Eric Schmidt is the former Chairman and CEO of Google and its parent company, Alphabet. He led Google from a small start-up into one of the world’s most valuable and influential technology companies, overseeing the launch of products like Gmail, Google Maps, and Android. Prior to Google, he held senior roles at Sun Microsystems and served as CEO of Novell. After stepping down from his executive roles, Schmidt remained a key advisor to Alphabet and served as Chairman of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovation Board. He has been deeply involved in public policy discussions on artificial intelligence, technology regulation, and national security. Schmidt is also a philanthropist through Schmidt Futures, funding science, research, and education initiatives. He is known for mentoring tech leaders and advising governments on innovation strategies.