Mark Kennedy

Mark Raymond Kennedy (born April 11, 1957) is an American businessman, politician, and administrator currently serving as the president of the University of Colorado (CU) system. Previously he served as 12th president of the University of North Dakota, and before that he led the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

A Republican, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007. Kennedy did not seek reelection in 2006, instead running in the 2006 election for U.S. Senate. He lost to Democratic–Farmer–Labor nominee Amy Klobuchar.

Kennedy’s unmatched range of experiences as a senior executive at Macy's, U.S. Congressman, trade advisor for both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, leader of George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and President of the University of North Dakota has convinced him life is a game of addition – in business, education, economics, geopolitics and politics.

In his book "Shapeholders - Business Success in the Age of Activism" (Columbia Business School Press, 2017), Kennedy updates the rules for business engagement with society reflecting the rise of activism and expanded political involvement in commercial affairs. He reveals how understanding the views of others and attracting others to embrace your aims are the keys to success, whether you are collaborating or competing.

Kennedy introduced the concept of "Shapeholders" to the field of business strategy - the political, regulatory, media, and activist actors that shape a firm's opportunities and risks. Kennedy reveals how to effectively engage shapeholders both at home and abroad to profitably advance business strategies while benefiting society.