Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, MS ’95, a forward-thinking leader in tackling challenges and empowering people to realize their potential, will deliver Stanford’s Commencement address in June.

Pichai, who holds a master’s from Stanford, will address graduates during the university’s 135th Commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 14, in Stanford Stadium.

“Sundar is a deeply thoughtful leader who has a vivid sense for how technology can improve society and transform individual lives. He epitomizes what it means for a Stanford graduate to have a broad impact,” said Stanford President Jonathan Levin. “I’m excited to hear his reflections and advice to our graduates as they take the next step into their own futures.”

Stanford’s senior class presidents, who worked with the Office of the President on the selection process, recently met on campus with Pichai to discuss his and their graduating class’ experiences at Stanford.

“Building a meaningful life, similar to building a world-class company, requires the mindset of running a marathon, not a sprint,” said Rishi Jain, on behalf of the six class presidents. “We can think of no better embodiment of that philosophy than our 2026 Commencement speaker and Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai."

The Stanford ceremony will be Pichai’s first in-person commencement speech. His only other graduation remarks came during “Dear Class of 2020,” a virtual commencement on YouTube that featured speeches and performances celebrating graduates, their families, and communities during the pandemic.

Pichai, who grew up in Chennai, India, holds a master’s in materials science and engineering from Stanford. He also studied engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, where he received an Institute Silver Medal, and holds an MBA from the Wharton School, where he was named a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar.

Pichai graduated from Stanford with a master’s in materials science and engineering. | Google

He joined Google in 2004 and helped lead the development of Google Toolbar and then Google Chrome, which grew to become the world’s most popular internet browser. In addition to his role as CEO of Google, he became the CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, in 2019. He has served on Google parent Alphabet’s Board of Directors since July 2017.

“It’s a privilege to be invited by President Levin and the student class presidents to address the Stanford Class of 2026 as their commencement speaker,” Pichai said. “From the first time I arrived on campus as a grad student, I knew Stanford was an extraordinary place, and it endures as a world-class center for talent and innovation. I’m excited to celebrate this milestone with the graduates alongside their proud parents, families, and friends.”

The Commencement ceremony is part of a weekend-long celebration, scheduled for June 11-14, for graduates, family members, friends, and members of the Stanford community. For more information, visit the Commencement Weekend website.