Students at the International Academy of Management and Entrepreneurship (IAME) attending a social media course south of Bangalore, India.
The academy has several programs tailored to business specialties, a range of student abilities, and a strong desire to help their students succeed. A typical freshmen class size is around 20 students, most of whom have not used computers or the Internet. These students may be the first generation who have gone beyond a basic formal education. Some students have come from rural subsistence backgrounds.
Dr. Ramesh Babu, president of the academy, asked me to write a statement about the kind of work I wanted to do with his students. The underlying objectives of my curriculum were to:
- Create a cohesive culture at IAME extending from undergrads to business leaders and alumni.
- Increase awareness of IAME’s social justice program.
- Increase paid enrollment at IAME.
Below are selections from my mission statement / curriculum outline.
The mission of the International Academy of Management and Entrepreneurship’s Insight program (IAME insight) is to connect rural students with opportunities to engage with industry leaders, subject matter experts, and peers. Using specific social media tools, IAME insight will host discussions during the month, mentor students on etiquette, and encourage habits of monitoring and sharing insight.
IAME insight connects students to experts in a few ways. By developing skills to search, assess, and share news articles students will begin to have exposure to the larger world around them. This awareness will be amplified by the social media component of IAME insight. When students filter the good from the bad and select the best to share, a process of peer review and discussion may begin. The points raised in discussion will lead and feed the selection of subject matter experts to be interviewed in a trimonthly online discussion.
The skills and qualities IAME insight are developing in its students include: critical thinking, refinement of business etiquette, confidence, application of social media for specific business and personal outcomes, and analysis of information from multiple sources. These 21st century and multinational skills are critical to the success of students everywhere.
That said, the efforts of IAME insight to develop rural Indian students carries a higher level of importance. Some of the IAME sponsored students are from near or below the poverty line. For these students job competition is the most fierce. With less means, less access to computers, and less awareness of new world needs; the student’s greatest ability is getting by with less.
IAME insight challenges the paradigm of minor incremental advance. By harnessing the leveling power of social media coupled with development of complimentary curriculum, the students of IAME insight will leap beyond traditional hierarchies. Young leaders grounded in the real necessities of life will realize global reach. Their embedded practical approach to problem solving answers needs over wants. IAME insight will enable students to find solutions based in utility over distraction.
Subject matter experts, industry leadership, and peers in the workforce are all ideal discussion guests for IAME insight moderated chats. Each has a contribution to share and access to relationships to gain. The expert gains clout, the industry leader gains engaged employee candidates, and the peer gains a network and confidence. Of course IAME gains a reputation for placing and preparing students with skills and connections needed to compete globally.
Close, Medium, and Long Shot
My favorite part about this assignment was the reaction I got from my professor. It took her a minute to realize that the camera was actually in the newspaper rack. Then, “Wait, you put the camera in the … what if you couldn’t get it out?”
Not to worry, the camera made it back safely to the Winona State storage room and I got an “A” on the project.
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Professor Robin O’Callaghan in case you are wondering.
As a kid I loved systems. Still do. Signal, ground, positive, and negative. Connecting stereo equipment as a teen lead to high school theater tech jobs, and on to a show coordinator position with a national touring company. The short version of this story includes a rock and roll gig with Twisted Sister, producing dance club nights, and a partnership in a Denver, CO recording studio.
The wild times eventually gave way to responsibility and college was part of that. While attending Winona State University I was blessed to work at a small independent stereo shop. Selling flat screen televisions, remote start systems for cold Minnesota cars, and cell phones. Retail paid the bills and it was fun.
Over the months, I built the store a website, created in-store forms, and coordinated their sponsorship of a local film festival. To increase awareness of car audio systems I also produced a TV commercial.
I story boarded the scenes, got approval from the boss and began to hire actors. I arranged a film crew, borrowed cars from a local car dealership, and bought media time. The 30 second ad was shot and aired later that week. The ad premise is a “dude” has a better chance of scoring a date if he has a sweet ride and a car stereo from our store.
What crucial step was missing? Looking back I should have pre-tested the idea with a pilot group and set a standard to measure the effectiveness of the ad. As such, I just don’t know if it worked. Sure, a few people commented that they saw the commercial. Did it maintain their positive preference or worse did it objectify women and turn off our customers. Without a system to understand the reaction, the action was a shot in the dark.
Lesson learned: The capturing of data before, during, and after an ad campaign roll out is an essential part of the process. A good system enables one to judge the cost and value of an effort.
Image from GoAudioDesigns.com
Fantasia poster circa February 2003.
The rock band Fantasia has performed all over the Denver club scene, including the famous Gothic theater. They have opened for Twisted Sister and released an internationally selling album.
I created this poster in exchange for room and board at the guitarist’s garage. Over time, we expanded and leased a warehouse east of Denver transforming it into Rare Breed Recordings. There we hosted John Moyer, bassist of Disturbed (the multi-platinum Chicago band), as a celebrity producer. We engineered tracks for rock bands and hip-hop artists, did photo shoots for concert posters and even created a brochure for a candle making company.
Rock n’ Roll doesn’t pay the bills. Rare Breed folded after only two years. Those present will never forget.
What is in front of you is often the most important.
I learned this lesson while riding my human powered “Rad Scoot” scooter. Today you might see the Rad Scoot in a BMX museum or perhaps buried in the back of a garage somewhere. This scooter is a relic of the 80’s, sporting florescent aqua colored paint with white tires and sweet handle grips. Like a ten speed bicycle, the Rad Scoot features quality breaks front and back and bold tube style tires.
Today’s scooters are wimpy in comparison as they try to combine inline skates with a skateboard, at best. The Rad Scoot is an engineered mobile transportation solution, crafted with kick, punch, and Rad-ness. Elitist, in that it was only available at finer punk rock bike shops.
Well, I had one of these fine scooters, don’t ask me how, as my parents were not rich or excessively Rad. I kicked my way all around our small town. To the connivence store for candy, coasting down long hills for grins and off dirt jumps to prove I was worthy. Of course I shared, but only as a way to deepen the lust in my friends eyes. I was Rad!
One sunny afternoon, a few neighbor girls noticed me sailing around the block and being Rad. As I remember, they called out, “Hey Ezra, you’re so Rad!” Suddenly the curb, then the handle bars, followed by trauma to my young, but permanent front tooth.
Before this moment, I planned to head home and enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, three or four Oreo cookies and a glass of milk. After, however, I was crying my way home, more upset by the change of lunch plans then the thought of dental work.
Today I have a metal rebar type rod connecting the jagged real tooth base to a well disguised fake. Before the rebar dental work, I lost the fake tooth cap eating a gummy bear at the movies. Currently I am waiting for this tooth version to become detached at just the wrong moment.
When you’re sailing on a Rad Scoot look out for curbs.
