The Boston University College of Engineering and the Questrom School of Business recently co-hosted the 2025 Wadsworth Family Distinguished Lecture in Business Leadership & Technology Innovation, featuring Peter Levine (ENG ’83), a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. A prominent figure in venture capital, Peter has been with Andreessen Horowitz since 2011, focusing on enterprise investing. This prestigious event, part of a lecture series that highlights influential technology executives, provided attendees with invaluable insights into leadership and the essential qualities for success at the intersection of business and technological innovation.
The fireside chat, moderated by Dean Elise Morgan of the College of Engineering, was followed by an engaging Q&A session that fostered dynamic discussions. The event welcomed attendees from a variety of disciplines, including engineering, business, psychology, and consumer behavior. The lecture series was made possible through the generous support of William H. Wadsworth, Lanore H. Wadsworth, and Alexander B. Wadsworth, whose contributions continue to make these impactful conversations possible.
Peter Levine, a 1983 graduate of the College of Engineering, shared his career journey, which spans software engineering, executive leadership, and venture capital. His path included pivotal roles such as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center and Cloud Division at Citrix, following its $500 million acquisition of XenSource, where he had served as CEO. In addition to his executive roles, Peter is currently a Lecturer in Marketing at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
During the lecture, Peter discussed his experiences in venture capital, technology, and AI. He highlighted the importance of persistence and learning from failure, emphasizing how these traits were critical in shaping both his engineering and business career. He expressed his enthusiasm for the potential of AI, particularly in the realms of autonomy and healthcare, and explored how AI-native companies are transforming the technological landscape.
Peter also shared key lessons learned from his investing career, including the significance of identifying entrepreneurs with unique insights or “earned secrets” and the dangers of pursuing grand ideas without practical execution. He cautioned against the tendency for entrepreneurs to shift their focus based on investor suggestions, which can lead to misaligned expectations. Despite the inevitable failures in venture capital, Peter stressed that one successful investment can yield substantial returns.
Throughout the event, Peter reflected on the evolution of open-source software, the accelerating role of AI in innovation, and the balance between technological advancement and ethical considerations. He closed by sharing a humorous personal story with the audience about using university IDs to secure a gym discount. He shared how the connections he made at Boston University helped him obtain an ID, enabling him to secure the discount. This story highlighted the strong network and the supportive, resourceful individuals who make BU such a unique and vibrant community.
Overall, Peter provided profound insights on leadership, ethics, and the future of AI, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, humility in leadership, and the need for resilience in navigating the fast-changing tech landscape. Peter left the audience with both practical advice and lasting inspiration.
