Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse received another prestigious award this week. He was named “Business Leader of the Year” in 2026 by the Harvard Business School Association of Northern California in San Francisco.
Ripple CEO receives honorary award from Harvard Business School
According to A press releasean event Tuesday night in the Julia Morgan Auditorium attended by more than 250 people. It included several founders such as Ripple CEO Garlinghouse, investors and alumni in the room.
The award, first given in 1969, recognizes CEOs who have made a significant impact in their industry and community. Previous winners have come from the technology, education and public service sectors. Hence, Garlinghouse is now part of the legacy of influential leaders.
A highlight of the event was a 40-minute conversation between Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen, co-founder and executive chairman of Ripple. The discussion centered on Ripple’s journey over the past 10 years.
They explained the company’s success from a startup to a major player in the financial technology space. The raise also discussed its ongoing legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. With Ripple getting several wins in this case, it has had even greater implications for the cryptocurrency industry.
It’s also important to note that in a separate update, Garlinghouse doubled down on its efforts Advocating the law of clarity.
Garlinghouse attracts praise from participants
Event chair Ben Dobbin noted Garlinghouse’s leadership and Ripple’s role in financial infrastructure. “He built Ripple into a company that redefined global finance infrastructure, and along the way fought a legal battle that benefited the entire industry,” Dubin said. Meanwhile, Ripple is industrializing XRP Ledger is quantum resistant.
David B. Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School, praised Garlinghouse for its focus on scalability. He noted that Ripple’s CEO has “an exceptional ability to scale a complex platform while maintaining an unwavering commitment to his core vision.” In the same way, Ripple continued the partnership Institutions.
Board member Vince Lin also highlighted Garlinghouse’s contributions to the blockchain industry. Lin said he “not only participated in the development of blockchain — he helped define it.”
