Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt is an American businessman and software engineer who served as the CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011 and as the Executive Chairman of Google from 2011 to 2015. He is currently a technical advisor to Google and Alphabet, Inc., Google's parent company.

Schmidt was born in Washington, D.C., in 1955 and grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. After completing his Ph.D., Schmidt worked at Bell Labs and then at Sun Microsystems, where he led the development of Java, a popular programming language.

In 2001, Schmidt joined Google as CEO, a position he held for a decade. Under his leadership, Google became one of the world's most successful and profitable companies, with a market capitalization of over $500 billion. Schmidt guided Google's strategic direction, focusing on search, advertising, and user experience. He also played a crucial role in developing and launching many of Google's most popular products, including Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Street View.

In 2011, Schmidt stepped down as CEO of Google but remained the company's Executive Chairman until 2015. He then became a technical advisor to Google and Alphabet, Inc., Google's parent company.

In addition to his work with Google, Schmidt is a member of the Board of Directors of several other companies, including Apple Inc, and is a venture capitalist through Innovation Endeavors, a venture capital fund he founded. He also sits on several non-profit boards, such as the New America Foundation and the Aspen Institute, where he focuses on technology, economic growth, and public policy issues.

Schmidt is also a prolific author and speaker and has written several books and articles on technology, business, and public policy. In addition, he has been widely recognized for his contributions to the technology industry. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Marconi Prize, the Heinz Award, and the Dan David Prize.

In addition to his business and technology acumen, Eric Schmidt is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He and his wife, Wendy Schmidt, have established the Schmidt Family Foundation, which focuses on environmental sustainability and renewable energy. Through the foundation, they have supported various projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy, such as developing wind and solar power and adopting electric vehicles.

Schmidt is also a strong advocate for education and has supported various initiatives to improve access to education and training for students worldwide. He has served on the board of the Khan Academy, an online education platform that provides students with accessible, high-quality educational resources worldwide.

He has also been actively supporting education and technology in Africa through the partnership between Google and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) to provide education and training to African students and establish a center for excellence in mathematics and science education.

In 2020, Schmidt, along with former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, founded a new company, The Lincoln Project, to help prepare the U.S. government and companies to protect against Cyber-attacks and disinformation.

Overall, Eric Schmidt is a successful businessman, philanthropist, and public figure committed to using his resources and expertise to positively impact society.