(Newswire.net — December 15, 2014) — Decades after leaving the University of California Santa Barbara, Bob Duggan returned to address graduating students with an inspirational commencement speech. This talk is now available for viewing online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aML3Us05UY8 .
In his address, he advised UCSB graduates to “be prepared to adjust and improvise, and to recognize that defeat is a steppingstone. Be humble in your successes and always give honor to those that came before you and provided you the hard-won knowledge that you now use to make your own success.”
Duggan studied economics with the class of 1966. Since then, he has founded several successful businesses and been described as the “consummate entrepreneur.” His enthusiasm for investing sprang from a corporate finance class he took at UCSB. Despite that, it took more than four decades for him to reach the Forbes billionaire list with his biotech firm, Pharmacyclics Inc.
In the past couple of years, Pharmacyclics has gained “breakthrough therapy” recognition and three approvals from the FDA for treating cancer. The company’s drug has been approved for the treatment of specific types of lymphoma and leukemia. This drug is providing a great deal of hope for patients with these forms of cancer.
Now based in Sunnyvale CA, he stays connected to his roots. He and his wife, Trish, have contributed to the UCSB Athletics Program, College of Engineering and also the world-class Religious Studies Department. He has been a trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation since 1989. He and Trish are also members of UCSB’s Lancaster Society.
Duggan stated that his education at UCSB helped him develop the tools he needed to become a successful businessman and more recently, a philanthropist. An important part of his success is to have an impact through giving and work for the greater good of society.
Bob has a strong work ethic. He has been earning money since ten years of age. His life story is a testament to the value of education. He credits UCSB as being his launching pad, a place where he made connections with important peers that continue to this day.
He joined forces with college friends in starting his first business venture while he was still a student. And years later, he teamed up with another UCSB alumnus on a company which revolutionized computer-aided and robotic surgery using technology developed at UCSB.
For more information about Bob and the topics mentioned above, visit: http://www.bobduggan.com and http://www.bobduggan.org .