Bill Fournet, CEO and Navigator of Chaos, The Persimmon Group
Deep Dive: Mission-Based Teams: Reinvent the Way You Work
Fueled by his belief that to stay viable in today’s ever-changing world we need to approach work differently, CEO Bill Fournet actively supports leaders as a management consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker. Bill delivers thought-provoking, practical programs to help you better lead for tomorrow by understanding workforce trends and how to stay ahead of the curve in times of great change. In all his work, Bill leverages more than 25 years of experience in leading successful teams to give leaders the tools and guidance they need to thrive in any situation.
Bill focuses on helping leaders to get more control so they can have more time to spend with their families and to do what they love. That’s why in 2004, on the heels of years of experience in project management and leadership for companies that included AT&T, IBM, and MTV Networks, Bill founded the award-winning management consulting firm, The Persimmon Group. Believing that “corporate” life could be full of passionate and engaged people, he established a unique business philosophy and culture at Persimmon, with recent accolades including being named one of the Best Places to Work.
A proponent of diverse and forward-thinking leadership, Bill is a Society of Fellows member of The Aspen Institute, a global nonprofit organization that drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world.
As an avid backpacker and Scout, Bill relishes outdoor adventures, having backpacked hundreds of miles, summitted 14,000-foot mountains, and paddled the Canadian Boundary Waters. He currently serves as an Executive Board Member for the Boy Scouts of America Indian Nations Council; District Chair for Tulsa Scouting, and Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 26.
Believing strongly in giving back, Bill is a Member of the Executive Advisory Board of the Collins College of Business at the University of Tulsa, where he helps to empower the next generation of business leaders. Bill also serves as past Chair for Growing Together, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty through building vibrant, engaged communities within impoverished neighborhoods. He also is Committee Chair for STEAM Post 26, a FIRST Robotics program providing incredible STEM-related opportunities to local youth.
A military and history buff, Bill earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in History from Oklahoma State University. He and his wife, Christy, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and have three sons.