Early Life and Education
Alan Trefler was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1956. His upbringing in Brookline, Massachusetts, was shaped by his family's history; his father was a Holocaust survivor, and his mother was a schoolteacher. Growing up, he worked in his family's art and furniture restoration business, which instilled in him an entrepreneurial spirit. He excelled in chess from an early age and became the Massachusetts high school chess champion. He attended Dartmouth College where he studied economics and computer science and also won the John G. Kemeny prize in computing. In 1975, at 19, he tied for first place in the World Open Chess Championship, showcasing his strategic thinking and analytical skills.
Rise to Success
Trefler's career took a pivotal turn when he founded Pegasystems in 1983 at 27. The company, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, focused on streamlining business processes. Pegasystems went public in 1996 and has since become a global leader in customer relationship management and business process management software. Trefler's vision for Pegasystems was driven by a desire to create software that was easy to use and accessible to both businesspeople and IT staff. He has consistently pushed for innovation, holding multiple patents for the company's unique architecture and its approach to low-code software development.
Key Business Strategies
Trefler's business strategies have centered on innovation and customer-centric solutions. He has expanded Pegasystems' reach by acquiring companies like Chordiant and MeshLabs to enhance the company’s capabilities. Pegasystems has been an early adopter of AI and automation technologies to drive business outcomes. Trefler's leadership has been recognized with awards such as the Stevie Award for Computer Software CEO of the Year and the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council’s Public Company CEO of the Year. He has also authored the book "Build for Change", which discusses how businesses can succeed by adapting to the changing needs of their customers.
Philanthropy
Beyond his business achievements, Trefler is also committed to philanthropy. Along with his wife, Pamela Reinhard, he established The Trefler Foundation in 1997, which supports urban public education in the Boston area. They have also donated to Dorchester High School and are supporters of Year Up. Additionally, they founded Union & Fifth, where proceeds from donated clothes benefit various charities.