Bill (MBA 1966) and Penny George

“We made a legacy gift so that our contributions will continue after our deaths,” says William W. “Bill” George (MBA 1966) of the planned gift he and his wife, Penny, established to invest in students’ character development and ethical leadership. “We feel it is important to support Harvard Business School on an ongoing basis.”

After studying engineering at Georgia Tech, Bill George came to HBS because it was a school for business leaders. Upon earning his MBA, he and six classmates worked for the US Department of Defense as civilians during the Vietnam War, answering President Kennedy’s call to give back. He then transitioned to the private sector.

“I’ve always been interested in how leadership leads to service,” says George, who served in senior executive positions at Honeywell and Litton Industries before joining Medtronic, a medical device company. He began as president and chief operating officer in 1989 and led the company as CEO from 1991 until 2001, serving as chairman of the board from 1996–2002. He returned to HBS as a member of the faculty in 2004.

“My whole goal in life is to have a positive impact by promoting effective leadership,” says George, a recognized expert on leadership who has written four bestselling books on the topic.

The Georges’ philanthropy has focused on promoting leaders who give back to society. Not surprisingly, the School’s mission resonates with them, their family, and their family foundation. The couple established the George Leadership Fellowship to support students enrolled in joint programs offered through HBS and Harvard Kennedy School.

Since establishing the fellowship, the Georges have supported numerous fellows who are selected based on their demonstrated interest in community and organizational transformation through public service, activism, or social entrepreneurship, as well as their commitment to working in two of three designated areas—the public, private, and nonprofit sectors—over the course of their careers. Among the alumni who have received George Leadership Fellowships are:

• Erin Patten (MBA 2015), Special Assistant to the President at The Kresge Foundation
• Seth Moulton (MBA 2011), Congressman, 6th District of Massachusetts
• Maura Sullivan (MBA 2009), Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, US Department of Defense

The Georges chose to expand their philanthropy by including HBS as a beneficiary of their estate. Through their planning, they will continue to support the next generation of emerging leaders who will make a difference in their communities. (March 2016)

Learn how you, too, can help educate leaders who make a difference by including HBS in your will, retirement plan, life insurance policy, or other estate gift.