Early Life
Alice Schwartz was born in 1926 in Germany to Jewish parents. Her family fled to the United States during World War II. She graduated from Woodlake High School in 1944 and later attended an intensive course in analytical chemistry at Stanford, which led to a job at Shell Oil. She earned a degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, where she met her husband, David Schwartz.
Rise to Success
In 1952, Alice and David Schwartz, using $720 in savings, co-founded Bio-Rad Laboratories in Berkeley, California. Initially, the company produced tools like ion exchange resins for scientific research. Alice played a crucial role in the company's early development, focusing on product development and financial management, while David handled sales and outreach. Bio-Rad went public in 1966 and expanded internationally, becoming a leader in the life science research and clinical diagnostics markets.
Key Business Strategies
Alice Schwartz's strategic vision contributed to Bio-Rad's sustained success. The company focused on innovation, developing and distributing over 10,000 products. Bio-Rad expanded through strategic acquisitions, such as the purchase of Environmental Chemical Specialties in 1975 and RainDance Technologies in 2017, and also through partnerships. The company held its IPO in 1966 and was listed on the American Stock Exchange in 1980, then the New York Stock Exchange in 2008. Her son Norman became CEO and Chairman after her husband died in 2012. In 2022, she stepped down from the board.
Philanthropy
In 2015, the Schwartz family established the Alles Institute for Medical Research, and Alice was actively involved in its planning and funding, also serving as Chairperson.
