Harvard Business School

Executive Education Fellow

True North by Bill George

Author

Harvard

Professor and Senior Fellow

Medtronic

Chairman and CEO

Honeywell

Executive Vice President

Litton

President, Litton Microwave Cooking Products

United States Navy

Special Civilian Assistant to the Secretary of Navy

United States Department of Defense

Assistant to Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)

Bill George is an Executive Education Fellow at Harvard Business School, where he was a Professor
of Management Practice and Senior Fellow teaching leadership from 2004-2022. He is
the former chairman and chief executive officer of Medtronic. He joined Medtronic in
1989 as president and chief operating officer, was chief executive officer from 1991-
2001, and board chair from 1996-2002. Earlier in his career, he was a senior executive
with Honeywell and Litton Industries and served in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Bill is the author of: True North: Emerging Leader Edition and True North Fieldbook:
Emerging Leader Edition; Discover Your True North and The Discover Your True North
Fieldbook; Authentic Leadership; True North and Finding Your True North, 7 Lessons
for Leading in Crisis and True North Groups.

He has served on the boards of Goldman Sachs, ExxonMobil, Novartis, Target, and the
Mayo Clinic. He is a life director of the Guthrie Theater, and is an executive committee
and board member of YMCA of the North. He has served on the board of World
Economic Forum USA, and board chair for Allina Health System, Abbott-Northwestern
Hospital, United Way of the Greater Twin Cities, and Advamed.

In 2014, the Franklin Institute awarded him the Bower Award for Business Leadership
and he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2012. He was named one
of the &quot;Top 25 Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years&quot; by PBS; &quot;Executive of the Year-
2001&quot; by the Academy of Management; and &quot;Director of the Year-2001-02&quot; by the
National Association of Corporate Directors. Bill is a frequent contributor to CNBC,
Fortune Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal and makes frequent appearances on
television and radio.

He received his BSIE with high honors from Georgia Tech, his MBA with high
distinction from Harvard University, where he was a Baker Scholar, and honorary PhDs
from Georgia Tech, Mayo Medical School, University of St. Thomas, Augsburg College
and 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 and his wife Penny reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Early in my career, I was in too much of a hurry to get ahead, not realizing the lesssons I needed to learn before I became a CEO. I wish I heard Ann Moore's advice back then.

Instead of following a timeline, follow your True North, your moral compass, and you will advance and realize your true passions. 

#TrueNorth #AuthenticLeadership

Bill George

Bill George is an executive fellow at Harvard Business School, where he was a Professor
of Management Practice and Senior Fellow teaching leadership from 2004-2022. He is
the former chairman and chief executive officer of Medtronic. He joined Medtronic in
1989 as president and chief operating officer, was chief executive officer from 1991-
2001, and board chair from 1996-2002. Earlier in his career, he was a senior executive
with Honeywell and Litton Industries and served in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Bill is the author of: True North: Emerging Leader Edition and True North Fieldbook:
Emerging Leader Edition; Discover Your True North and The Discover Your True North
Fieldbook; Authentic Leadership; True North and Finding Your True North, 7 Lessons
for Leading in Crisis and True North Groups.

He has served on the boards of Goldman Sachs, ExxonMobil, Novartis, Target, and the
Mayo Clinic. He is a life director of the Guthrie Theater, and is an executive committee
and board member of YMCA of the North. He has served on the board of World
Economic Forum USA, and board chair for Allina Health System, Abbott-Northwestern
Hospital, United Way of the Greater Twin Cities, and Advamed.

In 2014, the Franklin Institute awarded him the Bower Award for Business Leadership
and he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2012. He was named one
of the &quot;Top 25 Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years&quot; by PBS; &quot;Executive of the Year-
2001&quot; by the Academy of Management; and &quot;Director of the Year-2001-02&quot; by the
National Association of Corporate Directors. Bill is a frequent contributor to CNBC,
Fortune Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal and makes frequent appearances on
television and radio.

He received his BSIE with high honors from Georgia Tech, his MBA with high
distinction from Harvard University, where he was a Baker Scholar, and honorary PhDs
from Georgia Tech, Mayo Medical School, University of St. Thomas, Augsburg College
and 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 and his wife Penny reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Executive Education Fellow at Harvard Business School, former Medtronic CEO, and Best-selling Author | True North Emerging Leader Edition available now!

Today in Cambridge MA Penny and I will celebrate the life of our dear friend, David Gergen, with his family and close friends.
David was a giant public figure for six decades, but for us he will always be remembered as a friend who treated us with kindness and always expressed humility while offering enormous wisdom.
Rest in peace David, knowing you had a life well lived.

The difference with authentic leaders lies in the way they interpret their life stories. These provide context for their desire to have a positive impact in the world.

By reflecting on their stories, leaders understand how important events and interactions with people have shaped their approach to the world. 

Discerning our stories, and then reframing them as necessary, enables us to recognize that we are not victims, but people shaped by experiences that provide the impetus for us to become leaders. 

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eWJeAzF

As a political independent and moderate, I find it very hard to associate with either the Democrats or the Republicans, both of whom are pulling us further to the extremes.
This editorial in the normally left-wing NYTimes captures my views especially well: winning happens in the center by attracting moderate voters and looking at nuances of issues that voters care about - not the extreme positions of politicians.
https://lnkd.in/e-Tr-xqR

We have been in chaotic times for many years, and that reality isn't going to change, it will likely intensify. Therefore, successful leadership in this environment demands one crucial quality: courage.

To lead effectively and win in this ongoing chaos, you must follow these five essential principles:

Face Reality: Start with yourself and eliminate denial. Look at the worst-case scenario and lead your organization through it.

Be True to Your Purpose and Values: This is no time to compromise your moral compass or what you fundamentally believe.

Change Your Strategy and Tactics: Adapt rapidly to the changing conditions around you.

Bring Your Teammates In: Build solutions together; your team will have the creative ideas needed to navigate these challenges.

Go on Offense: Don't pull back. Be aggressive, make necessary changes, and find ways to win for your organization.

By committing to these principles, I am confident you will emerge a winner.

#Leadership #Courage #AuthenticLeadership #Chaos #BusinessStrategy

One of the greatest drawbacks in business is short-term thinking. It's a recipe for missed opportunities and ultimately, failure.

Leaders are chosen to lead, and that means having a long-term vision. It means making decisions that might not pay off immediately, but will build a stronger foundation for the future.

Organizations that flourish aren't afraid to make long-term bets. They invest in their people, their products, and their purpose. They know that true success isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.

So, if you're in a leadership position, ask yourself: What's your long-term vision? What impact do you want to have, not just next quarter, but years down the road?

It's time to shift our focus from short-term gains to long-term impact. That's how we build businesses that last, and a world that thrives.

Authentic leaders are defined by their character and guided by their purpose. They lead with integrity, staying true to a deep set of values that shape their decisions and actions. These leaders build genuine, enduring relationships by fostering trust and connection, inspiring those around them to achieve their full potential.

Authentic leadership isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are at your core. It’s a commitment to lead with purpose, honesty, and heart.

Discover more by visiting billgeorge.org 

#Leadership #AuthenticLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TrueNorth

One of the most important questions I ask leaders when discussing their True North is this: Do you have a passion for your purpose?

Authentic leadership starts with aligning your actions to your values and prioritizing purpose above profits. Leaders who follow their True North lead with courage, inspire trust, and create lasting impact beyond financial success.

I had the privilege of discussing this and more with Ilana Golan on the Leap Academy podcast. We explored what success beyond profits truly looks like. Listen to our conversation here: https://apple.co/3Wn81C4  

#Passion #Purpose #TrueNorth #LeapAcademy

Bravo to President Trump for cutting these deals to make GLP-1 weight loss drugs more affordable and to be covered by Medicare. This is a major step forward in improving the health of Americans.
https://lnkd.in/eKMGBmPi

The serious challenges that we all face in life are our crucibles. 

These are the real test of your character. If you explore your crucible deeply, it can be a transformative experience that enables you to reframe your life’s meaning. You can look back and draw strength from a crucible experience and use its meaning to shape your path going forward.

Learn how to harness the power of your crucibles with #TrueNorth: https://billgeorge.org/

Authentic leadership begins with radical self-awareness. 

The work of uncovering our strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers, often revealed through candid feedback and reflection on our "crucible moments," is the highest-return investment a leader can make. 

As the article from Chief Executive Group rightly notes, examining how our past influences our present behavior is essential for developing the empathy and consistency that builds employee trust. If you're not putting in the work to truly know yourself, you risk making inconsistent decisions and undermining the very people you are charged with leading. 

The payoff is nothing less than leadership mastery.

https://lnkd.in/eYkaAF_B

#AuthenticLeadership #SelfAwareness #LeadershipDevelopment #TrueNorth #CrucibleMoments

Raheem,
Tomorrow is your first day as Provost of Georgia Tech. Congratulations on your promotion which was no doubt influenced by the amazing leadership that has enabled the rise of all of Tech's engineering disciplines, most of which are in the top 2 or 3 ranks nationally. 
You are a great leader for Georgia Tech and a superb partner for Angel.

Provost - EVP l Former Engineering Dean | Board Director | Technologist (Cybersecurity, AI) (Opinions my own)

Today is my last day as Dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering. So many emotions, but the one that stands out most is gratitude. For the past five years, I’ve had the good fortune of waking up each day to work with an incredible group of colleagues who support the Dean’s Office. It’s wonderful to work alongside such capable and talented people—and it’s an added bonus when you genuinely like them and consider them friends. I’ve been fortunate to have that bonus for five years. Thank you, CoE Dean’s Office, for the best five years of my professional career!

Can money buy you respect?
Musk lost a lot of respect during his failed time in Washington running DOGE into the ground, compounded by Nazi salutes. Meanwhile, Tesla's automobiles are aging, and his promises of robotaxis and an AI revival seems just that: promises.
So in response, Elon Musk achieved his financial goal by getting his shareholders to approve a $1 trillion pay package to make him the world's first trillionaire. Will he meet the required milestones? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Musk seems to be relishing his money more than respect.
https://lnkd.in/eSq_nfGJ

U.S.-initiated trade war with China has a cease fire, for now at least.
Basically U.S. and China are back to where they started, with two notable exceptions: 1. American consumers are stuck with paying 47% more on their imports and 2.  China shows it only country willing and able to stand up to U.S. threats.
Now it is time for both countries to focus on their technology rivalry, not military threats.

https://lnkd.in/ejZjhBGi

Congratulations to President Angel Cabrera and all the Georgia Tech team who are making Tech Square Phase III and these towers come to life!

President at Georgia Institute of Technology

It takes a village to build something big. In the case of the George and Scheller towers it took committed donors (Scheller, George and Stewart families plus many others), audacious academic leaders, the support of a state that believes in higher education, and the best engineers in the world to make it all happen! To all of them, thank you for this transformative project in the heart of Tech Square!!! I can't wait to finish it and move in! #WeSwarmTogether #WeCanDoThat

The recent enthusiasm for the co-CEO model, evident at companies like Comcast and Spotify, is perplexing. 

As I’ve said, "I’m quite surprised to see these companies moving in that direction, and I’m not sure why they are. To me, it makes no sense, because somebody has got to make the big calls, and today there are a lot of big calls." 

Shared structures offer unique difficulties, such as diluting the singular vision needed to guide a company's True North.

For more on the wave of co-CEOs https://bit.ly/473zXAF

A very thoughtful WSJ editorial on why Supreme Court should rule against Pres Trump's unlimited tariff authority using IEEPA.
https://lnkd.in/euSrB-M3

A very thoughtful article.
Which version of America do you believe in?

https://lnkd.in/eDCYFEJi

Very thoughtful insights about CEO Succession,

taplio

Bill George's Linkedin Analytics

Bill George

Performance ScoreBill George's LinkedIn Performance

What is Bill talking about?

Bill George's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Bill George's Linkedin Analytics

Bill George

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Bill George's LinkedIn Performance

What is Bill talking about?

Bill George's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Bill George's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreBill George's LinkedIn Performance

Bill George's Best Posts (last 30 days)