Mr. Kennedy is president of the University of North Dakota. As a Republican United States Congressman (Minnesota 2001-2007) committed to collaboration, he introduced an initiative co-sponsored and approved of by more than half of his Democratic colleagues. A trade advisor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and chairman of the Economic Club of Minnesota, Mr. Kennedy is a key voice on innovation and foreign policy. His book Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism (published by Columbia University Press and available in Chinese) counsels robust public engagement and political involvement in commercial affairs.

He has an MBA from the University of Michigan, which he has put to distinguished use. He has served as treasurer of Macy's, helped Pillsbury buy and expand Häagen-Dazs, acted as an academic leader at George Washington University, and lectured at leading universities on five continents.