William Alexander

William Alexander
  • Lecturer

Contact Information

Overview

WILLIAM H. ALEXANDER, MBA
Mr. Alexander is a member of the faculty of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he lectures on the topic “Strategies and Practices of Family Controlled Corporations”. In 2011 and 2022, he was recognized with Outstanding Teaching Awards from the Wharton Graduate Division. In 2006, he was the recipient of the William Whitney Award for teaching excellence in the Wharton Undergraduate Division. In 2019, he was recognized with an Outstanding Teaching Award in the Wharton Executive MBA Program. He has been a visiting Professor at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, Daystar University College, Nairobi, Kenya, and IILM, New Delhi, India.

He was a third-generation principal and CEO of a large construction entity in Central Pennsylvania. In addition, he has served on various boards, including Herr Foods, The Hershey Company, Hershey Trust Company, which he chaired, Highmark Blue Shield, and the Geisinger Health System which he also chaired. He was formerly the managing director of the Snider Entrepreneurial Research Center at Wharton. Mr. Alexander holds an undergraduate degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He resides in Lemoyne PA, with his wife, Marion. They are the parents of four children.

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Teaching

All Courses

  • MGMT2330 - Strat & Prac of Family

    This course is designed for those persons who desire to understand the distinct strategies and practices of family-controlled companies and family wealth creation. It will focus on stakeholder decision making; financial and resource driven options for long-run competitiveness, organizational structures, management team issues; strategic planning from a resource-based perspective; transition planning for the corporate entity, family dynamics and communication issues; and leadership empowerment. The course is intended for those who plan to consult or provide professional services to family-controlled companies and for those planning a career in a family firm. The class is structured around topical lectures with frequent utilization of case studies requiring active class participation, as well as on-site and off-site project work time. Submission of several written case studies, and a term project are required. Open to Wharton undergraduate & MBA students, as well as Penn graduate students. Format: The class is structured around topical lectures with frequent utilization of case studies. There will be in-class discussion, as well as on-site and off-site project work time.

  • MGMT8330 - Strat & Prac of Family

    This course is designed for those persons who desire to understand the distinct strategies and practices of family-controlled companies and family wealth creation. It will focus on stakeholder decision making; financial and resource driven options for long-run competitiveness, organizational structures, management team issues; strategic planning from a resource-based perspective; transition planning for the corporate entity, family dynamics, communication issues; and leadership empowerment. The course is intended for those who plan to consult or provide professional services to family-controlled companies and for those planning a career in a family firm. The class is structured around topical lectures with frequent utilization of case studies requiring active class participation, as well as on-site and off-site project work time. Submission of several written case studies, and a term project are required. Open to Wharton MBA and Penn graduate students.

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