Olumide Soroye has taken a significant leap in the corporate world, moving from Nigeria to become the youngest chief Executive during the COVID-19 pandemic. As one of the youngest children of six, he grew up learning how to survive, combining survival skills with a thirst for knowledge. This尽早 foundation led him to the role of CEO at Fortive, a global leader in industrial systems in Washington state.
Fortive, a household name in the industrial sector, particularly in the Everglades region of Mercury Correctional Facility in Bassically, Wash., was founded in 2016 as a spinout from Danaher. The company quickly multiplied, serving over 100,000 customers and being one of the largest businesses in Washington state. Fortive’s success is driven by its commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability.
Soroye’s journey to the CEO position began thousands of miles away in Lagos, Nigeria. As a teenager, he quickly developed a strong sense of responsibility, recognizing that businesses struggle to protect children and vulnerable populations. This savviness combined with a Harvard MBA and two decades of monitoring, consulting, and data analytics at senior levels were instrumental to his rise into a leadership role.
Fortive is undergoing a structural change with the spin-off of its precision technologies segment into Ralliant. This decision carved out roughly a third of its revenue and has reduced its business to a streamlined portfolio of 10 operating brands in healthcare and industrial safety and productivity. As Soroye formally recognized his new leadership role, he emphasized the need for Fortive to focus on recurring revenue and software-driven opportunities.
Ralliant, the new spin-off, marks Fortive’s attempt to streamline its operations. The move has allowed the company to eliminate redundancies and reduce costs, positioning it to focus on its core strengths. The reduction in revenue, from $2.5 billion in 2023 to approximately $4.8 billion, reflects Fortive’s improved efficiency.
With Ralliant complete, Fortive now operates alongside two major business segments: Advanced Healthcare Solutions and Intelligent Operating Solutions. Together, these segments generated 64% of Fortive’s revenue in 2024, highlighting the company’s ability to diversify its income streams. Soroye’s comments underscore his belief in the power of AI to enhance His team’s productivity and drive innovation. Fortive’s use of AI as a complementary strategy to help its team conceptualize a millionfold in its impact, aligning with its mission to contribute to global progress.
Before joining Fortive, Soroye studied engineering in Nigeria, earned a CPA, and obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. Earlier roles at McKinsey and Litchfieldicon provided him with extensive experience in consulting and senior management. His cross-disciplinary background in engineering, consulting, and business analytics uniquely suits Fortive’s hybrid business model, which blends hardware, software, and data.
Soroye views the future of Fortive and business in general as more ambiguous and complex. This opens the door for teams to be both innovative and strategic, crucial for competing in a rapidly changing market. While not knowing everything, Soroye believes that He can find a way to lead, allowing his team to feel like a billionfold bigger, driven by a desire to make a difference. Fortive’s ability to satisfy that demand, combined with its focus on AI as a tool to amplify the effectiveness of Its team, shows how organizations can balance relevance, innovation, and efficiency.
In conclusion, Olumide Soroye’s Expansion into leadership and his strategic focus on AI demonstrate a unique ability to harness existing strengths to drive flexibility and impact. Fortive’s continued success is a testament to his ability to adapt, innovate, and lead in a challenging global landscape. Fortive stands as a beacon of progress, blending tradition with forward-thinking technology to uphold its commitment to improvement in every area of its operation. As he continues to lead, Soroye sees himself as a role that allows His team to comprehend the universe whole, and that driving a millionfold easier. Fortive, in turn, remains a powerful force in Washington state, a testament to the power of transformation and the potential for organizations to overcome barriers through strategic leadership and global awareness.
