Bill Fournet - Author, Speaker, Executive Coach

Bill Fournet - Author, Speaker, Executive Coach Bill Fournet helps leaders and organizations turn disruption into opportunity by innovating how they work. Chamber of Commerce.

He supports leaders as a management consultant, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author. Bill Fournet helps leaders and organizations turn disruption into opportunity, saving them up to millions of dollars, by innovating how they work. Fueled by his belief that to stay viable in today’s ever-changing world we need to approach work differently, Bill actively supports leaders as a management co

nsultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker. As an in-demand speaker for leaders, Bill delivers thought-provoking, practical programs to help you Lead for Tomorrow by understanding workforce trends and staying ahead of the curve in times of great change. In all his work, Bill leverages more than 25 years of experience in leading successful teams–including overseeing large and mega projects in excess of $10 billion– to gives leaders the tools and guidance they need to thrive in any situation. In 2004, on the heels of years of experience in project management and leadership for companies that included AT&T, IBM, and MTV Networks, Bill founded the award-winning management consulting firm, The Persimmon Group. Believing that “corporate” life could be full of passionate and engaged people, he established a unique business philosophy and culture at Persimmon, which was honored as a two-time recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award for being one of the leading small businesses in America by the U.S. Persimmon has also been on the Inc. 500/5000 list for the U.S. Fastest Growing Companies and received many other business accolades, including Families and Work Institute’s Effective and Flexible Workplace Award. Bill has also been a multi-nominee for “Most Admired CEO” in his home state of Oklahoma. Bill believes that the best possible work life makes room for a fulfilling personal life, too, which is why his work also focuses on helping leaders to get more control so they can have more time to spend with their families and to do what they love. As an avid backpacker and Scout, Bill relishes outdoor adventures, having backpacked hundreds of miles, summitted 14,000-foot mountains, and paddled the Canadian Boundary Waters several times. He currently serves as Member, Executive Board of Directors – Boy Scouts of America Indian Nations Council; District Chair for Tulsa Scouting, and Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 26. Believing strongly in giving back, Bill also currently serves as Chairperson for Growing Together, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty through building vibrant, engaged communities within impoverished neighborhoods. He also is Committee Chair for STEAM Post 26, a FIRST Robotics program providing incredible STEM-related opportunities to local youth. A military and history buff, Bill earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in History from Oklahoma State University. He and his wife, Christy, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma and have three sons. His popular ebook, How to Turn Disruption Into Opportunity: A Leader's Playbook, is available on the Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing.

Great time in Green Bay last week, where I had the pleasure of opening the Manufacturing First Conference & Expo with my...
10/31/2023

Great time in Green Bay last week, where I had the pleasure of opening the Manufacturing First Conference & Expo with my “Lead for Tomorrow” keynote. The team at Insight Publications put on a fantastic event, which was clearly evident with this year’s record-breaking attendance of more than 1,300 manufacturing professionals and suppliers.

Thanks again to everyone involved including Acuity Insurance for sponsoring my keynote and to Image Studios for these photos.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was devoted to service, fairness, equality, and justice. What are you doing to honor his leg...
01/16/2023

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was devoted to service, fairness, equality, and justice. What are you doing to honor his legacy?

If we’ve learned anything from the last few years, it’s that disruption and change will happen, whether we like it or no...
01/11/2023

If we’ve learned anything from the last few years, it’s that disruption and change will happen, whether we like it or not. The question for leaders is: Are you and your team prepared to respond to whatever might be around the bend?

We’ve seen that disruption often leads to a loss of control. It’s important to recognize, however, that while change is constant, chaos is a choice.

While there is no silver bullet, the ability to react to changing situations with consistency and discipline enables us to dampen the effects of disruption. In this new blog, I share three steps leaders can use to create discipline.

https://buff.ly/3XnhJmh

Business leaders can conquer chaos with consistency and discipline. They key is to see disruption as an opportunity and evolve quickly with discipline.

Read anything good lately? Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine, for both business and pleasure. Each year...
12/21/2022

Read anything good lately? Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine, for both business and pleasure. Each year, I typically make a list of the books that impacted me the most.

But amidst all the disruption, and ahead of the seemingly constant uncertainty for 2023, I have been returning to some of the books that were fundamental in shaping my leadership approach. This is an eclectic list I realize, and not a traditional end-of-year review, but it is a selection of the top 5 influential books that have had a profound impact on me, with insights and perspectives that continue to challenge my thinking.

Have you read any of these? I’d love to hear from you and would also welcome any recommendations on your favorite books, old and new, fiction and non-fiction!

Happy Holidays to everyone!



An eclectic selection of top 5 influential books that have had a profound impact on me, with insights and perspectives that continue to challenge my thinking.

This award means so much to all of us at The Persimmon Group. For every woman who works at Persimmon now, and to those w...
12/09/2022

This award means so much to all of us at The Persimmon Group. For every woman who works at Persimmon now, and to those who have helped us along the way these past 18 years, thank you! Management consulting has long been a male-dominated industry. Creating an environment where women can break those barriers and thrive was no accident. And we did it through the help of amazing women, from our leadership team to our consultants to our HR and Business Development teams, to our customer service and office staff representatives. Thank you! I love what this means for YOU. Be proud of yourselves, of your work, your families. I know I am...

Thank you YWCA Tulsa and City of Tulsa Gov for this recognition!


Happy Thanksgiving! This is my favorite holiday. As Louisiana natives, my family kicked things off last night with a “Ca...
11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving! This is my favorite holiday. As Louisiana natives, my family kicked things off last night with a “Cajun Thanksgiving." We love to cook, and we are definitely “foodies.” So today will be just as robust!

But it’s more than the sharing of delicious food that makes this holiday special: It’s the act of being present and grateful. Every year, we hold our tradition of going around the table and saying our “thankfuls,” sharing what each of us appreciated most from this past year. Sometimes it’s the people in our lives, or acts of kindness we experienced, or just a general appreciation of the life we are living.

So here's to all of you-- my clients, partners, and friends. I hope you have a wonderful day! What are you thankful for?

The Persimmon Group has been recognized as the 5th Best Place to Work in Oklahoma in the small/medium category. Thank yo...
11/22/2022

The Persimmon Group has been recognized as the 5th Best Place to Work in Oklahoma in the small/medium category. Thank you to every single person in our company who helped make this happen! 100% of you participated in the anonymous, third-party administered survey; that in itself is a testament to the culture we have created together. This was based on a thorough review of our internal policies, benefits, and DEI practices. I am thankful to my leadership team, every employee, and all our clients and friends for the ongoing support and love you have shown Persimmon since we started 18 years ago…

And thank you to The Journal Record and the Best Companies Group for granting us this award.

When will we get back to the normalcy of a crisis-free day? To the days when we had time to “think” and communicate with...
10/18/2022

When will we get back to the normalcy of a crisis-free day? To the days when we had time to “think” and communicate with coworkers outside our immediate team?

After nearly three years of constant disruption, many of us are likely asking these questions.

To help, I'm sharing four steps to take with your team-- to take a breath and inspire strategic thinking, even in times of instability.



Your team members need time to reflect so they can improve performance. 4 steps to give teams think time even through uncertainty.

They say, “Travel makes you realize that no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn.”In my life, I've had...
09/16/2022

They say, “Travel makes you realize that no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn.”

In my life, I've had the opportunity to take two life-changing trips across Europe. More than 30 years ago as a college student, and then this summer with my wife and two of my sons. As I reflected on not only what has changed from 1990, but what is different as well as in common with society in the United States, themes began to emerge.

One thing is certain: The diversity of perspectives discovered through conversation is foundational to our ability to learn, innovate, and adapt. I share some initial reflections this week on the blog.

Watch for future articles addressing the importance of finding your community, mass transportation, innovation and inertia, and the benefits of a slower rhythm.

Here's to new adventures!


What can leaders learn from two European journeys-- taken 30 years apart? Several themes emerged, as Bill Fournet reflects in this blog.

I am happy to be back in Basel, Switzerland this week working with a client. A beautiful city with incredibly friendly p...
08/23/2022

I am happy to be back in Basel, Switzerland this week working with a client. A beautiful city with incredibly friendly people.

Travel is just one way you can gain a fresh perspective. What are you doing this week to change your scenery or discover a different viewpoint?

Purpose-driven leadership has always been important to me, so I was grateful for the opportunity to talk with Karen Bail...
08/16/2022

Purpose-driven leadership has always been important to me, so I was grateful for the opportunity to talk with Karen Bailey on the Corporate Purpose Podcast. What started as a conversation about navigating burnout and overwhelm turned into an exploration of the changing state of business.

Some topics we discussed:

- The signs of burnout and strategies for overcoming it.
- My personal experience with burnout and how that was a catalyst for my work today helping executives and teams manage disruption. - Trends that are causing us to rethink the status quo.
- The debate around hybrid and remote work and why time has surpassed money as our primary work driver.

I encourage you to tune in, and please be sure to follow Karen and subscribe to the Corporate Purpose Podcast! And for more techniques on Beating Burnout, you can download my eBook at the link below in comments.



https://thecorporatepurposepodcast.com/episodes/navigating-disruption-and-burnout-with-bill-Bill Fournet - Author, Speaker, Executive Coach

Bill Fournet (CEO and expert in business disruption) discusses the transformational state of business today and how burnout and overwhelm are affecting our people and our companies. Bill explains some of the generational and historical trends that are driving massive changes to the way we work. He a...

There’s no place like home. I was honored to spend time last week in my hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. Some of the most per...
08/15/2022

There’s no place like home. I was honored to spend time last week in my hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. Some of the most personally rewarding work I’ve done is with business and school leaders there to help them forge strategies for the future. It was especially exciting on Friday to tour the beautiful new Enid High School facilities with Dr. Darrell Floyd. Thank you, Autry Technology Center and Enid Public Schools. I look forward to returning soon to continue our work together.

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