STATE COLLEGE — AccuWeather recently announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Steven R. Smith, has been named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Finalist. Smith was named a winner of the Greater Philadelphia Regional Award Thursday, June 11, at the Union League of Philadelphia. He was one of 11 regional winners named from the list of 30 finalists for the regional award.
“Winning the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Greater Philadelphia region and becoming a National Finalist is an honor I share with every single member of the AccuWeather team,” Smith said. “This achievement belongs to the people who show up every day committed to a mission that truly matters — saving lives, protecting property, and helping people and businesses around the world make the best weather-impacted decisions. That mission has guided us for more than 60 years, and it is the heart of everything we do.”
Steven R. Smith’s Journey
A Philadelphia native and graduate from Penn State University with a degree in meteorology, Smith joined AccuWeather as a forecasting intern in 1997 and rose through the organization to become CEO in 2023.
“Having grown up in Philadelphia and started my professional career journey at AccuWeather as an intern, this recognition is one I will carry with great humility and immense pride,” added Smith. “To now be named a national finalist alongside this extraordinary team is a testament to what we have built together, with many more successes to come. Philadelphia shaped me, AccuWeather defined me, and this team is why I am receiving this incredible honor.”
Today, he leads a global weather technology company whose forecasts, warnings, and weather intelligence help more than a billion people worldwide make better decisions every day.
Under his leadership, AccuWeather is expanding the reach and impact of trusted weather intelligence worldwide, using advanced data, AI, and forecasting technology to improve safety, strengthen resilience, and help individuals and businesses prepare for weather-related risks.
Smith is driven by the pursuit of the perfect weather forecast, believing that more accurate forecasting can save lives, reduce economic disruption, and help people make better decisions.
Smith’s Selection
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program recognizes visionary business leaders whose innovation, leadership, and growth create lasting impact, and his role in expanding AccuWeather’s reach to more than one billion people across 190+ countries, helping communities and businesses make better weather-impacted decisions. An independent panel of judges selected Smith based on his entrepreneurial spirit, purpose-driven leadership, and record of building long-term value.
AccuWeather Growth
Under Smith’s leadership, AccuWeather has expanded its global reach, accelerated innovation across consumer and enterprise platforms, and grown its enterprise weather intelligence business to support an API platform handling more than 30 billion requests per day, positioning AccuWeather as a foundational data source.
What’s Next
As a regional winner, Smith advances to consideration for the EY Entrepreneur of The Year National Awards, which recognize some of the nation’s most accomplished business leaders.
A Philadelphia native and graduate from Penn State University with a degree in meteorology, Smith joined AccuWeather as a forecasting intern in 1997 and rose through the organization to become CEO in 2023.
Under Smith’s leadership, AccuWeather has expanded its global reach, accelerated innovation across consumer and enterprise platforms, and advanced its mission of saving lives, protecting property, and helping people and businesses make better weather-impacted decisions.
