Speaker Series - Timothy Knavish
From Pitt student to leading a global company. Hear the journey firsthand.
Join Steel City Startups for a fireside chat with Tim Knavish, Chairman and CEO of PPG, hosted with Pitt’s School of Business and Swanson School of Engineering.
A Pittsburgh native and double Pitt alumnus, Tim began his career at PPG as an engineer in 1987. His career has taken him from the factory floor to international leadership roles and ultimately to leading one of Pittsburgh’s most recognizable global companies.
Meet Tim
Tim earned his engineering degree and MBA at Pitt, completing his MBA while working at PPG. Over nearly four decades with the company, he has built a career across engineering, operations, and leadership, including time leading PPG’s operations in Australia.
He brings a perspective that connects business and engineering: how technical ideas become products, how teams navigate change, and how a career grows through new responsibilities.
What to expect
A conversation about leadership, innovation, and building a career, followed by open student Q&A.
We’ll explore the lessons Tim learned early in his career, how innovation happens inside a global company, and the advice he would give students preparing to take their first steps.
Whether you’re interested in business, engineering, entrepreneurship, or figuring out your next move, come ready with questions.
Free and open to all students.
Friday, November 6, 2026 · 10–11 AM
O’Hara Student Center Ballroom
4024 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Hosted by Steel City Startups, with the University of Pittsburgh School of Business and Swanson School of Engineering.