Here is the text of the speech I delivered May 10 at the University of Minnesota College of Science & Engineering: I am honored to be with you as we gather to celebrate your graduation. This school has a distinguished roster of graduates… Earl Bakken, the founder of Medtronic, was an Electrical Engineering grad, and Bob … Continue reading »
family/career
Lying on your resume
It’s not the crime that gets you, it’s the coverup. Richard Nixon and Watergate Getting asked by reporter about where I went to school made me remember the day I had to choose whether to lie on my resume. I Badly Want the Job When I got my first job in Silicon Valley it was through serendipity (my … Continue reading »
The redefinition of fatherhood demands new public policies
In anticipation of Father’s Day, the International Museum of Women put together a gallery on “the changing role of the modern dad,” which includes a global facts and figures, a three-minute video on how mothers around the world view fatherhood, a documentary about stay-at-home dads in Hungary, and profiles of fathers in South America and … Continue reading »
You’ll be dead soon — carpe diem
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” … Continue reading »
The pay-it-forward culture
Foreign visitors to Silicon Valley continually mention how willing we are to help, network and connect strangers. We take it so for granted we never even to bother to talk about it. It’s the “pay-it-forward” culture. ——- We’re all in this together – The chips are down In 1962 Walker’s Wagon Wheel Bar/Restaurant in Mountain … Continue reading »