Pinterest CEO and UofL alum Bill Ready to speak at commencement

Long before he would lead a global technology company, Bill Ready '01 arrived at the University of Louisville unsure of what the future might hold, only that being on campus meant opportunity. This spring, that journey comes full circle as the UofL College of Business alumnus and CEO of Pinterest returns to his alma mater as commencement speaker.

More than 2,000 University of Louisville students who applied for degrees and certificates are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 9, at the KFC Yum! Center, with two separate sessions at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Ready will speak at both ceremonies.

In a conversation with UofL News leading up to commencement, Ready reflected on his journey as a first-generation student, the experiences at UofL that shaped him and why returning as commencement speaker is especially meaningful.

UofL News: You've previously stated that stepping onto UofL's campus was the moment you felt like you had "made it" as the first in your family to go to college. What did the UofL represent to you then, and what does it mean to return now as the commencement speaker?

Ready: As a first-generation college student, just getting there felt significant. I didn't come with some big, polished vision of what my career would be. I just knew that being on campus meant that I had an opportunity that my family and I had worked really hard for and I wanted to make the most of it.

Coming back now as commencement speaker is really special because my time at UofL was truly transformative for me as I know it is for all the students. Graduation is one of those moments where you're proud of what you've done, but you're also standing right at the edge of a lot of unknowns and a lot of opportunity. To be invited back to be a part of that moment with all of these students is truly an honor.

UofL News: As a first-generation college student, how did your time at UofL shape your confidence and expand your sense of what was possible?

Ready: Confidence didn't come from walking onto campus already knowing I belonged. In fact, I probably had a bit of imposter syndrome and wasn't sure if I would make it. But little by little, I learned that I could handle more than I thought and I figured out that there were plenty of other people that were figuring it out as they went just like me.

I came from a family that valued hard work deeply. My parents encouraged me to do my best, but there wasn't a roadmap for what a career like mine could look like. Silicon Valley and the tech world weren't part of the environment I grew up in - I didn't even know how to use a computer when I arrived on campus.

That's one reason UofL mattered so much. It opened the aperture on what was possible and exposed me to people and opportunities that I couldn't have imagined before. I also benefited from people who gave me nudges in the right direction - professors and mentors who saw something in me and challenged me to dream bigger. One professor, in particular, encouraged me to consider Harvard Business School, and that's a great example of how important it is to have someone help you imagine a future you might not have imagined for yourself. And, sometimes all it takes is one person who sees something in you before you fully see it in yourself.

UofL News: Looking back, you've said some of the hardest moments in your life became the most character-building. Did you have any of those experiences during your time at UofL?

Ready: Absolutely. I think for a lot of first-generation students, one of the hardest parts of college is that you're not just learning the material - you're also learning the environment. You're figuring out how to navigate a world that may feel very foreign, and you're often doing that without the benefit of a family playbook for how college works. That can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly character-building.

While I was at UofL, I was working two or three jobs at a time along with fulltime coursework because I was terrified of taking on debt. There was a stretch where I would work second shift at a gas station or a call center depending on the night and then go work from midnight to 4 a.m. sorting packages at UPS. I had an 8 a.m. class - so, I'd sleep a few hours in my car on campus to save time from driving back to my apartment that was 45 minutes away and I'd shower at the gym at the student center.

That felt really hard at the time but it actually gave me the motivation to take the leap with the first startup I was a part of. I wasn't thinking I was going to be an entrepreneur, I was just thinking I could have one job instead of three. Later, it would be one of the best examples for me of how the toughest moments can also lead to growth that redefines what's possible.

UofL News: We hear your connection to UofL is also personal - you met your spouse, Lucy, during your time here. How did that happen, and what memories from those days do you both still hold onto?

Ready: We met in high school but didn't start dating until freshman year here at UofL. Lucy was a biology major - so we were actually on opposite sides of campus and neither of us realized that the other was going to college here. We randomly bumped into each other outside the student center one day and reconnected over how we were each working through the transition to college.

We went to UofL in a time before cell phones were popular and we were on completely different schedules. We left notes on each other's cars to communicate. I still have several of the notes she left for me. She'd often leave a few words of encouragement for me in those notes and her encouragement was a big part of what kept me going, especially in the toughest moments.

That chance encounter was certainly one of the most consequential of my life. We've now been together for nearly 30 years, and she's been an amazing partner through all of life's journeys. I don't think any of it would have been possible without her.

UofL News: Many graduates today are stepping into a world that feels uncertain, whether that's with AI, geopolitical tensions or the ever-changing job market. What advice would you give them about taking risks and moving forward when the path ahead isn't clear?

Ready: It's true that graduates today are entering a world that can feel uncertain. But in a lot of ways, uncertainty has always been part of any meaningful next step. The difference now is the pace of change, especially with AI and how quickly industries are evolving.

My advice is not to wait for the path ahead to become perfectly clear, because it rarely does. Instead, focus on building the skills and mindset that help you adapt. One of the most important things I've learned is that learning itself is a skill. The people who thrive are not the ones who have everything figured out on day one - they're the ones who stay curious, keep growing and are willing to take thoughtful risks.

That's especially true with AI. I think of AI as a tool, not a replacement for people - more in the passenger seat than the driver's seat. Over time, it's going to become table stakes for almost every job, much like email or the internet did for earlier generations. The key is not to fear it, but to learn how to use it well and responsibly.

All ceremonies will be broadcast live at uofl.edu/livestream. For more information on commencement, visit the commencement webpage.