Call me Jeff

Jan 22, 2007

"Call me Jeff." This is Jeffrey Harris's opening at the first class of "Innovate or Die". The former Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association claimed, "I will call you student, if you call me Professor instead of Jeff." Everybody laughed.

"Since we don't have enough seats, part of my job today is to get rid of some of you." This is his response to the over-packed classroom. Some students came to audit although didn't get enrolled in this course.

He was rejected one and half year ago when he first proposed this course to a professor at Columbia because "our students may not be very interested."

"Why not?"

"Our students want some real skills to get real jobs and do well in their jobs, rather than talking about history."

Jeff went back to his office in downtown Manhattan and started looking up phone number of NYU. :)

After a class presentation as guest speaker, and then a semester teaching Venture Capital, Innovate or Die opened up door at Columbia today - Jan 22, 2007.

Some interesting moments on the first class.

"For Freedom", when Jeff asked me what drives entrepreneurs.
"Yes, until get married." - His instant response.

"Both men and women got better off." Jeff's comments on MaidenForm's innovation on women's underwear.