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Former GVSU Trustee Returns To Campus: Shares Story Of Success

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Former Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees member and Entrepreneurial success, William Pickard recently paid a visit to both the Grand Rapids and Allendale campuses.   His message was to encourage students and adults alike, about success and business.

Former GVSU Board of Trustees member, William Pickard came back to the campus recently to share his personal success story and provide insight to students and to community members looking to increase their impact in Grand Rapids.  Pickard, who spoke at two separate campus events,  is the founder and Chairman of Global Automotive Alliance in Detroit and is considered one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the state. 

“My hash tag is, if I can do it, you can do it.  And I really believe that. That most of us have the capacity to do whatever it is we really want to do in life. It just takes some preparation, some hard work and just remember Drake; if you work hard, you work very hard, your idol, will someday be your friendly rival. And I believe that. “

The Drake reference was part of a point of connection with students he addressed on the Allendale Campus.  Pickard has a new book coming out, entitled, “Seven Principles of Entrepreneurship”, in which he talks about how to overcome barriers to success.  One thing he says he always highlights is relationships, attributing relationships made here at GVSU to part of his success story.

“When I came to this campus as a board member, I was less than 30 years of age.  Probably been in business less than 5 years.  So, the Rich DeVos, Don Lubbers, they gave me life lessons that I use until this day.  So again, relationships and being able to surround yourself or be surrounded, by people who are wiser, smarter older, or what have you, all those things can lead to even greater success in my opinion.”

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.