Bill McGlashan

I am fortunate to call Bill McGlashan a friend. He is renowned as one of the world’s most influential impact investors, having co-founded The Rise Fund alongside notable partners like Jeff Skoll and Bono. Under Bill’s leadership, The Rise Fund focused on channeling private capital toward ventures that create both financial and social returns.

Simultaneously to his work in leading The Rise Fund, Bill served as a Managing Partner at TPG Growth. During my interactions with Bill, I learned how he combined business acumen with a desire for meaningful social impact. Together with his partners, Bill aimed to use the power of private equity to solve pressing global challenges.

While leading TPG Growth, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, Bill had a direct hand in selecting companies that would make a difference worldwide—by creating jobs, driving innovation, and uplifting underserved communities. The track record of his career shows his commitment to global betterment in sectors such as education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

When I approached Bill for guidance in developing Prison Professors, I was both surprised and humbled by how graciously he offered to help. He instantly volunteered hundreds of hours. We worked together in his home office so I could learn from his journey. We filmed videos and audio files, and collaborated to write a curriculum that we use to teach more than 1 million people.

Bill’s strong work ethic began in his youth, ultimately leading him to Yale for his undergraduate degree and then Stanford Graduate School of Business for his MBA. Throughout his career, that disciplined approach set him apart as a hard worker committed to making an impact in the world.

The course I worked on with Bill showed others how to live as the CEOs of their own lives. His involvement added credibility and hope to our program. People who see a leader of Bill’s caliber supporting me begin to realize that even if they’re going through a personal crisis, they can still develop skills and transform their lives. I’ve witnessed firsthand how opportunities open up when we commit to growth, stay disciplined, and stay true to our values.

Bill agreed to serve on the board of the Prison Professors Charitable Corporation. He consistently contributes time, energy, and resources, showing me how much he believes in our mission. His mentorship reminds me that we’re never alone on our journey to succeed—we can always invest in ourselves. If we choose friends and advisors wisely, we expand our capacity to become more valuable to society.

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