William C. Weldon

William "Bill" Weldon was born in 1948 in Brooklyn, New York. At that time, his father held a job as a runner on Wall Street, and at night he worked as a janitor. "My dad, who grew up in Texarkana, had a brother who was killed in the war," says Bill. "The family farm needed his help, so our family moved down there to try and make a go of it. I was a preschooler when the farm finally failed, and we moved back up north, this time to New Jersey."Bill's father landed another union job as a stagehand on Broadway. His mother also found theatrical union employment as a wardrobe seamstress. Bill remembers his mother working from noon until late at night. "Both of my parents were very hard working," he says. "They taught me and my older sister to be honest and to do the best we could at whatever we attempted. Neither of them went beyond high school, but they worked hard and made the best of what they had. Even though they never had much, my dad was the sort of person who would give you the shirt off his back. He would help anyone who asked him at any time. I admired that."Bill began working at an early age. He stocked shelves in a drug store and worked his way up to delivery boy. When he was older, he did construction work. He enjoyed sports more than he did school, but he worked hard enough to get by academically. In high school, he began dating his future bride, Barbara Dearborn. Bill played on his high school basketball and football teams. He assumed he was good enough in football to get a scholarship, but an injury during his senior year put an end to that plan. "Luckily I was recruited to play basketball for Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Barbara and I got married a few years after I started school, and that's when I began to get serious about my responsibilities."Bill worked on farms during the summer breaks, laying irrigation pipes and picking fruits and vegetables. He also worked on weekend nights with a moving company. He even did a stint as a night watchman. A physician told Bill that if he wanted to become a doctor, he would help him with his graduate education. The plan was that after Bill became a doctor, he would then help the physician's daughter with her college education. Unfortunately, the physician developed cancer and died shortly thereafter. Bill withdrew all his medical school applications and began applying for immediate employment following his graduation in 1971 with a degree in biology."I figured I would work for a while and get some money saved and then I would go to medical school," says Bill. "I had one job interview with Johnson & Johnson. They offered me the job and I accepted."Bill never dreamed that Johnson & Johnson would be the only company he would ever work for, but he was immediately impressed with the company's values. "They have a credo that has four parts to it," he explains. "First, you are responsible to the people who use your products; second, you are responsible to the employees; third, you have a responsibility to the communities in which you live and work; and fourth, you have the responsibility to your shareholder. I fully embraced their concept. I soon recognized all the extraordinary things Johnson & Johnson was doing to help people and to help advance health care. That got me very much engaged from the beginning."Bill quickly rose through the ranks of the company with various positions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. In 1998, he became worldwide chairman of pharmaceuticals. In 2002, he became the company's chairman and CEO. During his tenure, until his retirement in 2013, Bill led a global organization regarded for its values that puts customers, its 120,000 employees, communities, and shareholders at the heart of every business decision. He took a company well-known for its baby products, bandages, and pharmaceuticals, and helped it further develop in the areas of biotechnology, medical devices, and diagnostics. Today Johnson & Johnson has 9,000 scientists doing research in 40 labs across the globe and spending approximately $9 billion in research and development.Bill has given many lectures about leadership to college students throughout the nation. His unwavering honesty and ethical standards served as life lessons for all the students with whom he engages, but he is quick to point out that his success was achieved with plenty of help along the way. At one point, midway through his career, he contemplated leaving Johnson & Johnson. His mentor, a man who had coached him in sports and who served as a father figure after his own father had passed, told him that he could leave Johnson & Johnson, but no matter where he went, he would have the same challenges. "I realized, my problem was that I was bored with what I was doing. He helped me see beyond the day to day and take a longer view of things."Of all the people who have helped Bill in his life and career, he gives the most credit to his wife, Barbara. "She is the one who has had the biggest impact on my life," he says. "She changed my trajectory and taught me the importance of accepting responsibility and being more disciplined. Most of all, she helped me realize my potential. She encourages me, supports me, and I think brings out the best in me."Bill Weldon believes that the best way to achieve the American Dream is through education. He is a board member for the Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, which helps disadvantaged children achieve not only education but also emotional stability and maturity. He and Barbara underwrite many scholarships for undergraduates and also for those attending medical school. "Giving back to something we believe in so strongly is very gratifying. There is no greater feeling than helping young people get a good education, which gives them such a great start in life."