All posts tagged microsoft

  • May 9, 2010

    Judging Microsoft Digital Innovation Contest

    Alan ColmenaresA week and a half ago, I had the pleasure of judging a number of entrepreneurial initiatives for Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition.  It was great to see how innovative and dedicated Colombia’s youth can be to creating great technology while helping out the needy.  As usually happens during these events, it is a truly enjoyable experience not only to meet these youths, but also to meet and get to know my fellow judges.

    We debated the merits and weaknesses of the different competitors.  I had a favorite that tried to solve an important problem (poverty) by applying better information design.  Unfortunately, they had some snafus with their presentation and demo and I was unable to vote for them as the winner.  We ended up giving the final prize to a sharp group with an incredibly polished presentation and they will be traveling to Poland to represent Colombia.  I wish we could have had the winning team train the other team to be more polished and to finish off their software as I think it would have been an excellent presentation in Poland.  Nevertheless, I’m sure the winners will do a great job!

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  • February 16, 2010

    Nostalgia y Evento Microsoft

    State CollegeQue dia tan increible.  Acabo de hablar con un viejo colega de mi primer trabajo.  Hace mas de 20 años que no habia hablado con esta persona.  Ambos trabajabamos para un contratista para el departamento de defensa de EEUU como Ingenieros Electricos (inmediatamente despues de la universidad) y ninguno de nosotros estabamos muy emocionados con nuestros trabajos.  Sin embargo, si disfrutamos mucho el hecho que nuestra empresas, llamada HRB-Singer y basada en Pennsylvania, nos envio a California con todo pago.

    Aunque no lo pasábamos mucho juntos, nos respectábamos y por nuestros lados disfrutamos mucho nuestra estadía en California y ambos terminamos viviendo allí después de irnos de esa empresa.  Increiblemente, ambos terminamos en la misma industria y una muy diferente a la que estabamos.  Estamos ambos enfocados en el mercadeo por Internet.  Fue tan nostalgico hablar de nuevo con Gary, escuchar lo que esta haciendo el ahora y recordar algunas situaciones chisotosas de esa vieja epoca.

    Por otro lado, hoy llegue de Cali de una conferencia que dicte en un evento de Microsoft sobre Cloud Computing.  Disfrute eso y me dicen que en Medellin y Bogota, los eventos deben ser mas concurridos.  Finalmente, acabo de llegar de una excelente conversación con un verdadero experto en ejecución de campañas online.  Fuera de esto es una persona muy agradable y tiene ideas super estimulantes.  Finalmente, no hay como llegar de un viaje y ver a la familia. Cada dia los hijos estan mas maduros y grandes y mi esposa mas bella.  Fuera de que siento asi, de pronto me gano unos puntos si ella lea estas frases (oops, acabo de perder esos puntos). :)

    No Comments / Español, General /

  • February 16, 2010

    Nostalgia and Microsoft Event

    State CollegeMan, what an amazing day.  A few hours ago, I got off the phone with a colleague from my first job out of college.  A guy I had last spoken with more than 20 years ago!  We were both Advanced Design engineers for a defense contractor called HRB-Singer straight out of college and were not at all into our jobs.  Incredibly enough, we both ended up focusing on online marketing.

    Man, my life is so different right now than what it was then.  I was this young whipper snapper on the prowl and without any ties.  Who woulda thunk it.  Back then, working was a hobby since I wasn’t really putting so much effort into my tasks (I’m ashamed to say) and was just soaking up a ton of life experiences.  Gary (that’s his name) and I ended up getting a gig in California (we were based out of State College, PA) and we were loving life out there.  The company set us up with great cars and amazing apartments and we really enjoyed our time out there.  The only thing we weren’t too crazy about was the work we were doing (or not doing).

    It seems that Gary, got into graphic design and become Creative Director for a number of interactive agencies and has been working as a consultant for some time and has made a nice home in Denver.  It really took me back today talking with him and remembering those times.  It really made me think about the journey I’ve had during the past 20 years when I lived for 5 years out there in California and then have spent the last 15 years here in Colombia.  Pretty wild.

    Also, today I just got back from Cali where I gave a presentation on Cloud Computing at an event sponsored by Microsoft. It was interesting, but expect the events in Medellin (next week) and Bogota to be a bit more active.  Well, time to do some work and hit the hay.  I also had a great conversation this evening with an amazing online marketer who’s based here in Colombia, but who’s done amazing things in the US market. There’s some real talent down here.

    1 Comment / English, General /
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