Harry Kraemer

Kellogg School of Management Professor, Former CEO of Baxter International, and Bestselling Author

Topics: Healthcare & Healthcare Policy, Business Leadership, Leadership, Entrepreneur, Strategy, Best Selling Author, TED Speakers, Business, Finances, Economy, World Affairs, Health & Well-Being

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Biography

Harry Kramer Jr. is an executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity firm based in Chicago, Illinois and a Clinical Professor of Management and Strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He was named the 2008 Kellogg School Professor of the Year. Harry is the author of two bestselling leadership books From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership and Becoming The Best: Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based Leadership.

He is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter International Inc., a $12 billion global healthcare company. He became Baxter’s chief executive officer in January 1999, and assumed the additional responsibility of chairman of Baxter’s board of directors in January 2000.

Mr. Kraemer joined Baxter in 1982 as director of corporate development. His twenty three year career at Baxter included senior positions in both domestic and international operations. In 1993, he was named senior vice president and chief financial officer, responsible for financial operations, business development, global communications, and European operations. Over the next several years, he assumed additional responsibility for Baxter’s Renal and Medication Delivery businesses. He was elected to Baxter’s board of directors in 1995, and was named president of Baxter International Inc. in 1997.

Before joining Baxter, Mr. Kraemer worked for Bank of America in corporate banking and for Northwest Industries in planning and business development.

Mr. Kraemer is active in business, education and civic affairs. He serves on the board of directors of Leidos Corporation, Dentsply Sirona ,OptionCare, Performance Health, Alcami and on the board of trustees of Northwestern University, The Conference Board, NorthShore University Healthsystem and the Archdiocese of Chicago Finance Committee and School Board.

He is a member of the Dean’s Global Advisory Board of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a life director of Northwestern University. He is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the Economics Club of Chicago. He is a past member of the Business Roundtable, the Business Council, and the Healthcare Leadership Council.

Mr. Kraemer graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University of Wisconsin in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. He received an MBA degree in finance and accounting from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1979 and is a certified public accountant. For his outstanding leadership and service, he received the 1996 Schaffner Award from the Kellogg School of Management. Harry enjoys jogging, tennis, skiing and reading, especially world civilization. Harry, his wife Julie, and their five children live in Wilmette, Illinois.

Videos

One string banjo. How Harry Kraemer got started with self reflection.

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

The Four Principles of Value Based Leadership

Sometimes "doing the right thing" while also delivering outstanding and lasting results can be difficult for leaders to achieve, but Harry Kraemer knows it can be done.

In this dynamic book for existing and aspiring leaders, From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership (Jossey-Bass, April 2010), Kraemer explains that in today’s economic and political environment values-based leaders are needed more than ever.

In From Values to Action, Kraemer argues that the journey to becoming a values-based leader starts with self-reflection, which he identifies as the first of four principles that guide leaders to make choices that are aligned with their values.

The four essential principles are
Self-Reflection: The ability to reflect and identify what you stand for, what your values are, and what matters most.

Balance: The ability to see situations from multiple perspectives, including differing viewpoints, to gain a holistic understanding.

True Self-Confidence: More than mastery of certain skills, true self-confidence enables you to accept yourself as you are, recognizing your strengths and your weaknesses, and focusing on continuous improvement.

Genuine Humility: The ability never to forget who you are, to appreciate the value of each person in the organization, and to treat everyone respectfully.

Drawing from first-hand experiences as the former chairman and CEO of Baxter International and from the popular classes he teaches at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Kraemer offers current and aspiring leaders a framework to adopt the four principles of values-based leadership to make their organizations beacons of enduring value in the world. Insightful and inspiring, From Values to Action comes at a critical time when true leadership in every facet of society is greatly needed.

Testimonials

Professor Kraemer, I heard you speak last night at Salesforce.com in SF and want to share how much I enjoyed the topic, your delivery, and most importantly your message. You arrived at Kellogg after I left so I did not get the pleasure of taking one of your classes; if last night is indicative it is clear I graduated too early.

– Jeff Oster

I worked in the Baxter Bioscience division from September, 2000, to December 2006, so for at least a few years I had the privilege to work in an organization lead by Harry. It is gratifying and affirming to see Harry still holds to the values he represented and promoted back then. It was a sad day when he left Baxter, but the work he has done with Madison Dearborn, and his work as a teacher and leader, remain a continuing inspiration to us all. Well done, Harry. Thank you.

– Isaac Young, Senior Director, Supply Chain Operations BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.

Harry Kraemer shared four hours of common sense in the form of spellbinding storytelling that was anything but common, and seemed like 20 minutes. He integrated every question and comment into his discussion. Then Leigh Thompson caught the attention of some experienced negotiators with a hands-on case study that was followed by the executive summary of a semester-long course. Nobody will start negotiating purely from his own perspective again!

– Frank Cesario, CFO, Nanophase Technologies Corporation

There is no question that this was an outstanding event with very practical advice and encouragement to improve our leadership and negotiating skills as it relates to all aspects of our lives. This certainly was a wonderful continuous learning event!”

– Jerry Novotny, Controller and Consultant, Environmental Systems Design, Inc.

There is no question that this was an outstanding event with very practical advice and encouragement to improve our leadership and negotiating skills as it relates to all aspects of our lives. This certainly was a wonderful continuous learning event!

– Jerry Novotny, Controller and Consultant, Environmental Systems Design, Inc.

Wow, phenomenal all-day session at Northwestern/Kellogg…Easily the best FEI event in 10+ years. The trip to Evanston is not as painful as it looks and even if it was it would have been worth it. Harry Kraemer and Leigh Thompson were sensational. Thanks to all who helped make it happen! Hopefully this was the first annual.

– Steve Doner, Director of Technical Accounting & Financial Projects, Optima Specialty Steel & Subsidiaries, Inc.