Successful entrepreneurs often deliver a college commencement speech, a tradition of American higher education that gives new graduates an inspired send-off. In 2005, the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., addressed Stanford University grads. His story continues to motivate entrepreneurs everywhere.
Other tech trailblazers have told grads to embrace failure and to be bold. Bill Gates, who dropped out of Harvard but went on to become co-founder and chief executive of Microsoft Corp., half-jokingly told Harvard grads that he “did the best of everyone who failed.” Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, told Barnard grads that too many women underestimate their talents.