About
Robert Steven Kaplan served as the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas from 2015 until 2021. In this role he managed the 1,300 employees of the Dallas Fed and represented the Eleventh Federal Reserve District on the Federal Open Market Committee in the formulation of U.S. monetary policy.
During his tenure, Kaplan established the Dallas Fed as a leader in research thought-leadership. He dramatically improved community engagement with over 40 Global Perspectives events. He initiated programs to advance early childhood literacy, address the digital divide, and enhance skills training in the Eleventh District communities. He also created new initiatives at the Bank to attract, develop and retain exceptional talent.
Kaplan was previously the Martin Marshall Professor of Management Practice and a Senior Associate Dean at Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Harvard, Kaplan was Vice Chairman of the Goldman Sachs Group with global responsibility for the firm’s investment banking and investment management divisions. During his 23-year career at Goldman Sachs, Kaplan also ran Global Investment Banking, Asia Pacific Investment Banking, served on the firm’s management committee, and ran the firm’s partnership committee.
Kaplan currently serves as Chairman of Project A.L.S. and Co-Chairman of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, a global venture philanthropy firm that invests in developing non-profit
enterprises dedicated to addressing social issues. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the George W. Bush Institute, an Advisory Board Member of the Baker Institute, and a board member of Harvard Medical School and St. Mark’s School of Texas. Kaplan is also a board member of The Commit Partnership, a collaboration of 200 organizations that works to increase student success in Dallas County. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of the SMU Tate Lecture Series and the Co-Founding Board Chair Emeritus of the TEAK Fellowship.
Previously Kaplan was Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee at Google, a trustee of the Ford Foundation, and Co-Founder and Chairman of Indaba Capital Management, LP. He also served on the boards of Harvard Management Company, Bed Bath & Beyond, State Street Corporation, and Heidrick & Struggles International.
Kaplan has authored three books, titled What You Really Need to Lead: The Power of Thinking and Acting Like an Owner; What You’re Really Meant To Do: A Road Map for Reaching Your Unique Potential; and What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for Becoming a More Effective Leader and Reaching Your Potential.
Kaplan earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with highest distinction from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar. He was born and raised in Prairie Village, Kansas and lives in Dallas, Texas.