Rice Builder’s Award

Last night I was humbled and honored to receive Rice’s Builder’s Award, an award given annually to recognize young alumni who dedicate themselves to building the Rice community. Although I certainly don’t feel very “young” anymore, it was a wonderful event and I was privileged to participate. There were drinks and dinner and a smallContinue reading “Rice Builder’s Award”

The End of an Era

This evening I took a one-way train from Lausanne to Geneve-Aeroport, boarded a plane with two heavy bags, and left Switzerland indefinitely. Last night some of my Poken friends and IMD classmates came out to celebrate my last night on the town. We had cocktails at Kai Zen, followed by La Berlinoise at Bavaria. ItContinue reading “The End of an Era”

A New Way

There’s a feeling I get When I look to the West And my spirit is crying for leaving –“Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin   After months of very hard, conflicted consideration I submitted my resignation to Poken on July 13th. In this blog entry I will lay out the reasons behind my decision and presentContinue reading “A New Way”

It Finally Happened

This weekend has been remarkable for several reasons. Chronologically: 1. On Friday it was announced that Jimmy Buffett will be performing not one but two shows in Europe this year, both in small venues. July 5th he will be in London in a theater that seats ~2,000 and September 26th he will be in ParisContinue reading “It Finally Happened”

Back In Lausanne

I am back in Lausanne and I have finally made it through the 400+ emails and several crises that were waiting for me upon my return. Toward the end of the week I started coming down with a cold but, through rest, fresh fruits/vegetables, and lots and lots of garlic, I seem to be beatingContinue reading “Back In Lausanne”

Auburn Engineering In Italy

It’s fun being around the Huntsville crowd. It’s my first time in a while being around southern accents. Some words have extra syllables added (“Now” becomes “Nay-ow.”) while some have syllables taken away (“Bry-an” becomes “Brine”). They’re good people and the people, places, and activities they talk about remind of good memories growing up inContinue reading “Auburn Engineering In Italy”

Coming and Going

I just dropped my week-long house guest off at the train station (where IMD Professor Dominiq Thurpin was also taking the train to Geneve-Aeroport) for a tearful goodbye. It was a wonderful week with her in town and it felt so, so, so good to cook again–really for the first time in my 15 monthsContinue reading “Coming and Going”

With Honours

Yesterday we graduated and celebrated. The festivities began with a graduation ceremony at Beau Rivage Palace along the lake. Our guest speaker was Mr. Eitan Wertheimer, whom we first met when he was here with Warren Buffett. After his, MBA Program Director Benoit’s, and IMD President John Wells’s remarks, our classmate, Bevan Mckenzie (New Zealand),Continue reading “With Honours”