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Do I Belong?
Community Finance Prof. Celia de Anca responds in Rabat to different questions, like Do I belong? What´s the market…
One Friday morning back in November I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and not particularly enthusiastic about life or work. You know what I mean, just one of those days. That same morning I had arranged to have coffee with community finance professor Celia de Anca. You can’t imagine how much I wanted to skip that meeting. Obviously not because of her, but because I was out of sorts. There is no denying that our state of mind is what dictates our likes and dislikes.
To cut a long story short, I dragged myself to the coffee shop and began to listen to her. She talked about how we ended up with a global economic crisis, how we have destroyed the idea that money is trust, and other burning issues. But it was not the subject that was remarkable. What was remarkable was her belief in what she was talking about. Prof. de Anca is one of those people who truly believe in changing the world. Just the fact of finding someone who still genuinely thinks that change is possible made me feel happier. And I am grateful to her for that, because that’s what life is all about, spreading and enjoying the feel-good factor at every opportunity.
Don’t miss Prof. de Anca’s answer to the question that gives the title to this piece, namely “Do I belong?” Prof. de Anca is also the author of the recently published book headed “Beyond Tribalism”.
Fast Mover Advantage
Entreneurship Prof. Wang Taiyuan seems inclined to tell you not to worry about being first because too many “firsts” go out of business. Hence he favors fast, just as he does when playing badminton.
Entrepreneurship professor Wang Taiyuan (王泰元) believes that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities are crucial for large corporations. As a researcher, however, his interest lies in gauging the importance of CSR for new ventures and examining the best way to apply them in new ventures that are frequently short of resources. His findings are well worth a look.
On the subject of new ventures he also talks about first mover advantage versus fast mover advantage. He seems inclined to tell you not to worry about being first because too many “firsts” go out of business. Hence he favors fast, just as he does when playing badminton. Somehow the measured and unhurried tone of his voice seems to quietly convince the listener that they can be first just by being a fast mover.
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Just in Time
Prof.of Management, Daniel Corsten explains operations systems while singing Just in Time.
Just as Just in Time could be either a very popular song or a production strategy designed to maximize business return on investment, Prof. Daniel Corsten could be either the most knowledgeable management professor around or the most enthusiastic person on earth doing what he loves to do, which happens to be singing for you. Knowledge and enthusiasm is certainly a powerful combination.
Don’t miss what he has to say about how we make decisions when we’re shopping, why supermarket shelves are organized the way they are, and why just in time is so important both in business and in life.
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Life in Venice
Dean Javier Quintana draws a comparison between the Metropolitan Tower in New York and the Campanile in Piazza San Marco, Venice.
Back in October when I first spoke about shooting this video of the Dean of IE University’s School of Architecture, Javier Quintana, he said he would like to compare the architecture of Venice with the architecture of New York, more specifically the Campanile in Piazza San Marco and the Metropolitan Tower. Coincidentally enough I had to travel to New York at the end of that month and had the opportunity to film some of the places he wanted to talk about. Then, in November, I joined him on a business trip to Venice. I had a great time, partly because there aren’t many cities that can beat Venice on a sunny day, or any other day for that matter, and partly because he spoke with such passion and knowledge about the two cities that I gained a new perspective of every corner, every square, and every tower.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t fit all the interesting things he said into this video, and he didn’t only talk about architecture, but also about music, cinema, and life in general. So there I had no room left to say anything about either the amazing Schubert or the fabulous Death in Venice (both the film and the book). I decided to focus more on the life side of things. You’ll be interested to know that Dean Quintana is really good company when it comes to looking round shops.
As you might have imagined already, there was only one way this could end and that is with some excellent Bellini cocktails at Harry’s Bar.
P.S.: Don´t miss Martin Rico´s (1833-1908) Venice paintings at Prado Museum. Only till February 2013.
Lucinda´s River
Entrepreneurship Prof.Daniel Soriano swims and talks about entrepreneurship.
Life can be so strange that sometimes, when I wake up, it feels like everyone had too much to drink last night, just like in the opening lines of The Swimmer, a short story by John Cheever.
In the story, later turned into a film with the same title by Frank Perry, Neddy Merryl (Burt Lancaster) decides one summer afternoon that he is going to “swim” his way home through the swimming pools at various friends’ houses dotted across the county. He names the chain of pools the “Lucinda River” after his wife. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Neddy’s journey may represent more than meets the eye.
Entrepreneurship Prof. Daniel Soriano brings a different take to Neddy’s surreal journey, comparing the journey from pool to pool with the search for entrepreneurial dreams.
Prof. Soriano and I have shared an office for a good number of years, and have drunk an even larger number of margaritas together. We have, in a way, grown up together at IE. I don’t want to sound too biased so the only thing I will say is that he is fantastic company and a truly excellent professor. Sorry, but sometimes a person’s biased and unbiased judgment just happens to coincide…
Don’t miss him in action. What he does, he always does pretty well.
P.S. After the shoot, we broke with tradition and had gin and tonics instead of margaritas. Is that a sign that something is changing…? I highly recommend both the short story and the film “The Swimmer”. Prof. Soriano is also Director of the IE Business School Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center.
