Sec. Rex Tillerson | World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth

The Council was excited to host part two of the “Inspiring CEO Success Stories: An American Journey” with former U.S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at Circle T Ranch in Westlake, TX. He was joined on stage with Council President & CEO Liz Brailsford to discuss his leadership at ExxonMobil and how he transitioned from the board room to Capital Hill. As said by The Post, “Many people… are directly or indirectly influenced by Tillerson’s policy decisions.”

During the evening, the conversation with Tillerson offered a window into who he is on a personal level. He shared that his career was made up of many opportunities that presented to him rather than being chased. A student of civil engineering, he was pursued by Exxon without any experience in oil and gas – a career he couldn’t have imagined but found he loved. Over time and with promotions in leadership, his work took him to Russia, where he found a deep respect for the people and culture and ultimately developed unique relationships that made him a capable diplomat for U.S. international relations. When Trump first assumed the Presidency in 2016, he tapped Tillerson for a conversation and surprised him with a request to be his Secretary of State. While he was shocked, his said his wife somehow already knew; he thought his career had peaked, she knew he was destined for even more. Tillerson concluded the event by answering questions of the audience, offering assessments about the future of energy and advice for the next administration.

Thank you to our series sponsors: Hillwood and PNC Bank

Additional support provided by: Paul Hastings

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