Fidji Simo to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address at HEC Paris
From the South of France to Silicon Valley, Fidji Simo’s journey embodies how far ambition, vision, and resilience can take us. At a time when personal ambition must rise to meet global challenges, she returns to HEC Paris to inspire the next generation to dare the impossible.
HEC Paris is proud to announce that Fidji Simo, HEC Paris graduate of 2008, Chair and CEO of Instacart, and incoming CEO of OpenAI Applications, will return to campus to deliver the commencement address to the 2025 graduating class of the Grande École, Master’s, and PhD programs on June 13.
“As a proud HEC graduate, I’m honored to speak to the Class of 2025, which is poised to lead through one of the most exciting periods of innovation that we’ve ever seen. The world is evolving faster than ever, and today’s graduates are stepping into a future that they have the power to create. Being on the other side of the podium will truly be a full-circle moment for me — I look forward to sharing more with all of you next week.” — Fidji Simo
Since graduating in 2008 from the Master in Management – Grande École program, Fidji Simo has remained closely connected to the HEC community throughout her remarkable journey. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she addressed HEC graduates via video as Head of the Facebook App. And in 2018, she took part in a brand campaign for HEC Paris, proudly wearing a slogan that reflected both her personal journey and her visionary approach to technology: “How about reinventing what has just been invented?”
From Southern France to Silicon Valley and the Future of AI
Raised in a family of fishermen in the south of France, Fidji Simo’s path led her from modest beginnings to the forefront of the global tech industry. Today, she is the CEO and Chair of Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America. In August, she will step into a new chapter as CEO of OpenAI Applications, where she will oversee product, engineering, and business teams—shaping the consumer-facing future of one of the most influential AI companies of our time.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, emphasized the significance of her appointment:
“Fidji brings a rare blend of leadership, product and operational expertise, and genuine commitment to ensuring our technology benefits everyone.”
For Simo, this new role represents both a challenge and a mission:
“Joining OpenAI at this critical moment is an incredible privilege and responsibility. This organization has the potential of accelerating human potential at a pace never seen before and I am deeply committed to shaping these applications toward the public good.”
A Career at the Crossroads of Tech, Innovation, and Impact
Before Instacart, Simo spent more than a decade at Facebook (Meta), where she rose to Vice President and Head of the Facebook App. She spearheaded the creation and strategy of key features that defined a generation of digital interaction: Facebook Live and Watch, Stories, Marketplace, and more. She also played a crucial role in building the company’s advertising business and transforming the mobile user experience.
Beyond tech, Fidji Simo is a philanthropist and changemaker. She co-founded a research institute to find cures for complex chronic conditions. Earlier this year, she launched the “Arts in the Age of AI” residency program to bring French artists to the U.S. to foster innovation and creativity among artists incorporating AI into their work. Her work has earned her global recognition, including inclusion in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women List, CNBC’s Changemakers, and Vanity Fair’s Top 10 Most Influential French People in the World.
A Lifelong Bond with HEC
Throughout her career, Simo has carried HEC Paris with her as a mindset, a network, and a source of inspiration. In a 2021 message to students, she recalled her first days on campus: “We were united in this idea that we wanted to learn as much as we could so we could go on and change the world.”
That same spirit lives on in the Class of 2025, who will hear from one of their own at this year’s commencement.
Her words in this 2021 message strongly resonate with HEC Paris Dean Eloïc Peyrache’s address to incoming students, echoing a shared belief in the power of education to shape purpose and ambition:
“Use these formative years to discover what you are going to care about the most—and dream big.”
On June 13, HEC Paris is honored to welcome Fidji Simo back, not just as a speaker, but as a role model whose determination and commitment continue to redefine what’s possible.
Follow the 2025 Commencement Ceremony Live on YouTube