Apple's new CEO John Ternus shares career advice
Ternus tells young professionals to 'never assume you know as much as others'
1Apple's new CEO
After a 23-year career at Apple, John Ternus has become the company's new CEO. Taking the helm of the $4.6 trillion tech giant, Ternus quickly rose through the ranks after joining as an engineer in 2001. He initially worked on products like the Cinema Display before leading hardware engineering for iPads and Macs. By 2013, he became VP of hardware engineering and later a senior executive.
2Career beginnings
Ternus admits feeling inadequate when he joined Apple at age 26 in 2001. He recalls how technology was changing rapidly and how his colleagues seemed much more knowledgeable. But this didn't discourage him. Ternus wasn't afraid to ask questions and focused on continuous learning. This approach enabled his rapid rise within the company.
3Passion for learning
At the core of Ternus's career philosophy is 'never assuming you know.' Speaking to University of Pennsylvania's 2024 graduates, he said, 'Assume you're as smart as anyone in the room but never assume you know as much as they do.' Ternus believes this mindset provides both confidence to progress and humility to ask questions. He learned this lesson 25 years ago during his early days at Apple.
4Navigating change
Ternus discusses the challenges he faced early in his career during Apple's transition from plastic to aluminum products. But he says these experiences sharpened his ability to approach problems from different angles. He notes that young professionals will face similar uncertainties but being surrounded by smart colleagues makes the process easier.
5Not fearing to ask for help
Apple's new CEO emphasizes that he never hesitated to ask for help when needed throughout his career. 'Being around people who care deeply not only pushes you to stretch your limits but also helps you understand how to reach your goals,' he says. Ternus credits this approach as critical to his rise at Apple.
6Product development processes
Throughout his Apple career, Ternus played key roles in every generation of iPads, the first AirPods, and iPhone Pro models. After becoming VP of hardware engineering in 2013, he oversaw hardware work across Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. These experiences gave him a holistic perspective on product development.
7Tim Cook's confidence
When passing the torch, Tim Cook expressed his belief that Ternus is the right person to lead Apple into the future. Cook said, 'I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and capable as John.' In his email to Apple employees, he highlighted Ternus's understanding of creating world-changing products.
8Advice for young professionals
Ternus advises young professionals not to chase just high salaries or flashy titles. Instead, he recommends focusing on work that interests and excites them, creating projects aligned with their values. Echoing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs's 'make a dent in the universe,' Ternus tells young people, 'This is your time.'
Original article: Fortune — Apple'ın yeni CEO'su John Ternus'tan kariyer tavsiyeleri