Early Life
Stephen McConnell Case was born on August 21, 1958, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up in a middle-class family. His father was a corporate attorney, and his mother was an elementary school teacher. Case attended Punahou School and graduated from Williams College in 1980 with a degree in political science.
Rise to Success
Case began his career in marketing at Procter & Gamble. In 1985, he joined Quantum Computer Services, which later became AOL, as vice president of marketing. He became CEO in 1991, and under his leadership, AOL experienced rapid growth, becoming the leading internet service provider. Case oversaw the merger of AOL and Time Warner in 2000, a $164 billion deal that was the largest in corporate history at the time.
Key Business Strategies
AOL's success was driven by its user-friendly interface, which made the internet accessible to a broader audience. Case focused on strategic partnerships and aggressive marketing campaigns, including sending out millions of free trial disks. This strategy helped AOL gain a significant market share in the early days of the internet. Case also emphasized providing a wide range of content and services to keep users engaged.
Philanthropy
After leaving AOL, Case founded the Case Foundation with his wife Jean. They have invested in numerous organizations and initiatives, focusing on leveraging the internet and entrepreneurial approaches to strengthen the social sector. They also signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
