Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Doug Burgum

How Doug Burgum built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Doug Burgum is an American businessman and politician. He served as the 33rd Governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2024. A Republican, Burgum assumed the role of the 55th United States Secretary of the Interior on February 1, 2025, under President Donald Trump.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1978: Graduated from North Dakota State University

In 1978, Doug Burgum graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in university studies.

1980: Completed MBA at Stanford

In 1980, Doug Burgum completed his M.B.A. from Stanford's Graduate School of Business.

March 1983: Mortgaged farmland for Great Plains Software

In March 1983, Burgum mortgaged $250,000 of farmland to provide the seed capital for Great Plains Software in Fargo.

1983: Invested in Great Plains Software

In 1983, Burgum mortgaged inherited farmland to invest in Great Plains Software in Fargo.

1984: Purchased controlling interest in Great Plains Software

In 1984, Burgum led a group of investors, including relatives, who purchased a controlling interest in Great Plains Software from Joseph C. Larson, the company's founder.

1984: Became president of Great Plains Software

In 1984, Doug Burgum became the president of Great Plains Software.

1989: Great Plains Software grew to 250 employees

By 1989, Burgum had grown Great Plains Software to about 250 employees.

1997: Took Great Plains Software public

In 1997, Doug Burgum took Great Plains Software public.

1999: Great Plains Software acquired Match Data Systems

In 1999, Great Plains Software acquired Match Data Systems, a development team in the Philippines.

December 2000: Great Plains Software Acquisition Announced

In December 2000, the acquisition of Great Plains Software by Microsoft was announced.

2001: Sold Great Plains Software to Microsoft

In 2001, Burgum sold Great Plains Software to Microsoft for $1.1 billion and managed Microsoft Business Solutions afterwards.

2001: Donation to North Dakota State University

In 2001, Doug Burgum donated a refurbished school building to North Dakota State University, which was named Renaissance Hall.

2005: Expressed Interest in Stepping Down

In 2005, Doug Burgum expressed interest in stepping down as senior vice president to become chairman of Microsoft Business Solutions.

September 2006: Announced Plans to Leave Microsoft

In September 2006, Burgum announced that he planned to leave Microsoft entirely by 2007.

2007: Planned Departure from Microsoft

Doug Burgum planned to leave Microsoft entirely by 2007.

2007: Chair of SuccessFactors

In 2007, Doug Burgum became the chair of SuccessFactors.

2008: Co-founded Arthur Ventures

In 2008, Doug Burgum co-founded Arthur Ventures, a venture capital company.

2008: Executive Board Chair

In 2008, Doug Burgum served as the executive board chair for Intelligent InSites

2008: Doug Burgum Family Fund Started

In 2008, Doug Burgum started the Doug Burgum Family Fund, focusing on youth, education, and health.

2009: Urged to apply for NDSU president position

In 2009, Burgum was "urged to apply" for the position of president of North Dakota State University.

2010: Passed over for NDSU president position

In 2010, Burgum was passed over for the position of president of North Dakota State University, with Dean Bresciani being chosen instead.

2011: Sale of SuccessFactors

In 2011, Doug Burgum oversaw the sale of SuccessFactors to SAP.

2011: Donation to Plains Art Museum

In 2011, the Burgum family donated about $800,000 to the Plains Art Museum to support its Center for Creativity.

2012: Chairman of Atlassian

In 2012, Doug Burgum became the first chairman of the board for Atlassian.

2013: Arthur Ventures Expanded Operations

By 2013, Arthur Ventures had expanded operations into Nebraska, Missouri, Arizona, and Iowa.

2013: Created plans for tallest building in Fargo

In 2013, Burgum created plans to build the tallest building in Fargo to be named either Block 9 or Dakota Place.

2014: Interim CEO of Intelligent InSites

In 2014, Doug Burgum spent several months as the interim CEO of Intelligent InSites.

December 15, 2016: Sworn in as Governor of North Dakota

On December 15, 2016, Doug Burgum was sworn in as the Governor of North Dakota, alongside running mate Brent Sanford.

2016: Described himself as a moderate

During his 2016 campaign, Doug Burgum described himself as a moderate on social issues and a fiscal conservative.

2016: Won North Dakota gubernatorial election

In 2016, Burgum won the North Dakota gubernatorial election.

2019: Cybersecurity Operations Center Legislation

In 2019, Doug Burgum signed legislation to develop a central cybersecurity operations center for the state's network.

2020: Reelected as Governor

In 2020, Burgum was reelected as Governor of North Dakota by a wide margin.

2020: Reelected as Governor of North Dakota

In 2020, Doug Burgum was reelected as Governor of North Dakota with over 65% of the vote.

2020: Tallest building in Fargo completed

In 2020, the tallest building in Fargo was completed as the RDO Building.

2021: Set goal for North Dakota to be carbon-neutral by 2030

In 2021, Burgum set a goal for North Dakota to become carbon-neutral by 2030, which sparked $25 billion in private sector investment.

2021: Social Security Tax Exemption

In 2021, Doug Burgum signed a bill into law that exempted Social Security from North Dakota's state income tax.

April 2022: American Governors' Border Strike Force

In April 2022, Doug Burgum and 25 other governors created the American Governors' Border Strike Force to help with border defense against illegal immigration and human trafficking.

December 20, 2022: Lieutenant Governor Sanford Resigned

On December 20, 2022, North Dakota Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford resigned.

January 2, 2023: Tammy Miller took office as Lieutenant Governor

On January 2, 2023, businesswoman Tammy Miller took office as the new Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota, appointed by Burgum.

March 2023: Expressed Interest in Running for President

In March 2023, Doug Burgum expressed interest in running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election.

June 5, 2023: Teased "big announcement"

On June 5, 2023, Burgum posted a video to his Twitter X account teasing a "big announcement" for June 7.

June 2023: Launched Presidential Campaign

In June 2023, Burgum launched a campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

July 10, 2023: Offered gift cards for campaign donations

On July 10, 2023, Doug Burgum began offering $20 gift cards for a donation of any amount to his primary campaign to reach the threshold of individual donors required to participate in the first Republican primary debate.

December 2023: Ended Presidential Candidacy

In early December 2023, Burgum ended his candidacy for president and became an advisor on the Trump campaign's energy policy.

2023: Cybersecurity Education Requirement

In 2023, Doug Burgum signed House Bill 1398, making North Dakota the first state to require cybersecurity education for all K-12 students.

January 22, 2024: Announced He Would Not Run for Third Term

On January 22, 2024, Burgum announced that he would not run for a third term as governor.

November 14, 2024: Nominated as United States Secretary of the Interior

On November 14, 2024, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Burgum as the United States Secretary of the Interior and named him chair of the National Energy Council.

November 15, 2024: President-elect Trump announced Burgum as nominee for Secretary of the Interior

On November 15, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that he intended to nominate Burgum for Secretary of the Interior.

2024: Republican debate and campaign

During the 2024 Republican debate in Milwaukee and subsequent campaign stops, Doug Burgum expressed concerns about China being America's "number one threat" and criticized President Biden's handling of foreign aid to Ukraine, hostage deals with Iran, and blamed Iran for the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

2024: Presidential Election

In March 2023, Burgum expressed interest in running for president in the 2024 United States presidential election.

January 14, 2025: Confirmation hearing scheduled

Doug Burgum's confirmation hearing before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee was scheduled for January 14, 2025, six days before Trump's inauguration.

February 18, 2025: To lead "National Energy Dominance Council"

On February 18, 2025, Trump announced that Burgum, as interior secretary, would lead his "National Energy Dominance Council".

2030: Goal for North Dakota to become carbon-neutral

Burgum set a goal for North Dakota to become carbon-neutral by 2030, which he planned to accomplish through carbon capture and storage technology and agricultural practices.

2030: Carbon Neutral Target

In 2030, Doug Burgum promised to make North Dakota carbon neutral by loosening regulations for the gas industry, while also committing to clean energy projects.