Distinguished Visiting Scholar, The Johns Hopkins University
Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Former Chairman and CEO, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

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Earlier Education: B.A., English, Dartmouth College, 1968

On Leadership: “Leadership is persuading and motivating others to do difficult and important things.”

Hank Paulson’s leadership spans the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. During his 32 years at Goldman Sachs, Paulson rose through the ranks, becoming head of investment banking for the Midwest; managing partner; president and COO; co-chairman and co-CEO in 1998; and chairman and CEO in 1999, the year he shepherded the firm through its historic initial public offering.

When President George W. Bush named him Treasury Secretary in 2006, Paulson returned to the government, where he had worked in 1972 as staff assistant to the President on the White House Domestic Council. During his tenure as secretary, Paulson led the country through one of its most challenging periods of financial turbulence.

A lifelong environmentalist who grew up in Illinois wanting to be a forest ranger, Paulson served as chairman of the board of The Nature Conservancy. He and his wife, Wendy, have worked tirelessly to protect natural resources around the world, and the Paulson family foundation supports numerous environmental and educational causes.

Now a distinguished visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Paulson is putting his vast experience to work in academia. He is particularly engaged with China, a region he came to know during his Goldman Sachs tenure.

Paulson’s contributions to business education include service on the advisory boards of HBS, the Kellogg School, the Indian School of Business, and Tsinghua University.