Postcard From Cambodia

We’ve been in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the weekend, far away from the financial crisis, far away from the Mumbai terrorism.

The first thing that strikes me about Cambodia is the serenity that runs through the environment, and its people. The country is extremely poor, and yet the smiles and the joy with which even the Tuk Tuk drivers and the shopkeepers in the villages greet us are uplifting. Clearly, they are not bothered by the threat of losing millions. Much more basic issues – like making another $3 for the day – concern them, and yet they do not ooze anxiety, pessimism, or hostility.

The serenity is infectious. >>>

Legendary Entrepreneur and Author Judy Estrin (Part 4)

SM: You merged with 3Com, which has a completely different dynamic and culture.

JE: The biggest mistake is that we merged with the notion there was going to be an office of the president. Bill Carrico and Bill Krause were sharing the key roles. Bill Carrico was chairman and president and Bill Krause was CEO, or something like that. I don’t remember the exact titles. >>>

Legendary Entrepreneur and Author Judy Estrin (Part 3)

SM: Tell me some about how VCs received your concept when you were starting Bridge.

JE: Bridge started in 1981 and we spent six months trying to raise money. We raised $1.8 million, and I remember one VC asking why we needed $1.8 million for a modem. I looked at Bill and said, “He doesn’t get it”. We would just go back over and over and over, refining out pitch until we found someone willing to take a bat. >>>

Forbes Column 08: Stop The Fear Epidemic

This week’s Zero In addresses the media’s role in creating a culture of fear that many feel is developing partly as a result of the rapid spread of negative stories and commentary. The column urges everyone from the most established editors to the newest bloggers to use the reach and power of digital media to cover stories of collaboration and responsible leadership. Read Stop The Fear Epidemic on Forbes.

The effects of this culture of fear are far-reaching: it inhibits trust, stifles creativity and impedes the growth of entrepreneurship. While the media has a responsibility to report on world events as they occur, it can use its influence to help create a culture of hope.

Design That Moves Business: The Motorola RAZR Effect (Part 2)

By guest authors Charles W. Bush and Kathy Hwang of 3Strand Innovation, a brand, design and business consultancy

While any company should be proud of a market success like the RAZR mobile phone, Motorola’s story is even more remarkable because it came out of an older corporation that was able to adapt for innovation. The original vision for the RAZR found its roots in a dream in 2003. We break down some of the elements of the company’s approach below. >>>

Legendary Entrepreneur and Author Judy Estrin (Part 2)

SM: I have never even thought of myself as a woman. I have thought of myself first as an entrepreneur and a professional.

JE: I thought of myself as a technologist first. When I became a leader and manager I thought of myself as a business person first and a woman second. Now when I meet young women I will go out of my way to help them, but that was never my cause. >>>

Legendary Entrepreneur and Author Judy Estrin (Part 1)

Estrin has been named three times to Fortune Magazine’s list of the 50 most powerful women in American business. She sits on the boards of directors of The Walt Disney Company and FedEx Corporation as well as two private company boards – Packet Design, Inc. and Arch Rock. For more background review her bio.

SM: Judy, you are a legend in Silicon Valley. Take us back to where your story begins. Where are you from, where did you grow up, and what is in your DNA that got you into all of this?

JE: The part that is in my DNA is a love for science and technology. The part that was a surprise was my being an entrepreneur and a leader. >>>

Deal Radar 2008: WiZiQ

I spoke at length this morning at my INSEAD Global Entrepreneurship Forum talk about entrepreneurial opportunities in the educational technology space. Today’s Deal Radar post focuses on WiZiQ, an online tutoring technology startup that offers a learning center and an online collaboration tool for teachers and students for a wide range of subjects and grades. The company was founded in 2002 by Harman Singh and Harbir Khurana, who have been involved in e-learning through authorGEN Technologies. They have been creating software tools that help educators teach over the Internet and decided to offer their technologies as a SaaS platform in a bid to grow. >>>