Bill Smith, a well-known Birmingham entrepreneur and community leader, received an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree from the Samford University Board of Trustees during the university’s spring commencement ceremony held on April 26, 2024. Smith was awarded the degree in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit and business success, which have created significant opportunities throughout the city, state and beyond.

During his commencement address, Smith announced the creation of a unique gift for Samford that will significantly impact future generations of Samford students. The Pam and Bill Smith Family Fund was established in honor of the class of 2024 and will remain invested to grow over the next 200 years and has the potential to result in billions of dollars that will profoundly benefit Samford and its students.

Smith explained the gift reflects both his life and his journey in the business world. “Compounding is not just about money. It’s about all the choices you make each day. They all add up, building momentum for an extraordinary life,” Smith said.

Smith’s inspirational story is full of decisions that compounded on themselves and helped him emerge as a renowned business innovator. Drawing upon a background in technology, Smith leveraged that knowledge to solve marketplace needs when he founded the wildly successful Shipt in 2015. Since then, Smith has started four businesses including Landing, benefitting countless consumers and creating thousands of jobs.

Smith shared that embracing challenges has allowed him opportunities to give back and help others tackle complex problems. His wife, Pam Smith ’03, MSE ’08, is a two-time Samford alumna. The Smiths previously established the Bill and Pam Smith Family Foundation Scholarship, which provides tuition assistance for Samford students pursuing degrees in education, with a preference for math and science. Through these generous gifts, the Smiths have turned obstacles into compounding opportunities for future generations of Samford students.

In his closing remarks, Smith encouraged Samford’s 2024 graduates to seek to make their own mark by overcoming challenges. “The greatest impact that you’re going to make is not going to come from the easiest path,” Smith said. “So go forth and compound your passions, your knowledge and your impact on the world.”