Bill George

Bill George is a highly accomplished leader, renowned for his transformative tenure as Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, where he grew the company’s market capitalization from $1.1 billion to $60 billion. His executive career began in the private sector with significant roles including President of Litton Microwave Cooking Products from 1969 to 1978. He then joined Honeywell as an Executive Vice President and President of Honeywell Europe. George’s pivotal move to Medtronic occurred in 1989, joining as President and COO before advancing to CEO in 1991 and becoming Chairman of the board in 1996, a position he held until 2002.

George’s profound insights are frequently sought by major global corporations. He has contributed his strategic acumen through board service for prestigious organizations such as Goldman Sachs, ExxonMobil, Novartis, Target, the Mayo Clinic, and World Economic Forum USA. His significant contributions to business leadership have been widely recognized with numerous accolades, including election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2012 and the distinguished 2014 Bower Award for Business Leadership. He was also named one of the Top 25 Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years by PBS, recognized as Executive of the Year by the Academy of Management, and honored as Director of the Year by the National Association of Corporate Directors.

As an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, Bill George continues to shape the discourse on authentic leadership, influencing a new generation of global leaders through his teaching and ongoing mentorship. His prolific writing, extensive board experience, and proven track record of driving monumental growth position him as a leading authority on leadership and corporate governance. He remains an active speaker and advisor, continuously sought after for his unparalleled insights into building successful and ethical organizations.