Bill McNabb on Leading Vanguard, Board Roles, and Startup Investing

Bullish Gator

Former Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb discusses 30+ years at Vanguard, board roles, and working with fintech startups—insights on leadership, governance, and post-CEO investing.

Editorial companion

What stands out

Bill McNabb, the long-time Vanguard chief who now sits on the boards of UnitedHealth and IBM, talks with Barry Ritholtz about moving from running an investment giant to advising corporations and startups. That matters because boardroom choices about capital allocation, risk management, and fintech partnerships are the literal plumbing behind long-term returns, especially for a company the size of UnitedHealth. Hearing a former index-fund CEO describe what directors prioritize offers a practical lens on how investors and boards will try to fix profit and execution problems.