Wow! It's been a long time since I last wrote! Actually it's been 5 months!!!! Many things have happened since then. This is just a brief summary.

I finally graduated!!!!! I'm officially an MBA!!!!

The last three weeks of the MBA were even crazier than usual. First, we had to close the academic year, which meant tons of work, final exams, final papers, projects… I actually had my last final two days before graduation! Second, we had all the "Post-Term" events, from a wonderful boat cruise, to endless parties and gatherings. Third, we had the “close-friends events”, which were basically small lunches, dinners and coffees. Fourth, those of us from outside New York had our families visiting to celebrate our graduation, which meant a great deal of entertaining (I got my parents, father-in-law and brother-in-law here!). Finally, we had the graduation ceremonies.

The NYU Commencement Ceremony usually takes place in Washington Square Park, but this year we celebrated in Yankee Stadium. I found especially touching two moments:

• 
  
  Michael J. Fox (Actor) and Indra Nooyi (Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.) were named Doctor Honoris Causa.
• My very good friend Amir Kaspi received a diploma in representation of the MBA students and waved to us.
  
  

It was an amazing ceremony!

The Stern School of Business Graduate Convocation Ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall. This year’s guest speaker was Kenneth D. Lewis, Chairman, CEO and President of Bank of America. After his speech, our Dean, Thomas F. Cooley presented to Amy J. Radin, Executive VP, Global Direct Banking Head of Citi’s Global Consumer Group, the Nichols Award.

The Nichols Award honors the memory of C. Walter Nichols, a generous benefactor of the Stern School. The Award was established in 1961 and is conferred annually on a leader who exemplifies the qualities of integrity, enterprise and service, three traits that characterized the distinguished business career of Dr. Nichols, and three traits we hold in high regard here at Stern.

Ms. Radin has been an amazing benefactor of the Stern Consulting Corps (SCC) program since her brother Paul J. Friedman (Stern MBA’87) perished in the 9/11 attacks. Ms. Radin began her career at American Express, where she held a variety of positions in general management, customer loyalty, new product development and channel management. She was named a "Woman to Watch" in the US Banker "Most Powerful Women in Banking" Ranking (2007) and aBusinessWeek "Top 25 Champion of Innovation" (2006).

I had the pleasure to meet Ms. Radin after I was awarded the Paul J. Friedman Small Acts of Kindness Memorial Fellowship for my participation in the SCC. As I said in previous posts, the SCC is an amazing and unique learning experience. I was thrilled to know that the client, Step Up Women's Network, successfully implemented our recommendations not only in New York City, but also in Los Angeles and Chicago. It was an honor for me to receive this award and to be able to help carry on Paul’s legacy.

After Ms. Radin’s speech (which I found very thoughtful and touching), we heard some remarks on behalf of the Board of Oversees, and of alumni. Then, our classmate, Tira Grey, gave a great speech summarizing our two-year experience. Anne Jacoby did the same thing on behalf of the graduating part-time students. Then, Lorne Lucree, President of the Stern Student Corporation and an amazing guy, presented the Professor and Administrator of the Year Awards, to Aswath Damodaran and Jeremy Carrine, respectively. Finally, we were all called by name to the stage to receive our diplomas and shake hands with the Dean. From my point of view, it was another great ceremony!

It has been my pleasure to be able to do this MBA, and to have been selected to be one of the MBA Exceptional Students to write a weekly post in the MBA Admissions website. I hope it was helpful for prospective students and allowed them to get a better picture of what Stern has to offer; which is a lot!

One of my resolutions for 2007-08 was to raise my GPA, and I'm glad to report that I did it! My last semester was the best of my MBA, I took more credits than ever (18 credits) and got A (and some A-) in all my classes! A great way to finish my MBA!

30th Birthday

Yes... it arrived! Whether you want it or not, time goes by!

This month, I turned 30! I didn't think it would be a big deal until the date started to get closer and closer. Let's face it, I'm not in my twenties anymore, I'm in my thirties :-(

Oh, well, every decade has something magical and interesting, and I realize that even though I haven't done all the things I had on my 'Things to do before 30' list, I have done many other things that weren't initially on that list. I've accomplished many things that I didn't even dreamed about years ago, lived amazing experiences, and met wonderful people...

So, I guess what my super-yummy birthday cake read "Happy 30" is true! :-)

Now, I just have to wait and see whether my 'blowing-candles wishes' comes true. :-)

Thanks to all who made it to the celebration, and to those who couldn't make it but remembered to send me a card, email, sms or to give me a call! Thanks!

Valentina's baby!

My friend Valentina and hubby Brian, had finally welcomed baby girl Aleksandra Brianna Betts. She's tiny (2.6Kgs), but healthy!

Welcome to the world! :-)

PS. She's using the burp clothes and receiving blanket we gave her.... so cute!

Dow Jones Interns

Wall Street Journal Brand Campaign

At the beginning of this year, the WSJ not only changed the size of the paper (in th US), but also implemented a distinctive brand campaign. The main idea: attract younger audiences and promote both the online and print version of WSJ.

Here are some intersting sites part of it:



http://tbc.us/clients/wsjgallery/wsjppt/vid/
http://www.journey.wsj.com/

Do CEOs make lousy dads (and moms)?

The author of a new book on CEO dads (he is one) thinks so, and tells Fortune's Anne Fisher how to become a better one. One step: Don't text clients from Disneyland!

By Anne Fisher, Fortune senior writer
June 14 2007: 5:48 AM EDT

(Fortune) -- Here's to dads! With Father's Day almost here, Monster.com surveyed hundreds of working fathers and found that 58% think their employers should do more to accommodate the demands of fatherhood; 71% of those with a child under age 5 took a paternity leave when it was offered. The poll also found that, if money were no object, 68% of fathers would consider being stay-at-home dads.

But there's one group in corporate America who would doubtless scoff at that notion: CEOs. Tom Stern, a former comedy programmer at HBO who is now CEO of Los Angeles recruiting firm Stern Executive Search, spent many years as a hard-driving, no-time-for-family kind of guy, until a rude awakening in 2002: Armed robbers attacked him and his wife Lisa as they pulled into their garage, nearly killing her.

What's the right work-life balance strategy for you?1. Which of the following statements best describes you? I'm comfortable having others do home and yard chores for me. I prefer to do things myself.

"It was like a light bulb came on. I suddenly realized what really matters in my life, and how much I'd been taking it for granted," says Stern, who has since reshuffled his priorities to put his family first. He's also written a terrific (and funny) book, CEO Dad: How to Avoid Getting Fired by Your Family (Davies-Black, $19.95), with cover blurbs from his old pals Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno. (See www.ceodad.com.) Some excerpts from a recent chat with Stern:
Q. Why do successful executives so often fall short when it comes to personal relationships like marriage and parenthood?

A. It's not that CEOs are cold and uncaring - it's just hard to bond with a kid via e-mail. And those bedtime memos! Not good! And of course, if you used to work at Enron, well, you tend to drift away from your family while you're in prison. But seriously, a lot of executives have a driving desire to be admired, which is why they're drawn to roles of authority in the first place. Children don't care about your title. You have to relate to them in a totally different way, and it's a hard adjustment.

Also, at work, everything is quantifiable. But with your family, you can't measure and control things: It's much more amorphous, and that can be frustrating. And then there's pure ego, the need for power and recognition. Work is the place to get those things, so work becomes all-important.

I know. I used to be the kind of guy who would be texting clients while riding the Matterhorn at Disneyland with my daughters. It was nuts.

Q. In the book you note that "a CEO dad's brain operates differently from a normal person's brain." Is there a cure?

A. In my own case it took a traumatic shock, but usually there has to be a build-up of consequences. Our society rewards narcissism and greed, so as long as you're being stroked at the office, your spouse and kids can become annoying background noise. The only real cure is to decide that you're going to make as many plans and goals with your family as you do at work.
Create a mission statement for the family: What kind of family do you want? What will it take to get there? Approach it as you would a business project. Do a customer-satisfaction survey at home, and really listen. The playroom has to become as important as the boardroom. But there is no one-size-fits-all cure that will work for everyone. The first step is really just to see that you need to do something before it's too late.

Q. What kind of feedback is the book getting from other CEOs?

A. It's hard for CEOs to admit to any kind of vulnerability or failure. They're eternal optimists, too: "Next quarter will be better..." People are defensive about this personal stuff, which is why I use humor in the book, as a non-threatening way of overcoming people's resistance to thinking about it. Some CEOs who have read the book ask me if I've achieved perfect work-life balance. But it's not something you achieve and, that's it, check it off the to-do list. It's a constantly evolving process of setting priorities every day. It's like the old joke, How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the light bulb really has to want to change.

Q. How has your family responded to the change in you?

A. They like me better. I play with my kids now. I don't take work calls at dinnertime anymore. I've accepted that, at home, I don't have the control over events that I have at the office, which is why most CEOs have trouble with family life. You can't fire your kids, although I am thinking of transferring them, as soon as I find the right storage facility.

NBC Studied Dow Jones Bid With Microsoft

(New York Times; http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/business/media/11deal.html?ex=1339214400&en=9c8a4bc34cacbaff&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)

By STEVE LOHR
Published: June 11, 2007

General Electric’s NBC unit and Microsoft explored making a joint bid for Dow Jones but decided against it a week ago, a person close to NBC and Microsoft said yesterday.

No rival has yet stepped up to compete with Rupert Murdoch’s $5 billion bid for Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal.

Microsoft and NBC were partners in forming the MSNBC cable television network.

Representatives from NBC and Microsoft talked to advisers to the Bancroft family, which controls Dow Jones. But after the preliminary discussions and a more detailed analysis by NBC and Microsoft executives, they decided against going further. “Mainly, the economics just didn’t make sense,” said the person, who had not been authorized to speak for the companies.

NBC initiated the overture after the Bancroft family announced on May 31 that it would meet with Mr. Murdoch and opened the door to counteroffers to the bid from Mr. Murdoch’s News Corporation.

NBC decided to explore a bid after being contacted by investment bankers on behalf the Bancroft family. Both the Bancrofts and Dow Jones have hired investment bankers that have been pursuing potential bidders since the News Corporation offer to buy Dow Jones for $60 a share was disclosed in early May. NBC then contacted Microsoft about the possibility of a joint move.

But following a brief review, Microsoft rejected the idea of taking further steps, and NBC agreed, the person said.

For NBC, the News Corporation bid, if successful, raises competitive concerns. Its CNBC is the leading financial news channel on television, generating solid profits for NBC. Mr. Murdoch has said that one of the reasons he is willing to pay a premium price for Dow Jones is that he plans to start his own financial news channel and to tap the news gathering resources and staff of The Wall Street Journal. He hopes to challenge CNBC in financial news, just as his Fox News Channel has proved a formidable rival to CNN and MSNBC.

Another person close to the two companies said they abandoned their plans after they could not see a way to make a purchase of Dow Jones at a price equal to or higher than Mr. Murdoch’s.

NADAL did it again!!!!!

6.2 pm (France): NADAL WINS THE 2007 FRENCH OPEN 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4!

He's awesome!

Great athlete, great person... a great proud for Spain!

Congratulations Rafa!

Cuddling Party

Today, doing some research from one of my projects at work, I found this...



I am still shocked! I don't know what to think about this idea of cuddling with strangers.

In one hand, I think that sometimes people just need human touch, and this human touch can prevent them from doing stupid or aggresive things. When you feel loved you don't usually do crazy things.

In the other hands, however, I can help but wondering: Who goes to these sessions? And honestly, the only words that come to my mind are: sex-addicts, lonely people, strange, 'salido'...

So... anyone has any insight about this?

What do you think about this?

How many answers do you know?

5 Hard Questions! Are You A Genius? - Click here for more home videos

Google's Amazing Culture

One of my very best friends from school, AK, just joined Google for the summer, and he is totally in love with it!.

The funny part of it is that he was absolutely convinced that his destiny was in one of the best consulting firms worldwide. He couldn't talk about another company, and he couldn't picture himself working at another company. Now... surprinsingly, after one week in Google, he's changing his mind. He actually thinks he could stay there, and that he sees it as a grea option for his professional career!

There's something about Google that makes it an special place to work at. It's not the free food, the customized schedule, the cool projects they have, the people... but a combination of all this.

In which company (Google's size) would a summer intern (in his first week) be invited to a meeting held by the founders of the company and actually be allowed to express his opinions and thoughts on the issue at hand? Well... I don't think this happens in many places. But it does happens in Google.

Bill Gates & Steve Jobs Together

All Thing Digital (http://d.wsj.com/; www.AllThingsD.com), one of the most succesful online publications, part of the Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones) managed to sit together Steve Jobs and Bill Gates this month. Awesome and unique event!

I love working here!