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Bill McDermott - A Look At A Technology Leader

SAP CEO Bill McDermott on his accident, career and owning a deli at 16

Jul 03, 2025
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SAP CEO Bill McDermott on his accident, career and owning a deli at 16

When you think about the people who really make a mark in the world of business technology, one name that often comes up is Bill McDermott. He’s someone who has spent a good deal of his working life guiding some of the biggest software organizations out there. From his early days in a small town to leading huge global operations, his path shows a lot about how determination and a clear outlook can shape a career. This piece will take a closer look at his journey, the things that have influenced his way of doing business, and what he’s doing now to help shape the future of digital tools.

Bill McDermott’s story, you know, really starts in a place called Amityville, right there on Long Island. It’s where he came into the world and spent his younger days, surrounded by his family. He’s one of four kids, and his parents, Kathleen and Bill McDermott, certainly had a busy home. It’s also interesting to note that his grandfather was Bobby McDermott, a player who made it into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. So, in a way, there’s a bit of a legacy of achievement running through his family’s history, even if it’s in a different kind of field.

What’s quite telling about Bill McDermott’s drive, as a matter of fact, is something he did when he was just sixteen years old. He went ahead and bought the Amityville Country Delicatessen, a local shop in Long Island. He put down seven thousand dollars for it, which for a teenager, you know, is quite a considerable sum. That early step into running his own small venture, just a little taste of what it means to be in business, pretty much set the stage for what was to come later on in his life.

Table of Contents

Biography - The Early Years of Bill McDermott

Bill McDermott's beginnings, as I was saying, are quite rooted in a very specific place: Amityville, a town on Long Island. He was born there, and it’s also where he spent his growing-up years. His family life involved being one of four children to Kathleen and Bill McDermott. This early environment, you know, likely played a part in shaping the person he became. There’s also that interesting family connection to sports, with his grandfather, Bobby McDermott, being a well-known basketball player, which suggests a background where achieving things was perhaps valued.

One of the most remarkable stories from Bill McDermott’s younger days, arguably, points to his entrepreneurial spirit. At the rather young age of sixteen, he made a significant move: he bought the Amityville Country Delicatessen. This wasn’t just a small chore; it was a real business purchase, costing him seven thousand dollars. For someone so young to take on such a venture, it really shows a willingness to take charge and a very early sense of how the business world operates. It’s a pretty clear sign of his future path, even then.

Personal Details of Bill McDermott

Full NameWilliam R. McDermott
BirthplaceAmityville, Long Island
ParentsKathleen and Bill McDermott
GrandfatherBobby McDermott (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player)
Early Business VentureBought Amityville Country Delicatessen at age 16
Current RoleChairman & Chief Executive Officer of ServiceNow
EducationDowling College, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, The Wharton School

How Did Bill McDermott Get His Start in the Business World?

After his early start running a local shop, Bill McDermott’s formal working life began at Xerox Corporation. This was a place where he truly began to climb the ranks, showing a clear ability to move up within a large organization. It was there, actually, that he earned the distinction of becoming the company’s youngest person to reach a high-level position. This early experience at a well-known company, you know, gave him a solid foundation in the corporate setting and pretty much set the stage for his later accomplishments.

Bill McDermott's Path Through Corporate Life

Following his time at Xerox, Bill McDermott moved into senior executive roles with other significant companies. He spent time with Gartner, Inc., an organization known for its research and advice in the technology space. Then, he went on to Siebel Systems, another important player in the software industry at that time. These roles, in a way, gave him a wider view of the technology business and allowed him to gather more experience in different kinds of leadership situations, building up his skills bit by bit.

What Shaped Bill McDermott's Approach to Leadership?

A really significant event in Bill McDermott’s life, you know, happened in 2015. He had a fall that resulted in him losing an eye. This was a very difficult personal challenge, something that could easily make someone feel quite down. However, he has spoken openly about how this experience, in fact, made him a stronger person and gave him more inner strength. It’s a powerful story about facing a setback and finding a way to come out of it with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of himself.

A Personal Challenge and Bill McDermott's Resilience

Bill McDermott, as a matter of fact, often talks about how he learned to look past the immediate difficulties after his injury. He says he can see beyond the immediate upset and find sources of encouragement even in tough circumstances. This way of thinking, you know, suggests a very particular kind of mental toughness. It’s about not letting hard times completely overwhelm you, but rather looking for the good or the lessons that can come from them. This outlook, it seems, has really shaped his leadership style, allowing him to guide others through their own challenges.

Bill McDermott's Time Leading SAP

Before he joined ServiceNow, Bill McDermott spent a good deal of time as the chief executive officer of SAP. SAP, you know, is one of the biggest software companies in Europe, and indeed, a major player globally. During his time there, he was also a member of the executive board. This period gave him immense experience running a very large, complex technology organization, dealing with many different parts of the business and guiding its direction on a very wide scale. It was a time that really solidified his reputation as a top-tier leader in the technology sector.

What Does Bill McDermott Bring to ServiceNow?

Bill McDermott has been a part of ServiceNow since late 2019, initially joining as a member of the board. Then, in 2022, he was named the chairman. Since coming on board, he has really sped up the pace of things at the company. He’s seen as someone who helps ServiceNow move forward at a faster clip, making sure it continues to grow and make its mark. His presence, you know, has definitely added a new layer of energy and focus to the organization’s overall direction.

Bill McDermott's Vision for ServiceNow

Bill McDermott, the current head of ServiceNow, has a very clear idea about how his organization is changing the software industry for businesses. He says that they are putting artificial intelligence, or AI, into every part of the ServiceNow platform. This, he believes, is giving power to the platform and truly changing how businesses get things done. He sees his company as building what he calls the defining software company of this century, a pretty big statement, you know, about their ambitions and what they hope to achieve.

During a big event called Knowledge, Bill McDermott showed off ServiceNow’s new AI platform. The idea behind this, you know, is to allow any kind of artificial intelligence, any kind of automated assistant, or any kind of model to be put to work within the system. He also talks about the very nature of work itself, how AI can fit into a business plan, and the important part that leadership plays in a really big organization. It’s clear he thinks a lot about how these things fit together.

The Way Bill McDermott Sees AI's Future

Bill McDermott, who is in charge of a software company valued at an enormous sum, has some interesting thoughts on how he runs things. He talks about how he greets people he works with, and how he manages to get by on only five hours of sleep each night. He also makes it a point to say that he uses artificial intelligence to help move his business forward. These details, you know, give a little peek into his personal approach to managing a huge operation and staying on top of things.

He has also given interviews, for example, with Fortune magazine, where people can find out more about his approach to leading and the difficulties he faces. These conversations, frankly, help people get a better sense of how he guides his team and what he believes is important for success in the technology space. He truly believes in the potential of digital tools to create better ways for people to get their work done, making the working world function more smoothly for everyone involved.

How Does Bill McDermott Keep Up with Everything?

Bill McDermott, who is at the head of a company that is worth many billions of dollars, has some very specific ways of doing things to keep up with his demanding schedule. He has mentioned, for instance, that he typically gets only about five hours of sleep each night. This suggests a very driven individual, someone who is clearly putting in a lot of hours. He also talks about how he shakes hands with clients, which might seem like a small detail, but it speaks to his personal touch in business dealings, you know, even at a very high level.

Bill McDermott's Habits and Views on Work

In various discussions, Bill McDermott has shared his perspective on how he sees the future of enterprise software. He has told financial experts and members of the press that ServiceNow is continuing its efforts to build what he calls the defining software company for this current century. This statement, you know, really shows his ambition and his strong belief in what his organization is doing. It’s about creating something that will truly stand out and shape how businesses operate for years to come.

Bill McDermott also makes appearances on programs like 'Mad Money' with Jim Cramer, where he discusses quarterly results for ServiceNow, how they are bringing artificial intelligence into their products, and his thoughts on the overall state of technology. These conversations, as a matter of fact, provide a public platform for him to share his ideas and the progress of his company. He is also very connected within the professional community, with many connections on platforms like LinkedIn, which shows his wide reach and influence in the industry.

Bill McDermott's Educational Background and Current Role

When it comes to his schooling, Bill McDermott has a background that includes studies at several well-known institutions. He attended Dowling College, and he also pursued further learning at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Additionally, he spent time at The Wharton School. This blend of educational experiences, you know, likely gave him a broad set of skills and ways of thinking that have served him well in his long and successful career in business.

Currently, Bill McDermott holds the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at ServiceNow. This organization is recognized as a leader in the digital workflow market, and it has a very large team, with more than twelve thousand people working together around the globe. He has been in this particular role and has served as a member of the board for ServiceNow since late 2019. His leadership here is seen as a key reason for the company’s ongoing growth and its strong position in the market.

Bill McDermott is truly regarded as one of the most respected and admired figures in the technology business. His working life shows a long history of success in guiding organizations, including his time at Xerox, Gartner, Siebel Systems, SAP, and now ServiceNow. Since he took on his role at ServiceNow, he has really sped up the company’s efforts, pushing it forward with a clear vision. He is known for his views on leadership and how technology, especially artificial intelligence, can help companies transform their operations.

SAP CEO Bill McDermott on his accident, career and owning a deli at 16
SAP CEO Bill McDermott on his accident, career and owning a deli at 16
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Incoming ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott on his plans for the company
SAP Bill McDermott: Don't let success make you complacent
SAP Bill McDermott: Don't let success make you complacent

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