Finance for entrepreneurs

Down again to Dunedin. This time for another elective - finance for entrepreneurs. Got to admit I will be pleased when I finish these electives. One more after this one and then I am done. Just need to finish......

Back in town

Well I am back in Dunedin to commence my electives. Three 1 week courses and I will be done in the classroom. This is my first one, the next is in May and the final one is in August. I decided not to go on exchange but on seeing fellow classmates Krister and Jarrod ripping it up at Duke in the states makes me a bit jealous! My first paper is from the Masters of Entrepreneurship - Feasibility of new ventures. Starts on Tuesday. Might have to check my readings.......update soon!

The 540 student project

Well, I have had some time off but I cannot stop my brain. As a result I have just written a draft of my 540 project submission for next year. This a three month full time project. The client I have chosen is a software company. I am exploring new market opportunities for them, testing feasibility of the market and the purchasing power of the potential customers. If I nail it, it could provide me a great business venture - exciting times. Will review my draft a few more times and ship it to be accepted. Keen to get things underway....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year by the way!

Otago MBA Student Awards - the real ones!

At the final dinner I was given the honor of saying a few words to recognise the efforts of the class of 2013. I chose to present every student an award - acknowledging them in a humorous fashion. Went down pretty well and no nobody has sued me yet! I have omitted the context of each award but below is the list of the awards and the recipients. When (if) you meet these people one day you might want to ask them what their award means :)

• Samwise Gangee award - Melissa 
• Lost in translation award - Emily
• Magpie award - Tapan
• Chicken legs award - Jarrod
• Richard Branson award - Ankit
• Vocabulary award - Chris
• The Brimstone award - Krister
• IT help desk award - Jerry
• Old man playing young man's sport award - Donovan
• The 'New Idea' award - Mal
• The 'Dove' award - Jason
• Angry birds will get the job award - Diksha
• Lost the Ashes award - Mike
• Bugger study, I am going on holiday award - Tom
• Where did I leave my shoes award - Jenn
• Best in show award - Emma
• Tell us how you really feel award - John
•   Big fish, small pond award - James
• I have my own hard hat award - Lingsong

Enjoy!

Photo time

Well here we are. This year's finishers of the Otago MBA -13 folks punched through the ceiling. Obviously this photo doesn't not include the plethora of part timers who still have a way to go. It was a pretty good crew, a PhD in neuroscience, hospitality experts, health, banking, software and IT, manufacturing, market gardens, exporters, advertising and government just to mane a few areas. These folks have made a lasting impression on me and will not be forgotten.

The end is nigh....

Well, it has been a big week. Two exams, strategy and operational excellence and our final presentation is tomorrow. It has been an awesome year! If you are considering doing your MBA at Otago, don't hesitate - do it! You still have time to apply so get going. Tomorrow night is the final dinner and we had our picture taken on Monday so I will post that as soon as I get it. Also, I have the privilege of awarding each student with a somewhat humorous award based on their contribution doing the year. Should be fun - will post those soon also although I might leave out the reasons :)

7 days until D-Day

Not long now, a couple of assignments, a couple of exams, a presentation, a group photo and a final dinner. Strangely I think I am going to miss this life, the people and of course the surf!