Incoming Apple CEO John Ternus tells Gen Z an early mistake taught him an important lesson

Key Points:

• Apple’s incoming CEO, John Ternus, emphasized the importance of dedication and care in work during his 2024 University of Pennsylvania engineering commencement speech, sharing a personal story about his attention to detail early in his Apple career.
• Ternus advised graduates to balance confidence with humility by assuming they are as smart as others but remain open to learning, a mindset that helped him thrive in Apple’s fast-paced environment.
• He encouraged young professionals to build skills in areas they are passionate about and align their work with their values, urging them to “make a dent in the universe,” echoing Steve Jobs’ famous call to action.
• Ternus has spent 25 years at Apple, rising from a product design engineer to senior vice president of hardware engineering, overseeing key products like AirPods, iPads, and iPhones, and is praised for his blend of engineering expertise and leadership integrity.
• Reflecting on his career, Ternus credited the late Steve Jobs and current CEO Tim Cook as major influences and mentors shaping his approach as he prepares to take over Apple’s top role on September 1.