FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam Will Deliver HPU’s Commencement Address to Graduate Students
HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 4, 2024 – High Point University’s Class of 2025 will hear from an all-star lineup of Commencement speakers in early May.
Raj Subramaniam, president and CEO of the FedEx Corporation, one of the world’s largest transportation companies, will deliver HPU’s Commencement address to graduate students on May 1, 2025. Two days later, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Jane Seymour will give the Commencement address for undergraduate students.
Subramaniam was named FedEx’s CEO in June 2022, becoming only the second CEO in the company’s 53-year history after previously serving as its president and chief operating officer. He moved up the ranks after starting at FedEx as an associate marketing analyst in 1991, and he has held various leadership roles during his more than 30 years with the transportation giant.
While Commencements are private events for HPU graduates and their families, they will be streamed live at https://www.highpoint.edu/live-stream.
“Raj Subramaniam embodies the American principles of free enterprise, hard work and the pursuit of excellence that we proudly celebrate every day at High Point University,” said HPU President Nido Qubein. “His experience of coming to the United States as an immigrant and rising to top leadership positions at the FedEx Corporation will be invaluable for our students. We are honored to host him on HPU’s campus, and we are excited for our graduates and their families to learn from him.”
Qubein, Subramaniam and Seymour have each received the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, given to exceptional leaders who have triumphed over adversity and personify the American Dream. Qubein was presented with the award in 2006, followed by Seymour in 2022 and Subramaniam in 2023.
About Raj Subramaniam:
Subramaniam is credited with revitalizing FedEx’s operating strategy, growing its e-commerce business and utilizing global supply chain data to drive the company’s digital agenda. Outside of FedEx, he serves on the board of directors for the Procter & Gamble Company.
In 2023, Subramaniam received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, India’s highest civilian honor recognizing the contributions and achievements for overseas Indians. He was born and raised in India before moving to the United States for graduate school.
Subramaniam joins a long list of distinguished HPU Commencement speakers:
- Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks
- Cynt Marshall, CEO of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and HPU Sports Executive in Residence
- Michio Kaku, physicist and co-founder of String Field Theory
- Wolf Blitzer, lead political anchor at CNN
- Condoleezza Rice, the 66th Secretary of State of the United States
- Tom Brokaw, NBC broadcast legend
- Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and national security advisor
- Former First Lady Laura Bush
- Josh Groban, internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and actor
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
- Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and HPU’s Innovator in Residence
- Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan
- NASA Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin
- Muhtar Kent, CEO of the Coca-Cola Company