Peter Drucker
Born 1909 · Age 116
Austrian‑American management consultant, educator, and author. A founding figure of modern management theory; coined 'knowledge worker' and popularized 'management by objectives'. Author of 39 books and advisor to major corporations, governments and nonprofits.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Peter Ferdinand Drucker born in Vienna (Döbling district) to Adolf Drucker (lawyer/civil servant) and Caroline Bondi.
Graduated Döbling Gymnasium
Completed secondary education at Döbling Gymnasium in Vienna.
Moved to Hamburg and began apprenticeship
Moved to Germany; worked as an apprentice at a cotton trading company and studied admiralty law at Hamburg University.
Senior editor at Frankfurter General-Anzeiger
Became senior editor responsible for foreign affairs and business at Frankfurt's largest daily (approx. age 20).
PhD in international and public law (University of Frankfurt)
Earned doctorate (doctoral dissertation: The Justification of International Law and the Will of the State).
Left Germany for England after Nazi takeover
Following dismissal of Jewish professors and rising Nazi repression, left Frankfurt for England within 48 hours of the university purge.
Worked in London as security analyst and bank economist
In London, worked as a security analyst for an insurance company and then as chief economist at a private bank.
Attended John Maynard Keynes lectures at Cambridge
Regularly attended Keynes seminars; had intellectual epiphany about interest in 'behavior of people' rather than commodities.
Earlier pamphlet 'The Jewish Question in Germany' published (and later banned)
Wrote a piece that was burned and banned by the Nazis; an early excerpt published in 1936 preceded his 1939 book.
Began freelance journalism in U.S.
Wrote for Harper's, The Washington Post and other publications as a freelance journalist after moving to the U.S.
Married Doris Schmitz and moved to the United States
Married Doris Schmitz (a University of Frankfurt classmate) and permanently relocated to the U.S.; began freelance journalism.
Published 'The End of Economic Man'
First major book (analysis of the rise of fascism); attracted attention that led to Bennington invite.
Publication: 'The End of Economic Man'
First major book (New York: The John Day Company) analyzing totalitarianism; helped launch his reputation.
Joined Sarah Lawrence College as part-time economics instructor
Took a part-time teaching post in Bronxville, NY while continuing writing.
Fired from Sarah Lawrence College
Dismissed in 1941 after refusing to sign a faculty manifesto he considered vicious and false about Brooklyn College president Harry Gideonse.
Publication: 'The Future of Industrial Man'
Explored the nature of industrial society and management (New York: The John Day Company).
Hired as professor of politics and philosophy at Bennington College
Bennington College president Lewis Webster Jones invited him to lecture and then hired him; served 1942–1949.
Career as business thinker accelerated
Early writings on politics and society led to access to major corporations and consulting opportunities.
Naturalized U.S. citizen
Became a naturalized citizen of the United States during WWII.
Invited to conduct 'political audit' of General Motors
Donaldson Brown invited Drucker to perform a two-year social-scientific analysis of GM (attended board meetings, interviews).
Published 'Concept of the Corporation'
Result of the GM study; popularized the multidivisional structure; controversial within GM leadership.
Appointed professor of management at New York University
Joined NYU faculty as professor of management; held the post 1950–1971.
Publication: 'The New Society: The Anatomy of Industrial Order'
Continued exploration of industrial society and institutional structure (Harper & Brothers).
Published 'The Practice of Management'
Landmark book that organized management as an integrated discipline; introduced 'management by objectives' themes.
Publication: 'America's Next Twenty Years'
A look ahead to future economic and social developments in the U.S.
Awarded Henry Laurence Gantt Medal
Received the Gantt Medal in recognition of contributions to management.
Coined 'knowledge worker' and published 'The Landmarks of Tomorrow'
Introduced the term 'knowledge worker' (1959) and continued foresight into information society.
Publication: 'Managing for Results'
Provided a results-oriented approach to management strategy and measurement.
Published 'Managing for Results'
Further influential management book focusing on strategy, strengths and results.
Received Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class
Award from the government of Japan recognizing contributions to management and relations with Japanese industry.
Published 'The Effective Executive'
One of his most enduring books on effectiveness and leadership for managers and executives.
Published 'The Age of Discontinuity'
Examined technological and social change; included early predictions about information and 'planned abandonment'.
Received NYU Presidential Citation
Awarded New York University's highest honor in recognition of his contributions to management education.
Publication: 'Technology, Management and Society'
Collected essays and insights on the intersection of technology, management and societal change.
Joined Claremont Graduate School as Clarke Professor
Moved to California; became Marie Rankin Clarke Professor of Social Science and Management (Claremont) and created an executive MBA program.
Began monthly column for The Wall Street Journal
Started a long-running (approx. 20-year) regular column for WSJ aimed at executives and managers.
Published 'Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices'
Magnum opus covering the responsibilities and practice of management across sectors.
Received Grand Silver Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria
Honour from the Austrian government recognizing his contributions to science and society.
Publication: 'The Unseen Revolution: How Pension Fund Socialism Came to America'
Examined the growing influence of institutional investors and pension funds on corporate governance.
Published 'Adventures of a Bystander' (autobiography)
Published an autobiographical work recounting personal and professional experiences.
Publication: 'Managing in Turbulent Times'
Advice for executives coping with change and uncertainty; became a widely read work.
Published 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship'
A major book that revitalized and examined entrepreneurship and systematic innovation in organizations.
Claremont management center renamed for Drucker
The Claremont Graduate Center of Management was renamed the Peter F. Drucker Management Center (later Graduate School).
Published 'Sell the Mailroom' article and 'The Nonprofit Drucker' audio series
Advocated outsourcing in WSJ article 'Sell the Mailroom' (reprinted from July 25, 1989) and produced nonprofit-focused audio material.
Publication: 'Managing the Nonprofit Organization'
Practical guide and principles for managing nonprofit organizations; influential in the social sector.
Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management established
Foundation (later the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute / Leader to Leader Institute) established; Drucker served as Honorary Chairman 1990–2002.
Created Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation
Established an award (remains a core program of the Drucker Institute) to recognize nonprofit innovation.
Received Grand Gold Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
Another high Austrian honour acknowledging his lifetime contributions.
Published 'Post-Capitalist Society'
Explored the transition to a society structured around knowledge work and institutions.
Inducted into Junior Achievement US Business Hall of Fame
Recognition for lifetime contributions to business and management education.
Claremont center became the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management
The management center was renamed the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management (later Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito Graduate School).
Drucker Archives inaugurated at Claremont
A repository for manuscript, letters and other materials was inaugurated (archive later expanded into the Drucker Archives/Institute).
Published 'Management Challenges for the 21st Century' and 'Managing Oneself'
Two influential late-career works focusing on future management challenges and personal effectiveness.
Received Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class
High Austrian decoration recognizing contributions to science and arts (1999).
Published 'The Essential Drucker'
A major collection/anthology of Drucker's key ideas and writings.
Publication: 'Managing in the Next Society'
Late-career reflections on the societal transformations driven by information and knowledge work.
Taught last full class at Claremont (retired from regular teaching)
Taught his last course in spring 2002 at age 92, though he continued occasional lectures and consulting.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the United States' highest civilian honour from President George W. Bush.
Received seventh McKinsey Award from Harvard Business Review
HBR honored Drucker with his seventh McKinsey Award (the most awarded to an individual) for 'What Makes an Effective Executive'.
Gave final public lecture at Claremont
Delivered his last lecture at Claremont in spring 2005 at age 95, shortly before his death.
Died in Claremont, California
Peter F. Drucker died of natural causes on November 11, 2005, eight days short of his 96th birthday.
Drucker Archives became the Drucker Institute (posthumous)
The Drucker Archives at Claremont were reorganized/expanded into the Drucker Institute (institutional legacy).
First Global Peter Drucker Forum held (posthumous legacy)
The annual Global Peter Drucker Forum held its inaugural meeting in 2009 to mark Drucker's centenary and continue his management dialogue.
Eleventh Street in Claremont renamed 'Drucker Way' (centenary recognition, posthumous)
In October 2009, Eleventh Street between College Ave and Dartmouth Ave was renamed in his honor to mark 100th anniversary of his birth.
Named world's most influential business thinker on Thinkers50 (posthumous)
Thinkers50 ranked Drucker as the world's most influential business thinker in 2018 (posthumous recognition of lasting influence).
Key Achievement Ages
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