Former Accenture CEO and chairman on leadership, problem-solving

Joe Forehand, ’71 industrial engineering, was first exposed to Auburn University when he was a kid and his father was gifted a pair of football tickets.

“I fell in love with Auburn from that point forward,” he said.

Despite neither of his parents attending college, Forehand’s mother often stressed the value of education. Forehand, like many kids of the time, was interested in rockets and space travel. He entered Auburn’s College of Engineering in aerospace engineering but eventually switched to industrial engineering as he grew an interest in computer applications.

While at Auburn, Forehand gained his first leadership experience as the president of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. Auburn is also where he and his wife, Gayle, ’70 business administration, met.

Born and raised in Alexander City, Forehand wanted to gain experience outside of the Southeast following graduation. He earned an MBA at Purdue University and met a professor who encouraged him to apply for a position at a fledgling systems consulting business, Andersen Consulting. Forehand spent 18 years with the Atlanta office where he eventually became partner.

“I liked that consulting was project oriented, so I was in a different environment every few months,” he said. “I learned to enjoy the non-routine nature of putting yourself in new situations.

“Working outside your comfort zone and developing those sweaty palms is a point of learning. It’s not something you should regret or stress about. Every time you’re faced with a new situation, you grow from that. If you’re not taking some level of personal risk, you’re probably not growing,” he added.

He eventually transitioned to Dallas where he managed the manufacturing industry business in North America for several years. He was in charge of the technology and telecommunications business globally until he was selected as CEO and chairman in 1999. Andersen Consulting split from Andersen Worldwide, and Forehand then lead the company in rebranding to Accenture, followed by one of the largest IPOs at that time. As a successful business executive with an engineering background, Forehand learned how to blend the two fields to excel as a leader

“Leadership is less about your technical knowledge and more about how you can motivate people and help them achieve extraordinary things,” he said. “Great leaders are also great teachers. A great leader has to be a force multiplier.”

“As engineers, our approach is usually focused on problem-solving. I realized that if you really want to make an impact in an organization, you need to spend more time creating opportunities and value for your colleagues and clients,” he added.

In 2019, the Forehands spent six weeks on campus as executives in residence in the Harbert College of Business and Ginn College of Engineering. More than 1,500 business and engineering students and staff had the opportunity to learn key career-related messages during their stay.

“I think we got more out of it than the students did because it energized us so much,” Forehand said. “It connected us to the younger generation and gave us great confidence in the Auburn students. I think Auburn students are better prepared than I ever was.”

Forehand also served as a director of the Auburn University Foundation from 2007-15 and as investment committee chair for five years. He and Gayle were also co-chairs of the Because This is Auburn capital campaign. They have numerous students on scholarships and three professorships.

“It always inspires us to see what Auburn’s up to,” he said. “We enjoy that immensely.”