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Jack Welch

About Jack Welch

Remembering Jack Welch   

World-renowned CEO Jack Welch had a fierce passion for winning and a relentless drive to change the world. He founded the Jack Welch Management Institute in 2009, leaving a lasting legacy that paved the way for business leaders to excel.  

Born to a working-class family in Salem, Massachusetts, Welch attended the University of Massachusetts and received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He joined General Electric (GE) at age 24, worked his way up through many divisions and was named CEO in 1981 at the age of 45.

A business legend

In his 21 years as CEO, Welch transformed GE into a prestigious, high-performing business with his innovative management techniques. Revenues grew from $25 billion to $130 billion, income grew from $1.5 billion to $15 billion and the company’s market capitalization had an increase of more than $400 billion. His achievements have inspired thousands of companies worldwide to adopt the Welch Way.i

His passion for growing leaders

Welch had a deep love for teaching and inspiring leaders. At GE, he created one of the world’s top-tier corporate training centers, often leading sessions himself. He went on to teach as a visiting professor at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and regularly conducted seminars for CEOs and senior executives around the world.

His influence and impact

After retiring from GE in 2001, Welch focused on sharing his experience to help others succeed in business. He authored three best-selling business books: Jack: Straight from the Gut, Winning and The Real-Life MBA. As senior advisor at a private equity group, he helped managed numerous companies. And for four years he wrote a weekly column for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine. He even became a popular TV business commentator, sharing his insights with thousands of viewers.

Jack’s enduring legacy

We proudly honor Jack Welch’s legacy at JWMI, focusing on time-tested leadership skills that students can learn today and apply in their careers tomorrow.