How SMU Lyle Alum Thear Sy Suzuki ‘96 Persevered from Refugee to Dallas Powerhouse

Thear Suzuki is a Dallas powerhouse.

When the former refugee arrived at SMU Lyle School of Engineering to earn her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering – biomedical track, she had one goal: to be a doctor. But she found her vocation when she took the advice of an advisor and worked as a tech consultant after graduation.

“Consulting was a good fit because with the skills I learned at Lyle, I was able to put tech, leadership, critical thinking and problem solving into practice,” she said. “Once I realized that I could make an impact and help people through consulting, I stuck with it.”

Thear, a renowned leader in tech and business consulting at Ernst & Young, is a passionate philanthropist, serving a long list of non-profits and organizations that develop leaders and uplift others. She’s received numerous accolades, including the SMU Distinguished Alumni Award, D CEO Corporate Excellence in Leadership, and the President of the United States Gold Volunteer Service Award. Thear was named one of the most powerful business leaders in North Texas by D CEO and recognized as Park Cities People – Person of the Year 2022. Thear is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and she was featured in President George W. Bush’s book, Out of Many, One – Portraits of America’s Immigrants.

But her most impressive accomplishment isn’t listed on her resume. In 1981, eight-year-old Thear came to the U.S. with her family as refugees and survivors of the Cambodian genocide with nothing but the clothes on their backs to start a new life.

“With the help of others and years of hard work, I have worked my way to becoming a business leader and community influencer, contributing to people’s lives,” she said.

At her alma mater, SMU Lyle, her name resonates as a beacon of hope and persistence. She set a precedent for the students and alumni who would follow, empowering them to strive to lead more impactful lives in school and the workplace.

Thear’s achievements are a testament to her firm commitment to excellence and service. But with every achievement, she credits the support from generous strangers to why she and her first-generation family were able to rise above adversity.

“My third-grade teacher, John Gallagher, helped my family and  learn English and get on our feet,” Thear said. “It is because of his generosity and the support of others along the way that I got to where I am.”

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As a student, she excelled in math, but her true strength was beyond academics, in leadership. During high school, she served as president of the student body and president of the key club. John Gallagher, who continued to mentor Thear, nominated her for a leadership scholarship that brought her to SMU.

“I prepared for college with the goal of becoming a doctor, which is why I jumped into electrical engineering with a biomedical engineering specialization,” she said. “At the time, the medical field was the only profession I knew that helped people. I had heard that biomedical engineering was the hardest major you could be in at SMU and if you did well, you’d get into medical school.” 

Her engagement in student leadership and extracurricular activities pushed her to discover the transformative power of service and leadership. Whether it was founding the Asian Council, the Asian Christian Fellowship, volunteering with the Inter-Community Experience program, working in the Chaplain’s office, participating in Program Council, Student Foundation, Student Senate, Mortar Board, the Honor Council or serving as President of the East Asian Student Association, she embraced every opportunity to make a difference.

“SMU and Lyle gave me so much more than just a technical education,” she said. “Often it felt like student leadership was my major, while academics was my minor.”

When she landed a job at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) after graduating in 1996, she realized she could live her personal purpose to inspire courageous actions in others so they can lead impactful lives.

“My leadership shined through bringing teams together, organizing and getting stuff done to achieve the outcome we are all going after,” Thear said. “SMU Lyle helped me learn how to tackle any problem, think critically and ask the right questions.”

Her advice to students is to go beyond academic studies and gain real-world experience to understand what the field is all about.

“Look into all the co-op and internship opportunities, meet people in the field, be curious, work hard, adopt a growth mindset and you will be successful in whatever you put your mind to,” she said.

She's passionate about giving back to the community, serving on the SMU Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board, the SMU Tate Lecture Series board, Communities Foundation of Texas board, Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) National Executive Committee, 50/50 Women on Boards and National Asian Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship board. She is a tireless advocate for gender equality and diversity in leadership in the workplace.

Thear is also committed to giving back to her alma mater by setting up two new scholarship endowments. The Thear Sy Suzuki Endowed Scholarship Fund, gifted in honor of her mentor and Elementary School teacher, John Gallagher, and The Eric and Thear Sy Suzuki Endowed Scholarship Fund were both established to provide support to students with financial needs at SMU Lyle. If you're interested in giving back to SMU Lyle, reach out to our Director of Development, Maya Jhangiani.

Her journey—from fleeing genocide to a global leader shaping the future of business—is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of education, mentorship, and community support.

“I had this voice inside that I wasn’t as smart as others,” she said. “I urge future SMU Lyle engineers to seek their inherent worth. Don’t let your life situations get in the way of future growth and never limit yourself with limiting beliefs.”

Living my personal purpose everyday: To inspire courageous actions in others so they can lead impactful lives. – Thear Sy Suzuki ‘96

About the Bobby Lyle School of Engineering

SMU's Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, community and the world.