Early Life
Alice Schwartz was born in 1926 (or 1925) in Germany. Her family moved to the United States when she was young, escaping the Nazi regime. She graduated from Woodlake High School in 1944 and later pursued an intensive course in analytical chemistry at Stanford. She then studied biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.
Rise to Success
While at UC Berkeley, she met David Schwartz, whom she married in 1949. In 1952, with $720 in savings, Alice and her husband David co-founded Bio-Rad Laboratories in a small Berkeley hut. Alice served as a researcher and director with the company and remained on the board since its founding. In the 1960s, she played a key role in the company's entry into the clinical diagnostics space with a test for thyroid function. The company went public in 1966 and was listed on the NYSE in 2008. Schwartz stepped down from the board in 2022 and became Director Emeritus.
Key Business Strategies
Bio-Rad Laboratories developed and manufactured a wide range of products, expanding from specialty chemicals for life science research to clinical diagnostics. The company focused on innovation, creating tools like ion exchange resins and later, droplet digital PCR technology. Bio-Rad's success was driven by strategic expansion and adaptation to technological shifts. The company's global presence and distribution channels in over 35 countries also contributed to its growth.
Philanthropy
Alice Schwartz, along with her family, was involved in philanthropy, supporting initiatives in education, cancer research, and environmental sustainability. The Schwartz Foundation, managed by trustees including Alice Schwartz, focuses on funding initiatives in arts and culture, education, health, and mental health care, primarily within New Jersey.