Alex Meyer graduated from Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering back in 1999. This spring, he spoke to 2016 graduates and their families at the graduation brunch May 15, where he encouraged students to follow unexpected paths.
He told the crowd a story about when he sat at his roommate’s desktop computer, registering for senior-year classes.
Written by Miranda Holloway, MechSE Communications
Alex Meyer graduated from Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering back in 1999. This spring, he spoke to 2016 graduates and their families at the graduation brunch May 15, where he encouraged students to follow unexpected paths.
He told the crowd a story about when he sat at his roommate’s desktop computer, registering for senior-year classes. He had a choice between a logical next step in his career path, Industrial Economics, and French 101. He followed his curiosity and took French.
It’s possible this decision took him places industrial economics never could. He met his wife in that class, and the family’s trip in May was their two sons’ first visit to the university.
“The most important things in life and the most interesting opportunities rarely come from following a crowd down a well-worn and predictable path,” Meyer said. “Archimedes told us that straight lines are the shortest distance between two points—but he forgot to mention that they're also kind of boring.”
Meyer is the vice president for global business development at SAP and earned an MBA from Harvard. He stressed to MechSE graduates the significance of their Illinois degree and that they should not take it for granted.
“You have the brains,” Meyer said. “Now you've been given the skills. With determination and vision, you will write the next chapter in this great university's legacy. And in doing so, you will change the world.”
In his role at SAP Meyer travels to anywhere from Rwanda to Tunisia to increase business for the software company. His work earned him a spot on Crain’s Chicago Business 2014 “40 under 40” list.
At the brunch, he encouraged graduates to remember their time at Illinois, not only with the material they learned, but to remember the people they became.
“Whether you realize it or not, you have all been changed by the years you have spent here at Illinois. It may not seem so today, but one day you will realize that you came to this special place as guys and girls, and you left as men and women.”