Apple's new CEO shares his antidote to imposter syndrome: 'Never assume you know as much as others'
John Ternus, who became Apple's CEO after a 25-year career at the company, advised graduates to always assume they are as smart as anyone else but never assume they know as much, balancing confidence with humility. He recalled joining Apple at age 26 and feeling unsure of himself, but learned to ask for help and grow from working with smart peers. Ternus emphasized that the care put into work matters and that self-doubt is inevitable but can be overcome through community and curiosity.
Ternus's career trajectory spans product design work on the Cinema Display monitor through leadership of hardware engineering across the iPad, Mac, iPhone, and Apple Watch lines. His promotion marks the first CEO transition at Apple since 2011, when Cook succeeded Steve Jobs.
His 2024 commencement remarks at the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater, directly addressed the uncertainty he felt as a young engineer. He credited collaboration with deeply invested colleagues and a willingness to request assistance as crucial to navigating periods of professional doubt during his 25-year climb.
Ternus's leadership transition may signal continuity for Apple's product-focused strategy, given his extensive hardware background. Employees across the tech industry could find relevance in his emphasis on pairing confidence with humility, particularly as younger workers navigate uncertain career paths. His