Scott Cook

Scott Cook’s was born and raised in an LA suburb after his parents emigrated from Wisconsin. Scott was ‘nerdy’ as a kid and even programmed his school district’s one computer. Scott attended USC and later went to Harvard Business School.

Scott Cook started his career at Procter & Gamble, where he learned about product development, market research and marketing. With personal computers just coming out at the time, Scott thought there might be a market for basic software that would help people pay their bills. He launched Intuit in 1983, which today offers software and online products to help individuals and small companies manage their finances. Scott, a founder of Intuit and current Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board, has served as Director, Chairman of the Board, and President and CEO at Intuit. He also serves on the boards of directors of eBay Inc., and The Procter & Gamble Company.

He holds a BA in Economics and Mathematics from USC and a MBA from Harvard Business School, where he serves on the dean’s advisory board. He currently serves on the boards of P&G, eBay, Intuit, and HBS. Cook funds social entrepreneurs who catalyze global leaps in education and medical research.

In 2002, Scott and his wife Signe Ostby, established the Center for Brand and Product Management at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Business; it’s the US’s first university-based center focused exclusively on training MBAs in brand and product management. In 2005, Scott was #320 on the Forbes 400, with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

“All that matters is systematically amping up human contribution.”