Transforming Industries with Computational Intelligence: Journey with CEO Jim Scapa Altair | Ep 912

The Digital Executive

In this episode of The Digital Executive, host Brian Thomas interviews Jim Scapa, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Altair. With nearly 40 years of experience in business growth, innovation, and cultural stewardship, Jim shares his journey from founding Altair in 1985 to leading it as a global leader in computational intelligence. He discusses the early challenges of starting the company with limited resources and how they overcame these obstacles through innovation and agility.
Jim delves into the key leadership principles that have guided Altair’s growth to serve over 16,000 customers with 3,000 employees across 81 offices in 29 countries. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong culture of innovation and mutual respect, which has been instrumental in sustaining the company’s success.
The conversation explores how Altair has adapted its technologies and services to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving fields of computational science and AI. Jim highlights their strategic investments in electronics, high-performance computing, and data science, which have expanded their reach across various industries including automotive, aerospace, finance, and life sciences.
Jim also shares insights into emerging trends in computational science and AI that excite him the most, such as the move towards 3D integrated circuit design and the development of analytical graph database technology. He explains how Altair is preparing to address these trends and continue its legacy of innovation.
Join us to hear Jim Scapa’s inspiring story and learn how Altair is poised to drive the next wave of technological advancements in computational intelligence.