Schlifske honored for lifelong commitment to philanthropy, leadership and civic impact in Milwaukee
John Schlifske, chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual, learned about philanthropy at an early age. At the end of every year, he sat with his father at the kitchen table as the latter wrote out checks to charitable organizations.
“We were very lower middle class and didn’t have a ton of money,” recalled Schlifske, the 2024 recipient of the Foundation’s William C. Frye Award, “but my dad felt blessed with good health and a good family. That notion of gratitude for what you have and giving to people less fortunate is something he instilled in me.”
Schlifske also began his trajectory of servant leadership as a youngster. Beginning at age 13, he worked for the family trucking company, Acme Transfer & Trucking in Milwaukee, scraping off and repainting the warehouse and cleaning the insides of trucks.
“I wasn’t treated differently than anyone else,” he recalled. “I learned what it was like to wait on people, and I learned respect for humanity. I try to treat people as equals.”
Schlifske is a perfect fit for the Frye Award, which is named for the community leader who, at the time of his death in 1954, was chair of the Foundation board. The award recognizes exceptional civic contributions to create positive change across our region.
The Milwaukee-area native earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Carleton College and a master's degree in finance and accounting from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. After joining Northwestern Mutual in 1987 as an investment specialist, he moved from portfolio manager to senior executive overseeing a variety of the company’s investment and business operations. He has served as CEO for 14 years and will retire at the end of 2024.
Northwestern Mutual, a Fortune 100 company with employees and financial advisors in nearly every state, is one of Milwaukee’s largest companies. During Schlifske’s tenure as CEO, the company has experienced historic performance while accelerating its evolution from a world-class insurance company into a sophisticated provider of comprehensive financial planning.
“John’s long service to Northwestern Mutual is distinguished by extraordinary growth, elite financial strength, innovation and purpose,” said Mary Ellen Stanek, managing director and co-chief investment officer at Baird Advisers, who ended her term on Northwestern Mutual’s board earlier this year. “Northwestern Mutual and John’s personal leadership have been catalytic, encouraging others to join and get involved.”
The company partners with businesses, schools, local leaders, neighborhoods and organizations to address issues and amplify opportunities. Since 1992, Northwestern Mutual has given more than $400 million to make a positive impact in Milwaukee. Its four areas of focus are education, redeveloping underprivileged neighborhoods, Milwaukee as an attractive destination and pediatric cancer.
“One of the fun things about being CEO of Northwestern Mutual is that we are a big fish in a small pond,” Schlifske said. “We attract talent nationally, so it’s important that Milwaukee be a city where people want to live, work and play.”
In addition to Northwestern Mutual’s corporate impact, Schlifske himself has given countless hours to various boards and committees, including the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Next Door Foundation, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Children’s Wisconsin.
Said Tim Sheehy, MMAC senior advisor and former president, “I would affectionately call John the ‘velvet hammer.’ He knows how to get things done, and he knows how to appropriately wield the clout to do it, especially regarding education. He has been an unbending and vocal advocate to ensure that parents have the resources to get their children an education they deserve.”
Schlifske said he is “thrilled and humbled” to receive the Frye Award. “I hope when I retire that there will be some evidence that Milwaukee is a slightly better place because I got involved as a leader. That our hometown is even more livable for generations to come.”