Dow Wilson exudes an enthusiasm for life, something he attributes to family, friends, and what he considers to be an especially fulfilling career.
Also a member of the National Advisory Council, Wilson serves as head of Oncology Systems for Varian Medical Systems, one of the leaders in cancer radiation therapy. The father of seven says that spending his career in the healthcare industry has provided a way to take advantage of many opportunities while significantly impacting health improvement and general quality of life.
Wilson graduated from BYU in 1982 with a degree in English literature and decided to pursue his MBA at Dartmouth’s prestigious Tuck School of Business. It was in the months following graduation that Wilson says he became drawn to the field of health care.
“When I graduated from Tuck, I evaluated jobs in investment banking, consulting, and industrial marketing,” he says. “There was one consistent theme. All opportunities were in health care, so I had identified that as a field of choice from the beginning.”
Wilson and his wife, Lynne, eventually moved to Wisconsin, where he took a job at GE Healthcare. He quickly turned heads within the company, finally becoming CEO of GE’s Information Technologies business, a $2.5 billion enterprise consisting of ten thousand employees.
Earlier in his career, Wilson took the opportunity to work overseas, an experience he calls unforgettable for himself and his family. “We lived abroad for six years in countries like France, Belgium, and Holland, and we absolutely loved it,” he recalls. “We put our kids in local schools and that has been a great payoff for them as well, although it took them a while to adjust.”
About two years ago, Wilson and his family relocated to Palo Alto, California, when he took his current position at Varian Medical Systems, a growing company whose sales have tripled during the last seven years. He says the weather is an upgrade from Wisconsin’s and allows him to spend more time on his hobbies, which include golf and jogging. He also had the opportunity to serve and work with young adults in the area. In addition, Wilson recently took a board director position with Saba Human Capital Management, a productivity improvement company, which he calls a “classic Silicon Valley start-up.”
Wilson says he enjoys his work with the Marriott School National Advisory Council and the interaction he has with students. “Being on the National Advisory Council gives me the terrific opportunity to catch up on both the school and university,” Wilson says. “It’s also a good opportunity to weigh in on some of the current business issues and make sure they are incorporated into the curriculum. I think the Marriott School has a very good pulse on what’s happening in the business community as a result.”
