Early Life
James Scapa was born in New York and grew up in Queens, the son of Greek immigrant Holocaust survivors. His upbringing instilled in him a global perspective and a drive to succeed. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in mechanical engineering and later earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Rise to Success
Scapa's career began in the automotive industry, but he soon recognized an opportunity in the emerging field of computer-aided engineering. In 1985, he co-founded Altair Engineering with two colleagues. Under his leadership as CEO and Chairman, Altair grew into a global powerhouse, providing simulation software and cloud solutions. The company went public in 2017.
Key Business Strategies
A core tenet of Scapa's leadership is a commitment to innovation. He fostered a culture of creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset within Altair. He has emphasized the importance of embracing change and taking calculated risks, as well as broad communications and an honest culture. Scapa also prioritized strategic investments in electronics, high-performance computing, and data science, which expanded the company's reach across industries.
Philanthropy
James Scapa, along with his wife Sally, established the James and Sally Scapa Family Foundation. They endowed the James and Sally Scapa Professorship of Innovation and Fellowship of Innovation at Columbia Engineering in 2018. The foundation also supports various other charitable causes.
