Wajih
Effendi

Wajih Tariq Effendi is a proud Texan — based between Dallas and Houston — and one of the state's most accomplished industrial strategy executives. As VP Strategy at Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest construction and mining equipment manufacturer, Wajih leads enterprise-wide strategic planning with a career built on delivering multi-billion dollar results.

A Cornell University graduate with degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Engineering Management, Wajih spent over two decades building expertise at the intersection of engineering and strategy — at Kearney, Accenture Strategy, BG Group, BP, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Schlumberger.

His career has taken him from the oil fields of Texas to the boardrooms of London, the emerging energy markets of Mexico City, and executive suites across four continents. In 2014, he was named and quoted in the Financial Times as a leading voice on Mexico's landmark energy reform.

In Texas, Wajih is deeply committed to community — founding Houston's PlatyPirates all-girls robotics team (State Champions), chairing Cornell's Houston alumni network, and walking 60 miles for breast cancer awareness.