Retired Apple Exec: TAC Gives Grads “Unfair Advantage” in Tech

After 16 years with Apple, Inc., Nathan Haggard (’99) retired last year at the age of 45. “In 2006 I joined Apple to help sell computers and video-editing systems to Hollywood,” he says. Over the years, those responsibilities expanded far beyond Hollywood. “Eventually I led the Mac Solutions Architect team responsible for helping Fortune 1000 companies support Mac devices at large scale.”

Working with other professionals on matters of business and technology, he found certain habits of mind — inculcated in Thomas Aquinas College’ classes by way of the Discussion Method — key to his professional success. “Seeing reality as it is and not as we want it to be is difficult for everyone, but at TAC we got a lot of practice,” he reflects. “Engaging in classroom discussions with the greatest ideas in history across a broad range of disciplines made it feel natural to navigate the ever-changing world of technology.”

It was his parents who first introduced him to the College, despite his youthful misgivings. “I was skeptical at first,” he admits. “But the curriculum and life of the College enriched me spiritually and intellectually and expanded my view of the world far beyond my expectations.”

“Engaging in classroom discussions with the greatest ideas in history across a broad range of disciplines made it feel natural to navigate the ever-changing world of technology.”

One enrichment in particular was the opportunity the College afforded for faith to seek understanding. “Some people have a simpler faith, but other people can’t get past the intellectual hurdles,” remarks Mr. Haggard. “Understanding the proofs for the existence of God and the fundamental concepts of the way the world works and is put together — being able to plumb the depths of that is extremely important for some people’s faith.”

Shortly after his 1999 graduation Mr. Haggard began working as an engineer and occasional producer at Showtime in New York City. Then, in 2002, he founded his own video production and editing company, DVWorks, continuing to work in the intersection of entertainment and technology. After four years, he leaned further into the technology side, eventually landing at Apple.

Being one of few classically educated professionals in the technology sector, he contends, gave him a leg up over those with specialized STEM or business majors. “To understand how the parts fit together within the whole, and how the parts fit together relative to each other, is an unfair advantage,” he says. “If you learn that, then you can do anything.”

Now retired, Mr. Haggard is anything but idle. He and his wife, Jessica (Kelsey ’99), continue to raise their nine children, three of whom — Jack (’24), Gregory (’26), and Patrick  (’27) — are currently studying on the California campus, following their parents in the pursuit of Catholic liberal education. “A lot of institutions try to be all things to all people, but TAC says, ‘We’re not going to do everything else, we’re going to do this,’” he says. “I think there’s a beauty in that clarity of mission.”