William W. George is a well-known American businessman, professor, and authority on leadership. He is a Henry B. Arthur Fellow of Ethics and Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, where he imparts his vast expertise and unique perspectives on leadership and ethics. George had a notable career in business before entering academia, most notably as Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, a well-known provider of medical technology.

George has a background in both business and engineering. In 1964, he earned a degree in industrial and systems engineering with honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He continued his education at Harvard University, where he received recognition as a Baker Scholar and graduated with a Master of Business Administration in 1966.

His career began in the US Department of Defense, where he held a number of positions, including Special Civilian Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). George then made the transition into business, holding positions as president of Litton Microwave Cooking Products, executive vice president of Honeywell, and president of Honeywell Europe. He started working with Medtronic in 1989 as president and chief operating officer. In 1991, he was named CEO, and in 1996, he was named chairman of the board.

George has significantly improved company leadership and governance throughout the course of his career. He has held directorships on the boards of directors for illustrious companies like Goldman Sachs, Target Corporation, Novartis AG, Exxon Mobil, and Novartis. He was named a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2012, and in 2014, the Franklin Institute presented him with the Bower Award for Business Leadership in honor of his accomplishments.

Many people recognize George's leadership expertise, and he has written a number of important publications on the subject..

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