The awards program was founded in 1824. George received his award for his “visionary leadership of Medtronic Corporation, his promotion and writings on corporate social responsibility and leadership, as well as his extraordinary philanthropic contributions to education and health care through The George Family Foundation,” according to the award citation.

The Franklin Institute is one of America’s oldest centers of science education and development, and it is committed to public education and creating passion for science and technology.

Recognizing leaders around the world is one way that the Institute honors its commitment to Benjamin Franklin’s legacy. The list of Franklin Institute science laureates includes Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein.

George received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering with high honors from the College of Engineering, and he was later given an honorary Ph.D. from Georgia Tech. George is a former CEO of Medtronic, and he currently sits on the boards of directors for ExxonMobil, Goldman Sachs, and the Mayo Clinic. He is a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, where he has taught leadership since 2004.