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Distinguished Alumni Charlene Li '84 and Ivan Krstic '04 highlighted at Reunion 2024

6/26/2024

Each spring, the Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to an alumna and alumnus who has brought honor and distinction to herself/himself and to Cranbrook Kingswood through career achievement, public service or contributions in other areas. This year's Distinguished Alumni, Charlene Li '84 and Ivan Krstić '04 inspired students and alumni on their return to campus, addressing the class of 2024 at commencement ceremonies and speaking to alumni at reunion.

Charlene Li, a member of the class of 1984, embodies the spirit of embracing change. With a keen expertise in disruption, Charlene has guided executives and organizations through the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology. She is the author of six New York Times bestsellers, including "The Disruption Mindset," "Open Leadership," and "Groundswell." Charlene has shared her insights on global stages such as the World Economic Forum, TED, and South by Southwest.

Through her work in digital transformation and disruptive leadership, she has helped reshape the strategies of some of the world's most influential companies, including Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, and IBM. Her insights have helped these organizations navigate and thrive amidst constant change, demonstrating the powerful potential she sees in embracing disruption. Charlene delivered an inspiring commencement speech to the Kingswood class of 2024, encouraging graduates to embrace their unique paths, stay open to possibilities, and find adventure in everyday life. She emphasized the importance of leadership as a mindset to create positive change.

Ivan Krstić, class of 2004, is one of the world’s top experts in digital security, responsible for safeguarding over 2.2 billion iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more across the globe. Ivan's journey to Cranbrook began in Croatia, where he convinced his parents to allow him to attend with the goal of pursuing a top university education and a career in computer science. His love for computers began early, and he started programming before the age of 10.

At Cranbrook, Ivan thrived under the mentorship of dedicated teachers like Ed Van Dam and Bob Cowie, and he appreciated the rigorous editing from his Crane-Clarion newspaper advisor, David Watson, who taught him to write clearly about complex topics.After Cranbrook, Ivan attended Harvard and joined the nonprofit One Laptop per Child, where he developed the Bitfrost security system. His innovative work earned him recognition from MIT Technology Review as one of the top innovators under 35. Ivan’s career path led him to Apple, where he has spent fifteen years working on challenges that he finds both demanding and invigorating.

Ivan’s commencement speech to the Cranbrook class of 2024 was unforgettable., and included a personal note to each of the graduates that listed special things about each student that their teachers passed along to him. He assured the graduates that part of the Cranbrook magic is connecting with teachers who believe in you and friends who support you. His message resonated deeply, highlighting the importance of community and the lifelong connections formed at Cranbrook.

Click here to see the presentation of Charlene and Ivan's awards and their comments to fellow alumni.

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- Distinguished Alumni Charlene Li '84 and Ivan Krstic '04 with CKAA Officers Alex Paul '07 and Ekta Lobo Wilcox '89 and Jeff Suzik and Aimeclaire Roche
- Distinguished Alumna Charlene Li '84 with Director of Schools Jeff Suzik at Commencement
- Ivan Krstic '04 speaks to the Cranbrook Class of 2024