College graduates are stepping out of college and into corporate offices, uncertain of how to excel in an AI-enabled world of work. However, in the pursuit of success, incoming Apple CEO John Ternus advises young professionals that putting in 100% effort matters most.
“The care that you put into your work really matters,” Ternus told the University of Pennsylvania’s engineering graduates in 2024.
The longtime company insider, set to take Apple’s top role on September 1, first learned this lesson when he started working at the tech giant in 2001. After joining the product design team, his first project was to create a large plastic desktop monitor called Cinema Display. After months of toiling over the build, the supplier facility produced a version of the product, but on the back of the display, 35 grooves were installed instead of 25. Ternus knew the mistake would be out of sight to most observers, but he couldn’t bear the thought of letting his design go to market with an issue.
“I distinctly remember stepping back for a minute and thinking to myself, ‘What the hell am I doing? Is this normal?’” Ternus recalled. “I realized it might not be normal, but it’s right, because I’d already spent months working on that product. And if you’re going to spend that much time on something, you should put in your very best effort.”
Ternus said that whether a customer notices the extra grooves or not, he would always know. And since he and his team had meticulously planned every detail—from the display screen to the concentric steel grooves that shimmered like a CD—they wanted their very best work reflected in the final product. That dedication may come across as intense, but it’s always worth it to go the extra mile rather than do the satisfactory minimum.
“Make no mistake—it’s hard to put that much of yourself into something,” Ternus advised. “It’s stressful, it requires sacrifice, but it’s worth it because our time is finite.”
The incoming CEO says to act with ‘humility’ and ‘make a dent in the universe’
Ternus was just 26 years old when he joined Apple—it was his second job out of college, and at the turn of the 21st century, technology was innovating at breakneck speed. The incoming CEO told graduates that there will be many times in their careers when they have to take on something new, and uncertainty is bound to creep in. But there’s a trick he’s mastered to push through the doubt.
“Always assume you’re as smart as anyone else in the room, but never assume that you know as much as they do,” Ternus told the Gen Z engineering graduates. “With this mindset, you’ll find the confidence you need to push forward, but more importantly, the humility to ask questions and learn.”
When he first started working for the $3.9 trillion tech giant, Ternus admitted it was both exhilarating and intimidating. His coworkers were smart and confident, cutting into his self-assurance that he belonged there. However, he embraced their strengths instead of anxiously shying away—and it’s proved fruitful for his two-decade career.
“I’ll always be grateful that I wasn’t afraid to ask for help when I needed it,” Ternus continued. “Because being around people that care that deeply, it won’t just make you want to stretch your limits and see how far you can go, but they’re also the best people to help you understand how to get there.”
The 50-year-old engineering executive left the budding professionals with a parting piece of career advice: “Take the time to build skills and expertise in areas that matter to you.” Whether it be product development, fighting incurable disease, or building a healthcare AI model, young professionals should invest in meaningful work.
“Build what interests you, build what excites you, but above all else, build it in a way that aligns with your values.” Ternus said. “This is your time, this is your moment, so do what Steve Jobs once said, and go out there and make a dent in the universe.”
Ternus’ 25-year come-up at $3.9 trillion giant Apple
Ternus, who currently serves as Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has devoted nearly his entire professional career to working at Apple. After a brief stint as an engineer at Virtual Research Systems upon graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he first joined Apple’s product design team in 2001, right as the company was ramping up its product innovation.
By 2013, Ternus was promoted to vice president of hardware engineering and later rose to a senior role, joining Apple’s executive team in 2021.
Over his 25-year run, the mechanical engineer has led hardware engineering across Apple’s vast product portfolio—including AirPods, all generations of iPads, and the latest iPhone. But Ternus’s technical chops were only part of the appeal; Cook said that he has the “mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and honor.”
In reaction to the announcement of his appointment as CEO, Ternus said that he is lucky to have worked under the late Jobs, and had Tim Cook as his mentor.
“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said in a statement. “I am humbled to step into this role, and I promise to lead with the values and vision that have come to define this special place for half a century.”
