Koch

Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1940, Koch has grown from an energy-focused business into one of the world's largest privately held companies. Its portfolio spans energy, chemicals, manufacturing, consumer products, electronics, healthcare, technology, communications and real estate, with businesses including Georgia-Pacific, Molex and Infor.

Koch's distinctive management system is Principle Based Management™, which emphasizes employee contribution, stewardship, continuous improvement and creating mutual benefit. The company says it reinvests most of its earnings rather than managing to public-market quarterly targets, giving it a long-term approach to acquisitions, operating improvements and capability building.

For business students, Koch is relevant both as an operating-company platform and through investment entities including Koch Equity Development, Koch Disruptive Technologies, Koch Investment Management and Koch Real Estate Investments. Its early-career roles span finance, accounting, strategy, technology, supply chain, operations and manufacturing across its network of companies.