Alumna Yvonne McGill inspires Pamplin Class of 2024

Alumna Yvonne McGill served as the keynote speaker for the Pamplin College of Business spring commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

McGill, who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pamplin in 1989, serves as Dell Technologies’ chief financial officer, overseeing all aspects of the company’s finance functions, including accounting; financial planning and analysis; tax, treasury, and investor relations; corporate development; global business operations; and Dell Financial Services. 

McGill is a founding member and current global sponsor of Women in Action, Dell’s employee resource group focused on enabling women to grow and thrive at Dell. She is also the global sponsor for the Family Balance employee resource group focused on supporting team members with the competing demands of home and work lives. 

Below is an abridged version of McGill's speech to the 2024 graduates of the Pamplin College of Business.

Yvonne McGill:

Thank you, Dean Sarker, for this incredible honor—it’s good to be home. 

To the graduating Class of 2024, congratulations!

In the wise words of Elle Woods, ‘You did it!’ You made it to graduation day, each with your own story of how you got here. Some of you come from a long line of college graduates, and some of you are blazing a new trail for those who will follow.

But all of you will leave Lane Stadium today and take your place among the fortunate. And you earned it.

To the parents, families, friends, and faculty, thank you! Your love, support, and investment in these graduates helped shape and influence them, and gave them the courage to stay the course, to finish what they started.

And this class – perhaps more than any in recent history – faced unique challenges along the way.

A global pandemic that interrupted student life everywhere, political and social tensions, economic uncertainty, climate change, and war.

But you also witnessed humanity at its best. Global efforts to heal the world and stabilize our economy. Advancements in medicine and technology with the power to cure our bodies and our planet and to revolutionize how we work.

Through it all, you persevered, and now you prepare to start something new.

As I reflected on what I know of your lived experience, it struck me that the class of 2024 is uniquely equipped. 

I’ve been at Dell Technologies for almost 27 years. I’ve worked with a lot of very smart, very talented people – some thrive in our fast-paced, results-driven culture, and some don’t.

Interestingly, those who thrive almost always have three things in common: 

• They can adapt to change, even when it’s out of their control.
• They are problem solvers, applying fresh, new thinking to problems old and new.
• And they are resilient. No matter the obstacle, they just keep going.

While I may not know each of you personally, I know we’re celebrating you today because:

• The world changed and you adapted.
• Unthinkable challenges came your way and you solved them.
• And here you are – the definition of resilient. You stayed the course. You finished what you started.

Certainly, there are more lessons for you to learn, because there always are. But know this, Pamplin Class of 2024 – you are poised to thrive in business and life. Because this time and this beautiful place have uniquely equipped you for what’s next.

So, what is next? 

Some of you are off to grad school or beyond. Some are entering or re-entering the workforce. Some of you may join the military, become a teacher, or start a business.

The opportunities for you are almost boundless and your Virginia Tech diploma is your ticket to entry.

Mine has served me well. In August, I became chief financial officer of Dell Technologies, a Fortune 50 company with $88 billion in annual revenue, and 120,000 team members worldwide, operating in 170 countries. It’s a big job, but one I was ready for.

I was ready because I was qualified, and I was qualified because I set and followed three simple rules throughout my career.

First, I said ‘yes’ to every opportunity presented to me. Sometimes that meant taking roles that I didn’t know interested me. Once, it meant moving my family to the other side of the world. But, in the end, it meant I had held almost every leadership position in finance. And when the CFO role was available, I had the experience, the credibility, and the relationships. I was ready.

Second, I stayed curious and open. It’s so easy to get dug into your own way of thinking and doing – don’t! Keep learning, and keep evolving. The best leaders always do.

Lastly, I kept a big circle and gave everyone a seat. I learned early on that diversity of thought, experiences, and cultures made my teams more effective and higher performing. Stephen Covey said it well – “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”

Of course, this one’s a bit personal, too. I’m the first female CFO at Dell and one of only 64 in the Fortune 500. I’m thankful to past leaders who kept a big circle and invited me in. It’s my privilege to do the same.

So, as you step into whatever is next for you, I want to encourage you to go confidently. Your lived experience has given you superpowers that will serve you well. I encourage you to establish your guiding principles and be deliberate about how you show up in the world.

And last, but certainly not least, I encourage you to stay connected to Virginia Tech.

You wrap up a sweet season of life today. Hold tight to the memories and relationships you made here. And continue to embrace and live out our motto, Ut Prosim (That I may serve). 

The world needs more people serving each other. And I’d like to think there is a disproportionate number of Hokies out there serving and changing the world together.

Again, congratulations Class of 2024, and thank you so much for letting me be part of your special day and, of course … Let’s Go Hokies!