Nominee Name: Outstanding Tech CEO Award: Godard Abel, G2
Award category:Outstanding Tech CEO
About the nominee:Godard Abel is CEO of G2, the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace, which he co-founded in 2012 — as well as Executive Chairman of ThreeKit, a leading 3D visualization technology company, and Logik.io, a next-generation configuration technology. Previously, Godard served as CEO of SteelBrick which was acquired by Salesforce in 2016 where he subsequently served as SVP/GM of the SteelBrick business unit until May 2017 when he left to refocus on entrepreneurial adventures. Godard also co-founded BigMachines, where he served as CEO and built it into a leading software-as-a-service provider which was acquired by Oracle in 2013. Additionally, prior to its IPO in 2000 (and subsequent acquisition by CA), he served as a GM at Niku. Before entering the technology industry, Godard consulted for McKinsey & Company and advised leading manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany on strategy development and business process improvement. Godard was a Finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, named to the Tech 50 list by Crain’s Business Chicago in September 2014, and to the Chicago Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2011. He earned an MBA from Stanford University and both a B.S. and M.S. in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows and the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.
Why they should win:A 20+ year, 5X SaaS entrepreneur, Godard is an expert at effectively scaling companies that attract and retain top talent. He is an avid believer in and practitioner of Conscious Leadership – and has even hired a Conscious Leadership coach to train not only himself and the C-suite, but all leadership at G2 on this philosophy that has helped to create a top workplace culture.