Bo Burlingham

Bo Burlingham is an American business journalist, author, and longtime editor at Inc. magazine, widely recognized for his deep expertise in entrepreneurship, small business strategy, and corporate culture. Educated at Princeton University, Burlingham spent over three decades covering independent companies and visionary business founders across the United States.

In 2005, Burlingham published his influential management classic, Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big. The book examined successful privately held companies that deliberately chose not to pursue maximum revenue growth, focusing instead on exceptional product quality, community impact, and workplace culture.

He followed this success with Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top, providing actionable guidance on business succession and exit strategies. Burlingham’s writing remains a touchstone for business owners prioritizing long-term purpose and organic excellence over rapid scale.