About Bill Lang

Bill Lang is an entrepreneur, educator, coach and advisor with more than 35 years of experience across a wide range of industries and countries. Small business and new ventures have been central to his life from an early age, inspired by his parents’ small business journey. Today, he is a passionate supporter of business leaders at all stages and sizes, with a particular focus on new enterprises and existing businesses seeking to innovate and improve performance.

Bill’s business journey began with Dr Dog, a hotdog start-up he co-founded with Melbourne University friends Michael Kerr and Tony Vaccaro. That early venture sparked a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship. After university, Bill worked with McKinsey & Company and Macquarie Bank before moving to Boston, USA, where he graduated as a Baker Scholar from Harvard Business School. He went on to serve as a strategy executive with AXA and later co-founded two internet businesses with Sydney Low: FreeOnline in Australia, which attracted 400,000 customers in 18 months, and Sharinga Networks Inc. in San Francisco, which formed a $120 million global alliance with AT&T and British Telecom.

His professional experience with KPMG, McKinsey and Macquarie Bank continues to shape the way he supports entrepreneurs and business leaders to achieve stronger personal and organisational outcomes. Bill has advised governments at all levels and remains actively involved in several industry chambers of commerce, ministerial councils and company boards.

In the area of skills, teams and business building, Bill’s Scores on the Board system has been used by more than 20 million people worldwide to improve performance. Several organisations that adopted the system went on to win awards including Best in Country (Australia, UK), Best in Region (Asia Pacific) and Best in World.

Through his various ventures, Bill and his teams work with business leaders and high-growth potential start-ups to develop strategy and skills that drive both personal and business growth. His clients and investee businesses operate across more than 50 countries in industries including financial services, property, professional services, education, tourism, health and marketing services.

As Chairman of Small Business Australia, Bill leads efforts with members and partners to research what small business owners need and to advocate for improved conditions for all small businesses. He highlights that small businesses are more than just the engine room of employment—they are the heart and soul of their local communities. Supporting them through initiatives like Buying Local and policies that enable them to thrive is central to his work.

Today, the Small Business Australia team provides information, resources and support to more than 350,000 business owners. In Australia, five million people depend on economically sustainable small businesses for their livelihoods and financial security—and Bill continues to champion their success.