My Lighting Week

This week just seemed to fly by, faster than before. And me on very little sleep. Most of the time I don't even realize what day it is, everything just runs together.

Portugal
I don't remember much other than it being a very good week. I've been getting all my cases done, staying late for the CompStrat presentations, and other extracurriculars, and going to bed around 2 or 3AM. One day this week I booked a flight over Easter break to Portugal, my first time in such a beautiful, exotic country. When I printed out the schedule, you cannot imagine the wave of excitement that flowed through me. Something new. Something fresh. Something exciting.

Novartis
We would work through our CompStrat project until 10PM, then I would come home & apply for jobs & network with representatives of companies that would present at our school. I found a great Finance Program at Novartis, with which I could do financial analysis, forecasting and modeling, communication & rise on the path to CFO. Sounded like just what I was looking for.

CompStrat
The CompStrat project was exciting. All the late nights working on powerpoints & excel and having many different versions of files, increasing one by one, arriving early in the morning for last minute changes, reminded me of life as an analyst at an investment bank. Although I enjoyed it, it took a lot out of me.

Electronic Arts
So we presented on the strategy of Electronic Arts.


We were the first presenters, and we all dressed in black suits that day, when no one else did. Most probably thought it was over the top; I think it was a unique symbol of our unity. Felipe did some excellent slides. We started with a trailer of one of EA's most popular games: Need for Speed - Carbon (there was a member of our team with the last name Carbon.. everyone laughed). I was responsible for analysing the financial structure and how their strategy evolved over the years. The presentation went really well. We were all really passionate about the company, and those who were not familiar with the gaming industry (ahem, yours truly) learned alot. I was so proud of my team.

Multi Culti 2008

I am in a good mood right now. Instead of reading a technical note on Safety Stock for Operations (I'll read it later), I'm going to post pictures from the Multi Culti.

Catalan Stand:

(by the way I was walking down the road with a Catalan flag after MultiCulti and these guys cried out "VIVA ESPANA!" Touchy subject.)

Calcot eating contest:


Home sweet home. The American Stand!


Our theme this year was Hooters & Truckers...


The French Stand. Ooo la la look at those suspenders. (I have a thing for suspenders).


The Indian Stand:


And some traditional Indian Dancing:


Those handsome Brits:


There's something about the Portuguese:


Which is probably why I defected for a while to the Portuguese stand:


Carribean Stand:


And then the Argentine stand. I loved the homemade empanadas.


That's all, folks! Back to Bobst Group: Costing New Parts... and Operations Management.

Section A vs. Section B

Today I attended a lunch with Heinrich Liechtenstein regarding issues we may have with his class. After a brief discussion about our individual team's concerns, the topic moved on to his perceptions of our section. He had said that our section seemed more "serious", "competitive" and "not relaxed." Moreover, he explained that Section B was like a completely different environment. For example, when he steps up in front of the Section A class, he cannot tell if the students are enjoying his class because we all look so "serious".

It was a stereotype set in stone even in the beginning of the year, second years have told me that Section A is the "hardworking, competitive, studious" section and B is the "laid-back, fun section who 'takes it easy'". How far it goes into the Stereotypical Types A and B influences, I don't know. But what I do know is that it feels like in my section, everyone strives to say the most remarkable comments, that others who may have a grip of the case are intimidated to speak, for fear that their comment is not "star quality." I was one of those students. Until Liechtenstein started cold calling, and I started getting all the answers right. That built preliminary confidence that I was able to carry onto my other classes.

I admit I went through a period of being quiet in class, but then I realized that I cared too much about what other people thought, and that I should say what I think and move on. I came here to learn and grow. The only way you can do this is to make mistakes. And I think that most people in Section A are afraid of making mistakes.

And Section B has their section dinners, section Valentines' serenades, their COW competitions... we have none of that. Although I am proud to be Section A, some part of me yearns for that cozier, more cohesive environment of Section B. Maybe I would grow more personally there. But maybe the learning curve would be less steep. I don't know.

All I know is that I have just looked inside my inbox and found an invitation to interview with Barclays Wealth Strategy Consultants....

My Stream of Consciousness

Today I saw our Strategy professor sit at a table by himself eating lunch. He looked so uncomfortable, playing with his phone. I wanted to go and sit with him so badly so that he wouldn't be alone. But I thought that A) he might think I was coming on to him or B) he might think I was scamming for a good grade and C) I was just finishing up with Blanca and Marco and didn't have much lunch left anyway. So I just waved from across the cafeteria. He waved back. It was nice.

And I was thinking on the bus ride home that my perfect job would be at a company where I could wear a suit with flip flops everyday to work. You know, something like a Finance hippy. When I worked at a bank, I used to toy with the fantasy of opening my own investment bank called simply "A", for the way I sign my name, and for the fact that it will always be the first bank displayed on Prospectuses because the banks of that tier are listed in alphabetical order. I would differentiate myself by emphasizing a positive, ethical, can-do atmosphere that focuses on client relationships and quality of life rather than maximizing profits. And I'd wear suits and flip flops every day to work. That's right. Finance hippy.

You know the past couple of years have been such a struggle, and I had been waiting for someone to come along to inspire me. And finally I found someone. I picked up the Economist for today, which had Barack Obama's picture on the cover, and I remember thinking that I never felt so much hope and inspiration from someone in a long time. He makes me believe that the world will be better, and that all of us have a purpose here, working together. He makes me believe that America can build itself up again, this time with diplomacy rather than military power & might. I have been waiting for someone like him for a long time. With one simple slogan: Yes We Can he makes me feel like I do anything, be anything. And it is truly wonderful.

Si Se Puede!

My Old Fashioned Night in Barcelona

Elliot Reed: Janitor, did you ever wish you were different from yourself in every way?
Janitor: No, I'm a winner. But I can tell you that time spent wishing is time wasted. If you want to be different, then be different.
-SCRUBS

Friday I was different, but everything was the same. We had class, then I came home for a quick nap before going out. Our team facilitator Martin was having a birthday dinner that night, so I joined about 60 people at this new Mexican restaurant on Gran Via. Mariachis.. coronas... the room was so animated with life. Had a great time catching up with all the second years.

Then me, Bala, Blanca and Ralph headed to HandBar for Magda & Laura's birthday celebration. It was my first time there, and it immediately became my favorite bar. Absolutely felt at home with the Spanish pop. I knew just about every song. I joined Magda dancing on a stage, but then she went down & I found myself dancing surrounded by a Spanish field hockey team all in suits! It was a little bit of Heaven. Had some great dances with Jacob, and Spanish Antonio, and Marco. Perhaps one of my favorite dances was when Bala and I broke out in a little salsa on the crowded dance floor.

Marco had his Italian friend Alessandro visiting, and we all walked to Up & Down club after Handbar closed around 4. Alessandro and I had a pleasant walk over there, but he was worried that he bored me with his life growing up in Italy. I was just thinking how fascinated I was with Europeans. At Up & Down, we ran into Stefan, Felix, Juan de Dios, Alejandro, Bala and many others. I was pretty disappointed in Up & Down's collection of American music (I wanted more Spanish), but it was quite amusing to watch all the guys dance to Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like A Woman!" Probably my favorite dance there was with Marco, because it just flowed naturally. Left the club and headed home at 6AM, legs all danced out and feeling great. All in all was a very classic good old fashioned night out in Barcelona.

Valentine's Day - IESE Style

I just wanted to post this before I forget, to remember forever the ingenuity, creativity and romantism that IESE guys have, they are really top caliber.

A week before someone SPAMed this video around, depicting what you can do with 1 semester of Spanish...


And then on Valentine's Day, the entire Section B class decides to sing it to the girls in their section. I imagine if a guy surprised me like that I'd love him forever... =)

Bravo Section B Gentlemen's Band.

My Case Method

"That's the thing about trying to have your cake and eating it too. If you make the slightest mistake, you usually wind up getting neither."
-JD, SCRUBS

Sometimes the hardest thing in life is trying to make order out of huge messes. How to come up a winner. And when you are searching for answers, and every systematic approach seems to fail you, it's easy to just give up. Or lose your way. That is why life is like the case method.

Sitting in a lecture is comforting. You know what you are going to get. Everything turns out the way you expect: you study the important topics, you apply them to standard problems, you find the answer. You gain confidence from your victory, or more precisely, from security: You have it all figured out.

But sometimes you are faced with so many challenges, nothing seems to go right, all your training has failed you, and you only hope that one day, something will finally go your way. If you haven't given up, all you can do is sit down, re-evaluate, and try again.

I have still not quite figured out this case method, or life, for that matter. But I do know, that both are about finding your personal way to solve problems. It's all about you, and you cannot get lessons from someone else. And no matter how endlessly tough and messy it seems, I just have to get down in there and solve the problem in front of me. Because when it comes down to it, nothing in this world worth having comes easy.

I Am So Lame.

I am so lame. I am a bad New Orleanian. I did not celebrate Mardi Gras this year. I did not go out onto Bourbon Street with my Vodka & Orange Juice at 9AM, a fun costume and my pretty shiny beads. In fact, I did not even go out the weekend before Mardi Gras. Even though I had offers. I stayed in and studied and studied and studied. I stayed in. On Mardi Gras. In Barcelona, Spain. I am so lame.

And now Lent season is starting and I have not had my debauchery yet. And this Friday is SkIESE. The first time I have ever been skiing. Wonder how it will go. Wonder what I'm going to give up for Lent. Operations?

My Mentor

"I thought about how when you make tough decisions, good things can happen. Like the confidence you can gain from finding your true calling. And when you make decisions for the wrong reasons, they can come back to bite you in the ass. In the end, it’s always best to rely on your principles to make the decisions."
-JD, SCRUBS

I went to see my mentor a few days ago.

"So, how are you doing?" he said.

"Pretty okay." I replied. "I didn't get any sales and trading offers."

He nodded, no look of surprise on his face. "What do you think that means?"

"That I am not meant to do that."

He changed the subject. "I was looking through your files, and you say that your problem is lack of self-esteem, but I think it is more that you are very self-critical." We talked about Finance for a while. Then he said, "I can see that you have high scores on people, communication, networking, relationships... you are through the roof on altruism... but your competencies are in Finance. With that, and your people skills, you would be a dream financial manager."

"I was thinking of trying other areas of banking, like Risk Management, Legal & Compliance, or Debt Capital Markets."

"I think that what you are looking for won't be in a bank. I don't think the type of work matters to you as much as the organizational goals and the people you work with. Maintain harmony-that is your purpose in life. I would suggest you look into positions in Finance in other industries; you say you like healthcare & fashion..."

"That opens up alot of options now." I said. "Finding the perfect job for me is going to be like finding the perfect guy. And I've stopped believing in that."

"Something, and someone, is out there."

"I don't think so. I always mess everything up."

"Well, there is someone out there who would love that you mess everything up."

"I think the second you stop fighting, time really is on your side. And you can go on being who you really are. Or keep enjoying that little crush of yours..."
-JD, SCRUBS

;-)