In between the modules life is pretty much finishing finals and reading for the next module and of course working. Now because life is life, there are still about a million other things that happen as well.
I will try to recap them here:
First- This happened:
I have worked at VLST for over 7 years. I am grateful for the experience that the company has provided me with and also for all the great people I have worked with over the years. I walked in as a lab manager and research associate focusing on molecular biology and leaving as the Sr. Operations Manager. My favorite projects would have to be moving the company, space planning and overall creating operations. With a small company I have loved being able to wear so many hats over the years and being exposed to the different aspects of a company. My company, when appropriate, has tried to be very transparent and candid. I know everyone who has worked here and everyone has given their best. As small biotechs go, they don't get much more fun than VLST. I am excited to see what happens next for VLST and their clinical projects. I truly do believe in what the company does and I believe that their therapeutics can have real benefit for patients. However, due to their limited resources and refocusing, I will no longer be working there past February. So as they saying goes, one door closes and another one opens.. and it seems that over the month of October I have had some great conversations about some potential possibilities, with other small biotechs, some international firms outside of science field, some random odd stuff, and even some ideas about my own projects. All in all, I feel overall positive of my next steps-whatever they will be. :)
Second:
School-so besides just the readings for the next module, we have started our thesis paper (not due till July) and a small group consulting project with a firm in India for our Module 4. My thesis mentor is a fascinating man with the same passion (I think) for interdisciplinary approaches as well as for disrupting the status quo. Needless to say, I think I will very much enjoy his insights! I also have found some of my own mentors in the community around Seattle. It is hard for me not to constantly work on my project.
My team consulting project is also really neat. I have a great group of four other classmates, each bringing a tremendous value to the table. Our topic is to look at innovation and technology solutions for the poor for InfoSys. One of my favorite aspects of this project is just how you have global meetings. First you had to pick a time that would work for everyone's time zone. So for me, it is 9am on Sundays, which is noon on the east coast, and about 4pm in Europe and one of our members travels a lot, so sometimes he is in Peru, sometimes in Madrid, so for him, who knows. ;) One of our team members is an IT guru-her name is Amy and she set us up with a great google group site, and one of our members Clive had a global conference program we could utilize. I find the logistics in the actual meetings so fascinating. How do we move forward on projects with out seeing each other eye to eye. (We do have video chat-but on a sunday at 9am-I usually try to spare my teammates).
Ohh and how can I forget this news: our GEMBA program got ranked as 19th in the world for EMBA programs by the Financial Times. This was the first time the program got ranked-so next year I think we will be #1.
Third:
Heavy on my heart and my mind is this: Washington State is voting on Marriage Equality this November. Our state congress passed marriage equality at the beginning of the year, and our Governor even signed it into law. I even made the front page of the paper with Shena. See us here. However, a small group of people got together, got some signatures and used our governing process to put it up for a vote in the November election. "Now the thing about rights is that you are not suppose to vote on them." Rachel Maddow. However, in WA we do. So this October I volunteered with the pro-marriage equality people-Washington United for Marriage Equality by doing a phone bank one night and by donating money as well. (Not a lot of money-but what I could.) It was eye opening to say the least to talk to the undecided voters on the phone. There is a lot of misinformation being spread by the opposition that people haven't bothered to check the facts. The school curriculum won't change, and if you sell a service or a product to the public and you discriminate- you can be sued today for that. This law doesn't change anything with regards to that. And all religious folks get to keep their rights and their own customs, etc etc. The hardest claim to hear is that people just were not comfortable with it. They were married. But were uncomfortable with marriage for all. What?! They just have arguments that are just not logical-based in a fear of the unknown or something else that I can't grasp. Any Washington voter undecided please check the facts, talk to me, and vote for equality this November. I have heard all the arguments against, and I think this pastor sums it up best.
And a fun insight too, is that most Seattle companies from Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, REI, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Expedia etc etc all support Marriage equality.
Check out this great video from Expedia.
It is really neat to see how these global companies support their employees and support diversity and love. I wonder what impact it had to their global business for standing up for human rights. Of course I can imagine how it helped tremendously in goodwill and in overall respect. Shoot-Expedia is the only company that I buy my tickets through from now on.
Also our capitol hill musicians also showed their support by creating this song, and played on Ellen today: watch the video here.
The fact that we are debating marriage equality is crazy. The world is in so many time zones all at once, from dark ages to enlightenment to the 21st century. I guess I am just use to living in a progressive, innovative city that I forget that it is not the norm. Hopefully, this November we will be the first state to vote in marriage equality and we can be an example for the rest of the country and to the world.
I won't be around though for this historic day, as I will be in Brazil for module 3, so please celebrate for me!!
Well there it is, a quick recap. Oh and also, I turned 31 in October. I had a great dinner with the family and another small quick dinner with some friends. My best bud Krystal even flew in from Montana. Pretty Special.
Oh and one more thing: Pygmy Survival Alliance is starting to ask for donations for 2013. We have accomplished so much from literacy program, secondary education, deworming, health insurance, creating sustainable businesses, launching a CD of the music, to food security, to social community empowerment, to a youth soccer team. Just incredible. A true testament to the holistic micro-development approach. For updates check out www.facebook.com/pygmysurvival or www.pymgysurvival.org and www.coffeerwanda.com
Okay now I am done.
XO,
L
My team consulting project is also really neat. I have a great group of four other classmates, each bringing a tremendous value to the table. Our topic is to look at innovation and technology solutions for the poor for InfoSys. One of my favorite aspects of this project is just how you have global meetings. First you had to pick a time that would work for everyone's time zone. So for me, it is 9am on Sundays, which is noon on the east coast, and about 4pm in Europe and one of our members travels a lot, so sometimes he is in Peru, sometimes in Madrid, so for him, who knows. ;) One of our team members is an IT guru-her name is Amy and she set us up with a great google group site, and one of our members Clive had a global conference program we could utilize. I find the logistics in the actual meetings so fascinating. How do we move forward on projects with out seeing each other eye to eye. (We do have video chat-but on a sunday at 9am-I usually try to spare my teammates).
Ohh and how can I forget this news: our GEMBA program got ranked as 19th in the world for EMBA programs by the Financial Times. This was the first time the program got ranked-so next year I think we will be #1.
Third:
Heavy on my heart and my mind is this: Washington State is voting on Marriage Equality this November. Our state congress passed marriage equality at the beginning of the year, and our Governor even signed it into law. I even made the front page of the paper with Shena. See us here. However, a small group of people got together, got some signatures and used our governing process to put it up for a vote in the November election. "Now the thing about rights is that you are not suppose to vote on them." Rachel Maddow. However, in WA we do. So this October I volunteered with the pro-marriage equality people-Washington United for Marriage Equality by doing a phone bank one night and by donating money as well. (Not a lot of money-but what I could.) It was eye opening to say the least to talk to the undecided voters on the phone. There is a lot of misinformation being spread by the opposition that people haven't bothered to check the facts. The school curriculum won't change, and if you sell a service or a product to the public and you discriminate- you can be sued today for that. This law doesn't change anything with regards to that. And all religious folks get to keep their rights and their own customs, etc etc. The hardest claim to hear is that people just were not comfortable with it. They were married. But were uncomfortable with marriage for all. What?! They just have arguments that are just not logical-based in a fear of the unknown or something else that I can't grasp. Any Washington voter undecided please check the facts, talk to me, and vote for equality this November. I have heard all the arguments against, and I think this pastor sums it up best.
And a fun insight too, is that most Seattle companies from Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, REI, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Expedia etc etc all support Marriage equality.
Check out this great video from Expedia.
It is really neat to see how these global companies support their employees and support diversity and love. I wonder what impact it had to their global business for standing up for human rights. Of course I can imagine how it helped tremendously in goodwill and in overall respect. Shoot-Expedia is the only company that I buy my tickets through from now on.
Also our capitol hill musicians also showed their support by creating this song, and played on Ellen today: watch the video here.
The fact that we are debating marriage equality is crazy. The world is in so many time zones all at once, from dark ages to enlightenment to the 21st century. I guess I am just use to living in a progressive, innovative city that I forget that it is not the norm. Hopefully, this November we will be the first state to vote in marriage equality and we can be an example for the rest of the country and to the world.
I won't be around though for this historic day, as I will be in Brazil for module 3, so please celebrate for me!!
Well there it is, a quick recap. Oh and also, I turned 31 in October. I had a great dinner with the family and another small quick dinner with some friends. My best bud Krystal even flew in from Montana. Pretty Special.
Oh and one more thing: Pygmy Survival Alliance is starting to ask for donations for 2013. We have accomplished so much from literacy program, secondary education, deworming, health insurance, creating sustainable businesses, launching a CD of the music, to food security, to social community empowerment, to a youth soccer team. Just incredible. A true testament to the holistic micro-development approach. For updates check out www.facebook.com/pygmysurvival or www.pymgysurvival.org and www.coffeerwanda.com
Okay now I am done.
XO,
L
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