Events & Calendars Food for Thought with Bill Ackerman ’88: An Unconventional Career Path in Business

Bill Ackerman ’88 epitomizes how the Amherst College liberal arts education prepares you to think innovatively, constantly seek new opportunities, and explore different career paths. Bill will be speaking at the Loeb Center's Food For Thought Lunch on September 19. Come learn more about Bill’s career and how his liberal arts education at Amherst College led to his unique career path in business, including roles in financial management, journalism, corporate audit, sales, strategy, investment advice, and now as the head of human resources at Fidelity Investments.

Bill is passionate about identifying and solving business opportunities and problems in unique ways rather than the easy way. He believes that an organization’s strongest assets are often their people and that for an organization to thrive, it is important that every person in the organization feels valued. He has brought this philosophy to his latest opportunity, and his first stint in HR, as the head of human resources at Fidelity Investments. He is eager to share his insights and perspectives on how your liberal arts education can lead you on a path not only of self-discovery, but also a constant weaving path of learning and new opportunities (in and out of business). Bill’s full biography is below.

Lunch will be served. Please register in advance through Handshake. Space is limited and a waiting list will begin once the seats are filled.

Full Biography for Bill Ackerman ’88
Bill Ackerman is head of Human Resources (HR) for Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and other financial products and services to more than 26 million individuals, institutions and financial intermediaries. During his tenure with the firm, Mr. Ackerman has held a variety of leadership positions across several of the company’s divisions. He was named head of Human Resources in 2014 and currently oversees the HR function, the Fidelity Real Estate Company, and Enterprise Events & Corporate Sponsorships. Prior to this role, he led the firm’s Strategy and Planning Office.

Mr. Ackerman has acted in strategic operating roles in various parts of Fidelity, including the company’s Personal Investing and Workplace Solutions divisions. In addition, he held several leadership positions within Fidelity’s COLT Telecom Group in London, including: COLT Finance & Planning; COLT Marketing Development; and COLT eBusiness. He also held the roles of senior vice president, Business Development and chief financial officer for Fidelity Ventures Telecom Group in Boston and Tokyo.

Prior to joining Fidelity, Mr. Ackerman worked at General Electric (GE) where he held a number of business and finance-related roles at GE business units around the world. He is a graduate of GE’s Financial Management program and Corporate Audit Staff. Mr. Ackerman was a journalist in California and a freelance writer for other publications.

Mr. Ackerman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, where he majored in economics. He earned his master’s degree in Communications from Stanford University.