Thear Sy Suzuki ’96

As an expert connector of people and bold action, Thear Sy Suzuki ’96 shapes leaders making a positive difference in our world.

 

Courage and compassion drive Suzuki in her profession and in the community. Suzuki is a global client service partner at EY with 25 years of professional services experience. She serves on EY’s Americas Inclusiveness Advisory Council and champions development programs that build inclusive, innovative and courageous leaders.

 

Her story began in war-ravaged Cambodia and changed forever at age 8 when she and her family moved to the U.S. Receiving the Herkimer Leadership Scholarship brough her to SMU, where she was active in the Asian Council, East Asian Student Association, Mortar Board, Honor Council, Student Senate, Program Council, Student Foundation, Asian Christian Fellowship and Women’s Symposium.

 

The “M” Award recipient earned a B.S. in electrical engineering, but made her mark as a business consultant with Accenture before joining EY in 2012. D CEO magazine named her among North Texas’ most powerful business leaders in 2021 and 2022.

 

Suzuki continues to make an impact on the Hilltop as an alumna, SMU parent and scholarship donor. She currently serves on the Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board and the Tate Lectures Series Board.

 

Her leadership on gender equity and diversity has been recognized with the SMU Women’s Symposium Profiles in Leadership Award, D CEO Corporate Excellence in Leadership Award, Women Leaders in Consulting Award, Asian Chamber of Texas Humanitarian and Community Services Award and other awards.

 

She serves on the Communities Foundation of Texas Board, the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Committee, the National Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship Board and the Brent Renaud Journalism Foundation Board. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and Women of Tocqueville Society and a founding member of the Orchid Giving Circle at Texas Women’s Foundation.

 

A Presidential Leadership Scholar, Suzuki is featured in former President George W. Bush’s book and exhibit, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.  

 

Suzuki lives in Plano, Texas, with husband Eric and their sons Zachary, an SMU student, Ryden, Mason and Alexander.