Bill Neukom, Former CEO, San Francisco Giants
Today, my guest is Bill Neukom, Microsoft Corporation's first General Counsel, former CEO of the San Francisco Giants and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the World Justice Project, an organization devoted to promoting the rule of law throughout the world.
Bill was Microsoft's lead lawyer for nearly 25 years managing its legal, government affairs, and philanthropic activities. He retired from Microsoft as its Executive Vice President of Law and Corporate affairs in 2002, served as Chairman of K&L Gates from 2003 to 2007 and was the Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Giants baseball team from 2008 to 2011. Bill grew up in my home town of San Mateo and earned his A.B. from Dartmouth College and his LL.B. from Stanford Law School.
In this candid conversation, Bill shared the real stories behind his fateful introduction to Microsoft, his childhood connection to baseball that led to owning the San Francisco Giants, and his ultimate mission to bring justice to the world.
1. Law by Default. Bill revealed that he chose law school somewhat by default, realizing in college that he lacked the laser focus required for medicine or engineering. However, his experience on his high school's student court and his parents' community activism had instilled a deep sense of social justice in him. He attended Stanford Law School—navigating the intense Socratic method in a small class—not with the expectation of earning a massive paycheck, but to put himself in a position to actively help people and promote fairness.
2. The Microsoft Miracle. Bill's massive career pivot happened simply because he was working at the law firm of Bill Gates's father. One day, Gates Sr. walked down the hall and asked Bill to keep an eye on his son's small, 12-employee software company that was moving from Albuquerque to Seattle. Serving as Microsoft's lead lawyer for over 25 years, Bill marveled at the young founder's brilliance. He was deliberately conservative with Gates's time, but noted that their strategic meetings were always inspiring, calling Gates the "smartest lawyer I ever worked with who didn't have a legal education".
3. A Major League Windfall. Growing up in San Mateo, Bill's lifelong love for baseball was sparked by living next door to the family that ran the San Francisco Seals. Years later, he used the financial windfall from his Microsoft stock options to fulfill a childhood dream by investing in the San Francisco Giants. He eventually became the managing general partner, but smartly relied on his corporate leadership experience; he actively supported the front office and clubhouse experts—like Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy—while deliberately staying out of their way.
4. Closing the Circle. Looking back, Bill views his latest venture as a way of "closing the circle" on his original, youthful motivations for entering the legal profession. He is the founder of the World Justice Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rule of law around the globe. By working to establish this crucial legal foundation internationally, his ultimate goal is to help communities worldwide achieve true equity, opportunity, and peace.
