Not Knowing
In this video Steven d’Souza, Professor of Leadership, Diversity and Social Capital at FT-IE Corporate Alliance (FT-IE CLA), throws out the thought-provoking idea that we place too much emphasis on what we know rather than on what we don’t know…And maybe that’s what brought about the current economic crisis. Prof. D’Souza says that we have to look at the unknown as if it were a source of all kinds of possibilities, because that’s precisely what it is.
Steven is the author of three international bestselling books on diversity and networking published by Prentice Hall. His first book, “Made in Britain,” featured role models from diverse communities in the UK and was available free for schools through sponsors. He presented it in person to HRH Prince Charles. His second book, “Brilliant Networking,” has been translated into several languages and was featured by The Independent in their “Success at Work” series. This video takes its title from his third book, “Not Knowing”, which he co- authored with Diana Renner. Steven D’Souza and Diana Renner scooped the top award with the book at the CMI Management Book of the Year Awards, and I can tell you it was well deserved. In fact, skip the video and read the book 😉
The Myth of the Idea
In this video IE Business School entrepreneurship Prof. Newton Campos throws out the provocative idea that entrepreneurial ideas are not necessarily always a good thing. It’s almost as if he’s issuing a warning about what can happen when you have an idea, namely that while it could be good for society at large, there’s also a possibility it might be bad!!!
Entrepreneurs and ideas go together. But, as is the case with ideas, not every entrepreneur is good for society. Hear out his examples, enjoy, but brace yourself for a challenge!!!
P.S. Prof. Newton Campos is the author of the book The myth of the idea. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from FGV-SP and an MBA from IE Business School and the IIM Indian Institute of Management. He is managing director of SoliPh Entrepreneurship and Educational Services and writes a blog on education and technology for the O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper. He also chairs the Education and Technology Committee of the Brazilian Association of Startups.
The Circus
If you’re interested in all kinds of stuff and don’t know exactly what it is you want to focus on, take a look at how IE Business School Marketing Prof. Felix Muñoz handled the same situation. First, he talks here about being a kind of “professional tourist.” What does that mean exactly? Basically, instead of looking for the best positions in a company, it involves switching between companies, doing the same things, but learning from different sectors and cultures. He also makes some very interesting points about having clear boundaries. He says, for instance, that every time he joined a company he laid out the conditions, one of which was, believe it or not, that they couldn’t promote him, because if they did he would have to stop doing what he had taken so much trouble to find…
In the course of his “professional tourist life” Prof. Muñoz worked in a broad range of companies, including Cepsa, Coca Cola, and Telefónica, as a director of communication, then a marketing consultant… But what he really cares about is happily trying to make sense of this circus of a world that we live in – in keeping with his name, “Felix,” which means “happy”. Don’t miss his visit to the circus!!!
A Secret Life
In this video IE University International Relations Prof. Mira Milosevic argues that people’s secret lives have exactly the same function as espionage in the field of international relations. Moreover, she says that everyone needs a secret life because it assures a certain level of protection.
In her view social networks make it extremely tempting to overshare our public and family lives, leaving us vulnerable.
Don t miss what she says about espionage and prostitution, citing what Vernon Walters, former Deputy Director of the CIA, once said to her!
Prof. Milosevic was born in Serbia, is extremely well read, conversant in several languages, and a very inspiring character, who of course likes to keep her secret life, secret!!!
P.S. She recommended a Croatian author you might want to check out – Dubravka Ugresic. I really like her work!
Red Cross
If you listen to IE Entrepreneurship Prof. Marcos Eguillor for a second, you’ll get the feeling that he’s only telling you a tiny bit of everything he has to tell. He teaches entrepreneurship, he’s an entrepreneur himself, and most importantly he has volunteered for the Red Cross since 1995.
In this video he takes the time to walk us through what he does when he’s on duty. You’ll also have the opportunity to see him in action. I don’t mind telling you I was really scared in the ambulance – these Red Cross guys drive like Formula 1 racers!!!
