Recently we began a new contact with our alumni with the first of what will be a series of "conversations with alumni." The Alumni Board was interested in creating a link between grads, our current students, and local alumni. The first "conversation" focused on innovators and entrepreneurs and featured Will Harvey '84 and Jon Fisher '90.
When Will was a sophomore he sold his Music Construction Set, a fun way to write music on a computer, to Electronic Arts. I was Dean of Students then, and when the representative from EA arrived on campus unexpectedly looking for Will, I refused to let him take him off campus with out a note from home. Big showdown! Finally I got a call into Will's mom who assured me that the EA visit was approved by her. And as they say, the rest is history. Will went on to complete his under graduate, Masters and Doctoral degrees at Stanford University. His most recent computer venture is IMVU; a combination of avatars and instant messaging in a 3D chat space.
Jon is my poster child for success after Crystal. Professor Fisher is one of America's most innovative thinkers in the area of business, finance and entrepreneurship. Jon founded Bharosa and successfully sold the online banking identity protection software to Oracle in 2007. That same year Ernst & Young named him entrepreneur of the year in California. Jon's recent book release, Strategic Entrepreneurism, offers a guide for developing entrepreneurial concepts and finding a financially viable exit strategy. Currently Jon serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco's School of Business.
So, enough credentials? Will and Jon spoke for about 45 minute to a standing room only crowd of over 85 in the Conference Room (aka some years ago as the student lounge, and prior to that the mansion's dining room) across from Head of School's office. They held the mostly high school audience in rapt attention for the entire time and they delivered a great message.
Will, who spoke first, was clear that people in the business of technology have to be flexible and ready to deal with set backs. Keep trying. If you have a good idea someone will to buy it. When a student asked him how he came to be a tech innovator and entrepreneur, he said, "I liked to build things when I was younger." Happily, Tom Woosnam had saved Will's balsa bridge from his 1983 Physics Class, and I showed the audience his undefeated bridge that held a remarkable 350 lbs. Yes, he did like to build things!
Jon's message was to please listen to the adults around you. Yes, even your parents who know more than you realize. Follow your dreams and use the resources you learned at Crystal and stay in touch with your classmates. They will be some of your best allies and potential business partners in the future.
Thank you to Will and Jon for setting the bar so high for our future "Conversations with Alumni."
