2 years ago, incoming Apple CEO John Ternus gave a commencement speech at his alma mater. His advice is still relevant today

John Ternus, Apple’s current senior vice president of hardware, will replace Tim Cook as the CEO of the company in September. Long before his promotion, Ternus’s origin story at one of the world’s most valuable companies is one of humility and passion.

Two years ago, Ternus returned to the University of Pennsylvania—his alma mater—to deliver the school of engineering’s commencement speech, which is full of wisdom that is still relevant today.

“The care that you put into your work really matters,” was Ternus’s first piece of advice. 

His first project at Apple was the Cinema Display, a large desktop monitor, he explained. When developing the product, he found himself at a supplier facility past midnight, counting the grooves of the computer monitor’s screws. He recounted arguing with the supplier about the details of the parts, which were supposed to have 25 grooves, not 35.

“I distinctly remember stepping back for a minute and thinking to myself, ‘What the hell am I doing? Is this normal?’” he asked. “I realized it might not be normal, but it’s right. 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.”

The commitment to the details is telling of how Ternus became one of Apple’s most trusted leaders.

When he joined Apple out of college, Ternus said he wasn’t sure if he belonged at the company. Asking for guidance when he needed it and mastering new skills helped kill his self-doubt. Since joining the company in 2001, Ternus has overseen the development of Apple’s iconic core products, like the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. 

A little bit of intellectual humility also carried Ternus a long way.

“Always assume you’re as smart as anyone else in the room, but never assume that you know as much as they do,” he added. “With this mindset, you’ll find the confidence you need to push forward, but more importantly, the humility to ask questions and learn.”

Some things that Ternus learned became obsolete—like designing products with clear plastic parts, which were later replaced with aluminum. Still, Ternus said he doesn’t regret learning those skills, “because every experience like this sharpened my ability to approach problems from different angles.”

Ternus’s final piece of advice is one that he thinks about almost every single day.

“Build what interests you, build what excites you, but above all else, build it in a way that aligns with your values,” he said.

At the end of the speech, he echoed the words of Apple’s cofounder Steve Jobs: “Go out there and make a dent in the universe.”