April 2009 – Page 2 – Citizen Reporter

The Streets of Chisinau

The first messages came in via twitter, a confrontation between young protesters and police in Moldova.? Then, more clicking and a few more messages, live video feeds from Chisinau via Romanian television, reports of 1 young protester dead, 2 cops also killed. No confirmation.? Watching the video feed: scenes from the streets, sometimes just huge crowds standing around talking to each other, other time lines of riot gear police pushing back-and-forth against protestors.? Cut to the presidential palace, where the light exterior paint job has turned to a sllight shade of dirty, with many eggs and assorted garbage being thrown at the building.? More pushing, more police, more people from both sides falling out of the crowd clutching their bloody heads.

Twitter friends report that it all started among the Moldovan Youth, with a fewContinue reading “The Streets of Chisinau”

MBA Bamboozle

There are likely to be a few people reading this who have an MBA (Master of Business Administration). Over the last 10 to 20 years MBA programs have seen a huge spike in demand as well as universities offering such a program.? This is very true here in Europe, where it seems every country has a few MBA programs aimed at international or domestic students.

Popularity may be one thing, but this says nothing of why an MBA has become so sought after and so frequently offered.? Beyond that, what about the quality of the education MBA’s get and how do they perform as a result of this instruction.

ABC Radio National’s Background Briefing had a great program over the weekend focusing on the global impact of the MBA and how it rose to its current importance. It pays special attention to the role of MBA’s in the current global financial crisis.

Among the points I found especially poignant: the emergence of the MBA in the 70’s and 80’s, as being a manager was only beginning to be seen as a career. Prior to that, managers were those who had worked various positions and worked their way up with a company eventually getting the managerial post.? They also get into the creation of an elite based on what MBA program you graduate from, schools like Harvard which pride themselves in allegedly preparing people not only to manage companies, but to manage basically anything, including a government.

Recommended listening, whether you’ve got an MBA or not.

Republica09 interview action

After speaking at Re:publica09 today, I find myself in fairly high demand for interviews… which I must say, is always flattering and often fun.? So forgive the ego trip, as I think within the interview there might be something useful or interesting to someone out there.? At the very least, for my mama to listen to.? Hence, click over to Nils’ site and you can press play and listen to me answer questions related to my talk.

(if you’re wondering if im working on podcasts while Im here.. yes.. about 2 of them to be exact.? Previews ASAP. Currently Im enjoying myself out there offline)