A major component of our IMD entrepreneurship education is the Startup Project. 18 startup companies have come to IMD asking for “help.” “Help” means anything from business strategy to market research to marketing to manufacturing and production optimization to HR to . . . any other aspect of business. Frequently they need help with severalContinue reading “Living the Startup Dream”
Author Archives: Bryan Guido Hassin
Jurassic IMD
Yesterday our afternoon class was interrupted by numerous loud booms that sounded (and felt!) progressively closer and closer. Theories about the source of such tremors ranged from the boring (construction of the building next door) to the outlandish (fiesty Evian launching an offensive from the other side of Lake Geneva). As I sat watching theContinue reading “Jurassic IMD”
1987
The mid-80s have been pretty disappointing (It’s basically Madonna‘s Immaculate Collection.) with occasional flashes of brilliance in the form of 80s classics and nostalgic movie themes. I’m in 1987 now and I was delighted to discover the following: The #18 song of 1987 was “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany.The #19 song of 1987Continue reading “1987”
Burning Platforms of Change
Today was our second Strategy class with Canadian professor James Henderson. He’s a bit goofy, using accents and emphatic gestures in class, but he is already impressing me with how little I apparently know about strategy–which is ostensibly one of my strong suits! Jim led the case discussion of my IMD application interview (Part ofContinue reading “Burning Platforms of Change”
Rice at IMD
Yesterday’s classes featured two prominent Rice alumni. In Entrepreneurship we covered John Doerr (class of ’73 and ’74), one of the world’s most influential venture capitalists. Later, in an etiquette class, we saw pictures of Jim Turley (class of ’77 and ’78), the Global Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, who apparently knows howContinue reading “Rice at IMD”
Bring It On!
Yesterday I was the guest writer for IMD’s MBA Diary. My entry was as follows: Exams are done! I know there have already been two diary entries on this subject but it is impactful enough that I believe a third is warranted. The exams, even those in the subjects that I would consider my strongContinue reading “Bring It On!”
Why Would an American Study an MBA in Europe?
I was recently interviewed by Business Week for an article about European business schools and how they are attracting more and more American talent. The full article is here; my quotes are on behind a paywall under the IMD section: Bryan Hassin, a 28-year-old student, had worked nearly seven years at Houston-based technology consulting firmContinue reading “Why Would an American Study an MBA in Europe?”
Yay, Sports!
Blogger’s note: I no longer use the term “Redskins” but am leaving my prior references intact in the spirit of learning. Although I should really be studying for Finance, I must pause and say a few words about my favorite sports teams. Today I wore an old Washington Redskins t-shirt, which reminded me that IContinue reading “Yay, Sports!”
Two Fifths Down, Three Fifths to Go
Some friends back home make fun of the way I frequently divide things into fifths: probabilities, progress, alcoholic beverages . . . anything. Well today my pro-fifthism is justified as we are 40% done with our Mod I final exams. LPO went well yesterday as we analyzed a very interesting case about leading change inContinue reading “Two Fifths Down, Three Fifths to Go”
1983
Jimmy Buffett isn’t the only music to which I’ve been listening; my march through the American pop charts continues and I just finished 1983. Although the number one song was by the Police (Boooooooo!), close on its heels were “Billie Jean,” “Flashdance,” “Down Under,” “Beat It,” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Not bad! OtherContinue reading “1983”