William Thorndike

William Thorndike is an American author, entrepreneur, and private equity investor. He is best known for his book The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success, which has been widely praised both by business professionals and academics. His other works include Driven: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership, and The Outsiders: How Unconventional Leaders Rise to Power and Achieve Remarkable Results.

Thorndike started his career as an analyst for Bain and Company. After leaving Bain, he worked as a senior executive at a string of technology companies in California’s Silicon Valley and as a managing director at Maveron, an investment banking firm. In 2001 Thorndike founded his own private equity firm, Housatonic Partners, based in Boston.

In 2012, Thorndike's book, The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success, was published by Harvard Business Publishing. In the book, Thorndike looked at the stories of unique “outsider” CEOs who succeeded in spite of the odds. Through rigorous analysis, Thorndike derived certain lessons that enabled these extraordinary chief executives to create companies of extraordinary returns. The book was an instant best seller and received critical acclaim.

Thorndike’s book has been widely acclaimed by both business professionals and academics alike. It has been named “one of the twelve best books of the year” by The Economist, and featured twice in Harvard Business Review. It has also featured in Inc. Magazine, The New York Times, and the Financial Times.

Thorndike has also written several other books on the subject of leadership and has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Bloomberg Television. He has also served as a guest lecturer in numerous business and academic institutions, including Harvard Business School, the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2020, Thorndike released his third book, Driven: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, which uses data and tells the stories of thousands of people to refute old methods and develop new ones for inspiring and sustaining motivation in life and work.

In addition to writing and speaking, Thorndike is an investor in early-stage companies. He serves on the boards of several companies, including his venture capital fund Housatonic Partners. He also serves on the board of advisors for the Harvard Business School.

Throughout his life, Thorndike has sought to advance best practices in leadership and management. His books have inspired countless people, businesses, and organizations that have incorporated his innovative teachings and principles into their work. As of 2020, Thorndike's books have been published in eleven languages and used in dozens of countries across the globe. William Thorndike is undoubtedly one of the most influential and inspiring masters of modern business literature.