An experienced and accomplished senior executive, Matthew Costello is a Vice President at Apple as well as the Chief Operating Officer of Beats Electronics, a division of Apple Inc. A 1995 graduate of Duquesne University, Matthew gave the commencement address at the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business diploma ceremony on Saturday, May 7th. Appropriately, he brought his speech on an iPad.

Matthew spoke about his time at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Philadelphia and how the Spiritan fathers there recommended he attend Duquesne. He recalled, “My time at Duquesne was enriching in ways that I would only fully come to understand over the years.”

He talked about gaining essential skills and building relationships. “The education I received was invaluable. It taught me how to think strategically, solve problems, articulate ideas, embrace new experiences and tackle curve balls that life throws you.”

After his sophomore year, Matthew spent time in Leuven, Belgium, creating an international exchange program for the world’s oldest Catholic university on behalf of Duquesne. He recalls, “I was a 19-year old American from Philly arriving at Brussels Airport on a very cold day in September wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a Mickey Mouse cap.”

Except for temporary housing at a local monastery, there was no long-term housing plan, no academic program and no friends to rely on. It was really a time to sink or swim. The experience turned out to be one of the most transformational periods of his entire life. He credits Duquesne for teaching him the skills to make the most of the experience. “It was trajectory-changing! I had the confidence to figure things out on my own. More importantly, my world view was expanded to an extent that I never thought possible,” he said.

However, the most intense and challenging period of Matthew’s professional life was working with the team from Apple in their acquisition of Beats Electronics. In less than a year, he led the integration of Beats Electronics into the world’s largest company, an acquisition that stands as Apple’s biggest to date.

Matthew’s closing comments encouraged graduates to build their own mission statement and personal narrative. “Dare to be different and think differently. This is your story. Write it yourself and own it fully. Do what you love if you can find it. But most days, do what you must. The symphony of life is made up of the many different instruments that you assemble.”