Técnico Alumni is a platform that allows former students of Instituto Superior Técnico to reconnect, relive, and reminisce their time at Técnico through access to a network of contacts with other Alumni. It is within the context of this platform’s activities that this interview with Miguel Teixeira, a former student of DEI (Department of Computer Science and Engineering), originally took place, and is now being republished in full.  

To learn more about Técnico Alumni and join the network, click HERE.

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Miguel Teixeira is the CEO of NTT DATA Americas, a Japanese IT consultancy with over 140,000 employees operating in 51 countries (one of which is Portugal). He is responsible for 16,000 people working across most of the countries on these continents.

After graduating in Computer Science and Engineering in 1999, he completed several postgraduate courses at the Universidade Católica, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation, and specialized in managing high-performance teams and corporate culture.

He has built his career entirely in international consulting firms, in countries such as Portugal, Norway, Chile, etc., holding roles from programmer, analyst, project leader, manager, senior manager, and partner across various technologies and business areas, eventually becoming CEO of the Portuguese branch of the same company. In early 2020, he took on the company’s operations in Chile, eventually rising to the regional leadership role he currently holds in the Americas.

He is frequently invited to international panels on leadership and people management, technology, innovation, and emerging business areas. He is passionate about team and people management, business development tied to innovation, and projects that impact society from a social perspective.

Lastly, he is an avid sports enthusiast, having run 30 marathons and completed 10 Ironman competitions. He never goes a day without listening to a podcast and enjoys reading books that challenge him to improve and keep learning.

• Can you tell us a bit about your studies at Técnico?

IST is a top-tier university in Portugal and abroad. It stands at a very high level, and I was certainly not one of its standout students. The level of demand is high, and working while studying didn’t help. I had the privilege of having brilliant and generous classmates who, at many key moments, offered me their time and knowledge to help me cope with my limited availability. But those were unique times of learning and mental development that helped, and continue to help, me throughout my professional life.

• What was the best part of your degree? And the most challenging?

The most challenging part was studying while working. It was not easy to keep up with the pace of other students, who were, on average, definitely more brilliant than me and had more free time. But this situation also brought a very positive side that I value greatly today: it forced me to be even more organized and find ways not to fall behind. It also gave me the opportunity to work with different groups because, since I couldn’t always take all the courses at once, I was part of groups from different academic years. All of that helped shape who I am today… it was a complex challenge, but an incredibly valuable one.

• What’s your fondest memory from Técnico?

My fondest memory is of the nights spent working with classmates — who are now friends — trying to finish or deliver the projects required for our courses at the time. Whether easy or hard, the friendship and mutual help became a lasting mark in my life. These friendships still endure today.

• Can you tell us a bit about the beginning of your professional path?

Due to personal reasons, my professional life began almost simultaneously with my enrollment at IST. I already had some programming knowledge from mini-courses I took in high school, which allowed me, although with some effort, to work and study at the same time.

Because of that, by the time I was 23, even though my academic record wasn’t as brilliant as others, I had more-than-usual professional experience in both tech and business areas. I remember finishing my degree while working at a consulting firm, where I was already leading a team on a project related to the Y2K transition…

• Tell us a bit about the work you’re currently doing.

My entire career has been in consulting and within three multinational IT companies, working across business sectors such as banking, utilities, healthcare, industry, etc. I started as a programmer and moved up to become a Partner in the consulting firm I’m still with today, working mostly in Portugal but also in countries like Norway, Chile, and currently the United States.

I now lead NTT DATA’s operations in eight countries across the Americas, where I have the privilege of working with 16,000 professionals, whom I support and learn from every day. We help countries and the companies operating in them to digitalize, by implementing consulting and technology projects that aim to improve the lives of citizens and organizations.

The success of what we do is directly tied to the quality of the professionals we have, carefully selected from the best universities (including IST), and integrated into a unique environment and culture that enables their professional, and I like to think personal, development.

• What’s the toughest decision you’ve ever had to make?

The hardest decision is always when I have to tell someone with good human qualities that they don’t have the necessary skills, attitude, or impact to continue working with us. It’s less difficult to part ways with someone who is very intelligent but lacks relational skills or values than it is with someone who is genuinely kind and willing but doesn’t have, and can’t develop, the hard skills needed to contribute value and grow in a high-performance company.

• What does a typical day look like for you now?

I spend most of my day with the people I’m responsible for. They are the company’s most valuable asset. I try to pass on what I’ve learned and learn from them too. Studying and thinking are also essential moments I try not to give up. Meeting with clients is another priority. And finally, making decisions that shape the company's path and strategy.

One thing is clear to me: where I choose to spend my time, and the questions I ask based on the level of responsibility I hold, set an example of what matters most and should be cared for within the company.

• What are your plans for the future?

To return to Portugal in a few years and, if possible, teach what I’ve learned. I like being with people who want to learn but also give back. After many years in tech and consulting, and now in an international role with big challenges, I believe that in the medium term I have a duty to pass on my mistakes (so others don’t repeat them!) and a few successes, so they can be used as others see fit in their own careers.

• What advice would you give to current students?

Be prepared to study for life. Don’t view IST or any university as a temporary phase. The world moves fast today, and the tech world moves three times faster. Make the most of your university years, but prepare to keep learning forever and always wanting to know more. There is no other path to success.

• What advice would you give to high school students thinking about studying STEM, particularly at Técnico?

Don’t hesitate. The level of mental preparation to continuously face new challenges, along with technological knowledge, is unique and becomes an incredibly valuable asset for your professional life, highly regarded in the job market. If I may add: developing soft skills and emotional intelligence during university will also be a strong differentiator in your career.

• Do you have a favorite quote?

“A good mind and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

(original image: Miguel Teixeira)