Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt is an American and German software engineer, entrepreneur, and author of four books. He is best known for his former role as CEO of Google, and for his contributions to the development of cloud computing. He has more than thirty years of experience in the technology industry and has served as Chairman of the Boards of Alphabet Inc. and Google, Inc.

Born in 1955 in Washington, D.C., Eric was raised in a family of engineers. He graduated from Yorktown High School in Virginia and the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science. Eric continued his education at the University of California at Berkeley and earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1979.

Eric began his career in technology with Digital Equipment Corporation as a software engineer. He also held executive positions in technology companies such as Novell, Sun Microsystems and Silicon Graphics. He became the CEO of Google at the time of its inception in 2001 and remained in that position until 2011. During his time at Google, Eric released several successful products and technologies, such as Google Earth and the Android mobile operating system.

In 2011, Eric stepped down as Google’s CEO and became the Executive Chairman of the Board. During his tenure as Executive Chairman, Schmidt served as advisor to Google’s new CEO, Larry Page, and helped shape the future of the company. Eric also held the position of Executive Chairman of Alphabet, which is a parent company of Google and its subsidiaries. In 2018, Eric stepped down from the board at Alphabet, ending his ties to the company.

Throughout his career, Eric has received numerous awards and honors. In 2014, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering as a Fellow. In addition, he has also been awarded the American Academy of Achievement Award, the Franklin Institute’s Bower Award, and the IEEE Internet Award.

Eric has also written four books, all focusing on the use of technology in business and life:

• From the Ground Up: How Technology Transformed the Business of Globalization (2005) is an examination of how today’s technology landscape has changed the nature of business globalization.

• New Digital Age (2013) describes how technology will shape the future of humanity and outlines steps for adapting to these changes.

• The Innovation Imperative (2015) outlines how companies can prepare for a world that is rapidly changing due to technology advancement and disruption.

• Trillions (2017) offers an exploration of how data is driving the most significant shifts in society and the economy.

Eric’s work with technology, business, and education have made him a highly respected figure in the industry. His books have been praised by readers and reviewers alike and have helped to define the modern conversation on technology and business. With his focus on the use of technology in business and life, Eric Schmidt is a sought-after speaker and has spoken at technical and business events worldwide.