the art of the 90-person conversation
Yesterday in TOM (Technology and Operations Management) we were working on a case about a company that is changing the supply chain as it pertains to the sale of soybeans in India. Without rehashing the details of the case, I had to comment on the discussion that unfolded in our section.
For literally 80 minutes we had the most fascinating, unmoderated, heated conversation about the role of for-profit companies in the development of social enterprise/initiative and the state of economic and agricultural development in India. The best part about this was that it was completely unmoderated. For 80 minutes we ping-ponged around the room, people chiming in with insight or commentary when they felt compelled to do so. And it was, by far, the most interesting conversation (combining both the content and the method aspects) I’ve witnessed in the classroom yet.
It is in these situations, where the United Nations effect of the HBS section really shines. We had people from India setting the scene, giving us both economic and cultural context. We had someone from China commenting about the role (or requirement) of government (or not) in economic development. We had people from Central and South America drawing parallels to those economies. And we had people from various industries talking about the merits or lackthereof of the project at the focal point of the case.
And all of this without much faculty intervention. It was fascinating.
And this is in no way to marginalize what the faculty do here. They are fantastic. But it is nice to see that when the large train of section c goes barrelling down an interesting (and relevant) track, there is the opportunity for the conversation to go on, even if that wasn’t the prescribed lesson plan.
Breaking from the Bubble
Last weekend I had the opportunity to step out of the HBS bubble, substantively, for the first time since I arrived in Cambridge on August 8. While it was certainly disappointing to have missed what I understand was an epic weekend with Section C on the retreat in Vermont, I had a really awesome time back in Chicago attending the wedding of two of my great friends from high school.
One of the first pieces of advice I got upon arriving at HBS was not to forget those people who had helped you get here in the first place, because they would surely be the ones to catch you on the other side of this merry-go-round. I think that’s a pretty important point. Especially when you realize how easy it is for you to let days become weeks before you’ve spoken to the people who are supposed to be your closest friends.
So this was a bit of an opportunity to reconnect with friends, get home, relax (albeit briefly), and plug in to what is going on in the world. (My mainstream media consumption waxes and wanes with the frequency of my Finance cases.)
As glad as I was to get back to the bubble and my new friends here, I am all the more looking forward to getting home for Thanksgiving again and spending some time with the family, actually relaxing, and otherwise taking long, deep breath.
the long goodbye comes to an end
I feel like I’ve been on a Frank Sinatra career-closing farewell tour for the last two weeks. And it’s been nothing short of fantastic. I’ve just gotten rid of my cable boxes and am now stealing wi-fi from some neighbor who doesn’t understand how to WEP a router…
In 24 hours (barring catastrophe), I will be piloting my penske truck full of my stuff and one of my housemates’ stuff up the interstate to Cambridge, Massachusetts. The looming change can only lead one to reflection… 8 years in New York City has been a wild ride. Coming here at the age of 18, attending film school at one of the best in the world. Flexing my creative muscle in the most creative place in the world. Watching 9/11 happen, literally, in front of my face. Looking for a job. Finding a job. Becoming an adult, over and over. Drinking, sometimes heavily. Making new friends, again and again. Covering Katrina. Visiting the White House. Losing a parent. Playing with Facebook, as part of the job. Traveling - to hurricanes for work, to ski slopes with friends, in a hot air balloon for work, to the Hamptons with friends.
8 years will teach you a lot. Where you come from. Who you are. Who you’d like to be. Who you wouldn’t like to be. But it won’t tell you where you’re going… and I guess that’s part of the excitement.
So, while I’m barreling up 95 tomorrow, I’m sure this will be one of the thought lines running through my head. Along with: is everything still in the truck, is the gas gauge right?, why is gas so expensive?, and are we there yet?
New York, it’s been fun. I’ll miss you. But I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon. There’s always the Acela, right?
so long for now…
have just finished the last day of work, very sad to leave. i hate mass emails, but did one anyways, text below:
Short of elementary school, my affiliation with ABC News has been the longest of any in my life, so you’ll have to excuse the sentimental nature of this note. Today marks the end of my (current) journey with you.
If someone had told me as a kid, that I would someday have the opportunity to go to Buckingham Palace with Charlie Gibson or the White House with Diane Sawyer, I would have laughed. But I did. As a kid, I used to break my mom’s kitchen appliances because I liked pushing buttons, so I’m not sure how I was ever allowed to set foot in a network television control room. But I was.
My time here has afforded me some incredible professional experiences and some amazing personal friendships. It has been a privilege to work side by side with so many talented people every day. I do sincerely hope that our paths will cross again some day, but in the mean time I look forward to keeping in touch.
Until next time,
Brad
plugging back in
Several years ago, I had a blog. I didn’t write much, and I didn’t have much to write about. Things have changed. Back in November I started rebuilding my presence online. I didn’t really have time to blog regularly (nor was I ready to begin publishing my thoughts yet). As I went through the application process for school, I felt like I was taking on a second full-time job. And I decided that when I did return to writing, I wanted to do it meaningfully. So, here I am, slowly taking the covers off what will be the place where I document the next chapter of my life, and begin to move the raging debate that happens inside my head on a daily basis into a more public setting…
In the coming weeks, I will leave my job. As I do that, I will begin to write more. Through the summer I will talk more about the application process for school - hoping to shed some light on it for others, and also hoping that 20 years from now I can re-read and remember how insane it was.
At any rate, I’m happy to be back here. Hello.
