Entrepreneurship Series: Connecting -- How Scientist & Engineers Can Become More Effective Communicators

Winter Quarter 2015 Entrepreneurship Seminar Series

Featuring Sydney Edwards, Ph.D., Senior Director, Portfolio Management & Strategic Planning, Allergan

Sydney Edwards is the Head of Portfolio Management at Allergan, a multi-specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company based in Irvine, CA. 

In this role, he leads R&D portfolio evaluation, new product investment analysis and Franchise Planning. In addition, Edwards was the former Global R&D project team leader for LATISSE® International. LATISSE®  (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) is the first FDA approved treatment for hypotrichosis of the eyelashes (or short eyelashes). 

Prior to joining Allergan, Edwards was a Principal in the Biotech practice of TL Ventures, a venture capital firm where he focused on the venture capital funding of biotech companies most notably Barrier Therapeutics – a dermatology startup company spun out of Johnson & Johnson and Ventaira, a respiratory device startup company spun out from the Battelle Institute. Other work experience includes corporate finance and strategy positions at Amgen and Accenture. He started his career at the Lawrence Berkeley Labs as a biochemist.

He received his bachelor degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley, Ph.D. in biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University and MBA from MIT. While at MIT, he was awarded the Martin Trust Community Fellowship for promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The Entrepreneurship Seminar Series provides a real-world introduction to the theory and practice of entrepreneurship. Through a series of presentations by prestigious entrepreneurs and industry leaders, participants will explore the various organizational, strategic and financial challenges facing successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs. Topics include start-up strategies, business idea evaluation, business plan writing, and introduction to venture capital. Free and open to the public.



For a complete listing of Entrepreneurship Seminar Series guest speakers, please visit http://www.eng.uci.edu/events/entseminars.