Today began with something we thought we had left behind in our past: a case study! It was about two local entrepreneurs; the discussion was lead by the Dean of Nairobi’s Strathmore Business School and one of the protagonists came to provide his personal account. In the afternoon we met with the general management ofContinue reading “Case Studies and Beer in Kenya”
Author Archives: Bryan Guido Hassin
Povera Italia
Today’s theme was entrepreneurship, which naturally kept me very interested. We met with all kinds of Kenyan entrepreneurs, from locals pulling themselves up out of poverty to ex-pats riding the wave of growth to battered women establishing financial independence to members of the Diaspora making their prodigal returns. It was interesting to see how differentContinue reading “Povera Italia”
First Full Day in Nairobi
Today was a busy Saturday, packed with meetings with the Swiss ambassador to Kenya, the executive director of Climate Network Africa, and the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of Kenya’s Diaspora. We were also due to meet with the Prime Minister, Minister of Trade, and former Minister of Finance, butContinue reading “First Full Day in Nairobi”
I’m in Kenya!
The day began ealier than usual; we all met at IMD at 4:45 AM to take a bus to the airport. Air travel was smooth and, before we knew it, we landed in Nairobi. To avoid evening traffic, which is abysmal, we had two meetings there at the airport. The first, with Swiss International AirContinue reading “I’m in Kenya!”
1997
As my chronological journey through American popular music has taken me through 1997, the year I graduated from high school, I have stirred up many memories of my first semester at Rice University. This was the year that Puff Daddy (Sean “Puffy” Combs, etc.) came up with the formula of old pop hit + increasedContinue reading “1997”
Sigh
Just when it seemed that we were back in the CWS tournament, up 5-0 in the top of the 7th with our ace closer on the mound, it all came crashing down. 1 run in the bottom of the 7th, another in the 8th, and then four in the 9th to lose to LSU. OhContinue reading “Sigh”
Queen and Careers
Yesterday morning we had a Leadership class focused on careers and the characteristics that drive/motivate us. Based on a survey, we were divided into five groups, those who were looking for freedom, balance, security, interesting challenge, and advancement/accomplishment. Of course most of us were motivated by several of these, but we broke into groups basedContinue reading “Queen and Careers”
Rice Not Representin’
Ouch. Rice’s debut game in this year’s College World Series was abysmal: a 17-5 loss to Fresno State. We went through seven pitchers and gave up three home runs. Only late in the game did we mount any offense at all and, by then, it was too little too late. Oh well, as one announcerContinue reading “Rice Not Representin’”
Mock Interviews
Yesterday we received our final grades for the “Building Blocks” (academic) portion of our year here at IMD. I did very well overall, but I am most proud of the improvment I deomonstrated in the areas where I came in with the least background. As I have written before, I certainly don’t know it all–ifContinue reading “Mock Interviews”
Luxury Disillusionment
Today was the official start of on-campus recruiting. Several companies made presentations throughout the day about who they were, what they did, what positions they offered, and why we should work for them. Most of the companies participating in on-campus recruiting this year are outside of my target industries (technology, energy, space exploration, sports, andContinue reading “Luxury Disillusionment”