This time last year, I was up Mt. Shasta, waist height deep in snow with a group of classmates. This year, I decided to rest after a busy recruiting season- which still hasn't ended by the way! Its never over until you've signed the dotted line.
In the last couple of days I've been meeting up with some entrepreneurs:
Last night I was at a dinner with two GSB alums, class of 2004 who are creating a new school in South Africa to build future African leaders- . A very risky and long-term education non-profit, but inspiring. The market for secondary education is booming (I should know- my parents sent me abroad because there are few if any institutions like this in Africa). I particularly loved the way they sought to subsidize African students with western students who are paying higher fees for experiencing the equivalent of study abroad in Africa.
I met up with Linxdating CEO, Amy Andersen, a dating service for high net-worth silicon valley individuals- Apparently, there are a few GSB alums who use this service! I found some of the no.s hard to believe, something like 50 million Americans use a dating service.
A new start-up involving some classmates including my former Schwab room-mate got launched this week. Although there is little, if any tangible product at this stage (keep tuned in)- its an interesting concept- internet users who create value on the site who are incentivised by stock- in essence instead of there being one entrepreneur who takes a majority of the rewards for building a community of millions of users who are valuable to advertisers etc... in this case, the users get to share in the value created.
On the fun side, Check out this out- a very fun Friday night at meetro hq in San Francisco (spot Mbwana!).
I am hoping to check out Kiva's new office this week in SF, they have been experiencing tremendous growth recently- amazing to think just a year a ago it was little more than an idea. Now they are approaching $1 million in microloans.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thanksgiving- catching up with entreprenuers...
This time last year, I was up Mt. Shasta, waist height deep in snow with a group of classmates. This year, I decided to rest after a busy recruiting season- which still hasn't ended by the way! Its never over until you've signed the dotted line.
In the last couple of days I've been meeting up with some entrepreneurs:
Last night I was at a dinner with two GSB alums, class of 2004 who are creating a new school in South Africa to build future African leaders- . A very risky and long-term education non-profit, but inspiring. The market for secondary education is booming (I should know- my parents sent me abroad because there are few if any institutions like this in Africa). I particularly loved the way they sought to subsidize African students with western students who are paying higher fees for experiencing the equivalent of study abroad in Africa.
I met up with Linxdating CEO, Amy Andersen, a dating service for high net-worth silicon valley individuals- Apparently, there are a few GSB alums who use this service! I found some of the no.s hard to believe, something like 50 million Americans use a dating service.
A new start-up involving some classmates including my former Schwab room-mate got launched this week. Although there is little, if any tangible product at this stage (keep tuned in)- its an interesting concept- internet users who create value on the site who are incentivised by stock- in essence instead of there being one entrepreneur who takes a majority of the rewards for building a community of millions of users who are valuable to advertisers etc... in this case, the users get to share in the value created.
On the fun side, Check out this out- a very fun Friday night at meetro hq in San Francisco (spot Mbwana!).
I am hoping to check out Kiva's new office this week in SF, they have been experiencing tremendous growth recently- amazing to think just a year a ago it was little more than an idea. Now they are approaching $1 million in microloans.
In the last couple of days I've been meeting up with some entrepreneurs:
Last night I was at a dinner with two GSB alums, class of 2004 who are creating a new school in South Africa to build future African leaders- . A very risky and long-term education non-profit, but inspiring. The market for secondary education is booming (I should know- my parents sent me abroad because there are few if any institutions like this in Africa). I particularly loved the way they sought to subsidize African students with western students who are paying higher fees for experiencing the equivalent of study abroad in Africa.
I met up with Linxdating CEO, Amy Andersen, a dating service for high net-worth silicon valley individuals- Apparently, there are a few GSB alums who use this service! I found some of the no.s hard to believe, something like 50 million Americans use a dating service.
A new start-up involving some classmates including my former Schwab room-mate got launched this week. Although there is little, if any tangible product at this stage (keep tuned in)- its an interesting concept- internet users who create value on the site who are incentivised by stock- in essence instead of there being one entrepreneur who takes a majority of the rewards for building a community of millions of users who are valuable to advertisers etc... in this case, the users get to share in the value created.
On the fun side, Check out this out- a very fun Friday night at meetro hq in San Francisco (spot Mbwana!).
I am hoping to check out Kiva's new office this week in SF, they have been experiencing tremendous growth recently- amazing to think just a year a ago it was little more than an idea. Now they are approaching $1 million in microloans.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Half-time...
Oh my God, I actually have a free moment on this Saturday evening to write a post… Its been a crazy, crazy first half of the winter quarter. In between interviewing, attending conferences and going into new initiatives, I have had very little time to reflect and think, yet alone write a blog post…Time to say some things that are clear about the 2nd year so far:
Second year of the MBA does not mean a slow down in activity: No way, for me it’s a been a ramp up, more engaging academics, club leadership and responsibilities and more serious recruiting. And this is even though I have Monday and Friday days off! I’ve been venturing into some new areas as well- for instance, making across the street contacts in the Africa Studies Department, meeting like minded graduate and undergraduate students interested in Africa- there are now plans to organize an Africa conference in the Spring (with an emphasis on 100% business), which will be fantastic- we hope it will rival the Wharton and Harvard conferences. On the non for profit side, there is a chance of me getting involved with a health care non-profit/NGO in Tanzania that one of the professors and a prominent Stanford GSB alum support- The Touch foundation. Another thing I’ve been doing is hosting and showing around quite a few prospective students- this has been rewarding and actually a great way to remind myself some of the great qualities of being at the GSB and give my part in attracting talented students.
Less time to see classmates: This is been a real downer for me. Just when you are getting to know some classmates really well, the fact that Schwab is no longer the more common meeting point means that it much harder to stay in touch- yes there are FOAMs and LPFs, but you cannot guarantee that second years will be there, and even then, these events only offer mild chatter, nothing in depth. The good news, is that we do meet up for birthday parties at a venue in San Francisco, we have much more of a ball. Of course, small dinners are and always will be the best way to solve this problem. Take tennis, I haven’t been able to have a single session this quarter, I end up canceling or being canceled due to that suddenly scheduled second round interview or other pressing event.
Confusing time for me career wise, like most, but I love the area: Silicon Valley is really growing on me this year, especially with my contacts outside the b-school. I mentioned very early in my blogs about how important it was for me to really meet ordinary bay area Californians to get a better sense of what it is like to stay here long term- and its great, I have friends who work for major silicon valley tech firms as employees, one is an editor of popular blog for the silicon valley area and have been acquainted with numerous entrepreneur friends. And no, these people are real friends that I have beers with, rather than far-removed or distant business contacts. For me this has been a crucial input into my decision to focus my job search within the bay area- I just love this area and the people I’ve met! Fingers crossed, at this moment in time, I can say that consulting and technology careers paths still remain open. Next week will reveal more clearly which of these avenues are still open to me. Interviewing is finally ramping down- thank god… On Campus Recruiting (OCR) is not pleasant and is thoroughly draining- I am looking forward to a relaxing thanksgiving, and looking to returning to Tanzania for x-mas- Zanzibar calls.
Finally, a word out to some people who have been commenting- I have not been silent because I can not be bothered- I just realized that I don’t get e-mail alerts for anonymous comments which are the majority of comments- I will reply to these pronto and the problem is now fixed.
Second year of the MBA does not mean a slow down in activity: No way, for me it’s a been a ramp up, more engaging academics, club leadership and responsibilities and more serious recruiting. And this is even though I have Monday and Friday days off! I’ve been venturing into some new areas as well- for instance, making across the street contacts in the Africa Studies Department, meeting like minded graduate and undergraduate students interested in Africa- there are now plans to organize an Africa conference in the Spring (with an emphasis on 100% business), which will be fantastic- we hope it will rival the Wharton and Harvard conferences. On the non for profit side, there is a chance of me getting involved with a health care non-profit/NGO in Tanzania that one of the professors and a prominent Stanford GSB alum support- The Touch foundation. Another thing I’ve been doing is hosting and showing around quite a few prospective students- this has been rewarding and actually a great way to remind myself some of the great qualities of being at the GSB and give my part in attracting talented students.
Less time to see classmates: This is been a real downer for me. Just when you are getting to know some classmates really well, the fact that Schwab is no longer the more common meeting point means that it much harder to stay in touch- yes there are FOAMs and LPFs, but you cannot guarantee that second years will be there, and even then, these events only offer mild chatter, nothing in depth. The good news, is that we do meet up for birthday parties at a venue in San Francisco, we have much more of a ball. Of course, small dinners are and always will be the best way to solve this problem. Take tennis, I haven’t been able to have a single session this quarter, I end up canceling or being canceled due to that suddenly scheduled second round interview or other pressing event.
Confusing time for me career wise, like most, but I love the area: Silicon Valley is really growing on me this year, especially with my contacts outside the b-school. I mentioned very early in my blogs about how important it was for me to really meet ordinary bay area Californians to get a better sense of what it is like to stay here long term- and its great, I have friends who work for major silicon valley tech firms as employees, one is an editor of popular blog for the silicon valley area and have been acquainted with numerous entrepreneur friends. And no, these people are real friends that I have beers with, rather than far-removed or distant business contacts. For me this has been a crucial input into my decision to focus my job search within the bay area- I just love this area and the people I’ve met! Fingers crossed, at this moment in time, I can say that consulting and technology careers paths still remain open. Next week will reveal more clearly which of these avenues are still open to me. Interviewing is finally ramping down- thank god… On Campus Recruiting (OCR) is not pleasant and is thoroughly draining- I am looking forward to a relaxing thanksgiving, and looking to returning to Tanzania for x-mas- Zanzibar calls.
Finally, a word out to some people who have been commenting- I have not been silent because I can not be bothered- I just realized that I don’t get e-mail alerts for anonymous comments which are the majority of comments- I will reply to these pronto and the problem is now fixed.
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