviation business. He also served in the U.S Department of Defense. Mr. George currently serves on the boards
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Exxon Mobil Corporation (since 2005), and Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
. Formerly, he was a director of Novartis AG, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, and the National Association of Corporate Directors. He is a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
, World Economic Forum USA, and the Guthrie Theater.
He has served as chair of the board chair of Allina Health System, Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, United Way of the Greater Twin Cities, and Advamed.
Recognition
George was named one of the "Twenty-five Best Business Leaders of the last 25 Years" by PBS in 2004. He has received the Alumni Achievement Award in 1997 from Harvard Business School and the Legends in Leadership Award from Yale University in 2002. In 2001 he was named "Executive of the Year" by the Academy of Management and "Director of the Year" for 2001-02 by the National Association of Corporate DirectorsNational Association of Corporate Directors
The National Association of Corporate Directors is an independent, not-for-profit membership organization, dedicated to serving the corporate governance needs of directors of public, private, and non-profit organizations. Founded in 1977, NACD is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and serves...
. He is the recent recipient of East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation's Distinguished Alumni Award and received the same award from the Harvard Business School in 1997.
Selected publications
- Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value ISBN 978-0787969134
- True North: Discover Your Authentic LeadershipTrue North (Bill George book)True North, by Bill George and Peter Sims, is a best-selling 2007 business book and follow-up to George's 2003 bestseller Authentic Leadership...
ISBN 978-0787987510 - Finding Your True North: A Personal Guide ISBN 978-0470261361
- 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis ISBN 978-0470531877
External links
- Harvard Business School Faculty Biography for Bill George. (http://drfd.hbs.edu/fit/public/facultyInfo.do?facInfo=bio&facEmId=bgeorge@hbs.edu)
- True North Leaders (http://www.truenorthleaders.com/)
- Bill George homepage (http://www.billgeorge.org)
- Washington Post Leadership Panel (http://views.washingtonpost.com/leadership/panelists/bill_george/)
- Charlie Rose conversation with Bill George (http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/6147)
- Business Week Archives (http://www.businessweek.com/bios/Bill_George.htm)