Bill Burke
Media and Communications Expert | Former CEO of The Weather Channel Companies
Work With Us
Bill Burke utilizes his expertise in executive and board leadership to support leaders in enhancing their skills confidently. With leadership experience in organizations of sizes ranging from 17 to 70,000 employees, and insights gained from collaborating with some of the finest leaders, he is well-versed in the challenges of establishing a vision and inspiring individuals and teams to fulfill it. Throughout his career, Bill has been a source of inspiration and mentorship, using his knowledge to assist others in leadership, strategic decision-making, and career transitions.
What collaborating with Bill is like:
Bringing Out the Best in People: "Bill is particularly insightful about people. He is not only a great leader himself, but—importantly—he has an extraordinary gift of seeing and bringing out the best in others. While he was the CEO of our company, I worked for him for several years—so I know this from personal experience and observation. I am a better and more strategic leader because of him, and there are many others who have crossed his path who are as well." - Debora Wilson, former President & CEO, The Weather Channel Companies
Creating High Performing Organizations: "Bill's extensive experience in leadership and governance with high-performing organizations immediately provides him with credibility. This experience, coupled with his intelligence and understanding of human nature, is invaluable. He has the unique ability to guide one through complexity and help one solve what can seem like unsolvable challenges and issues. Bill scores a 10 out of 10 on both effectiveness and the likability factor." - Richard Petersen, former CEO, Maine Medical Center
Bill's career took off shortly after business school, with significant roles including crafting the business plan for Turner Classic Movies and serving as its first general manager, followed by becoming president of TBS Superstation at the age of 29. His leadership skills were further honed during the dot-com era as he led a venture capital-funded startup, and later as CEO of The Weather Channel Companies, where he drove profitability growth, closed underperforming segments, and introduced new programming to adapt to viewer demands. Burke's experience in the media industry is marked by his ability to uplift teams, foster a culture of teamwork and integrity, and navigate economic challenges.
Shifting his focus, Burke contributed to literature and film, co-authoring Ted Turner's memoir, "Call Me Ted," a New York Times Bestseller. He also explored the leadership and strategic decisions during the American auto industry bailout in his documentary "Live Another Day." In 2022, Burke's journey led him to Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative, where he founded The Optimism Institute to promote optimism and resilience by showcasing leaders who approach global challenges with positive and innovative solutions.