Category Archives: Alumni voice

STORIES FROM THE LIFT: How does one conquer the Market?

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. A lot of people can build a product, but really figuring out what your market is and how to reach them is the biggest obstacle to LIFT your venture off the […]

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STORIES FROM THE CRYPT: When does one shut a venture?

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. The 100-plus EMiR sessions over the past few months have presented me with remarkable opportunities to view the repercussions of the pandemic through the eyes of a 21-year-old management graduate/alumnus AND […]

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46% of business failures could be avoided. Here’s how.

Many new ventures, deals, investments and strategies fail because they haven’t been properly tested before launch. Applying rigorous contrarian thinking with a Devil’s Advocate or military style Red Team can save time, money and reputation by avoiding mistakes and making decisions that maximise chances of success. In the following piece, Dr. Nicholas Beecroft explains a […]

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Stories from the Thrift: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Applied to Start-ups and Cofounders

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a fulltime entrepreneur. One of the most common questions I encounter is – “How can I focus on growing my business or on thought leadership when I am struggling to make ends meet?” This […]

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How to avoid conflict with your business partner

Is your business partner from another planet? When companies are growing fast, pressures can bring personal differences to the surface, and these can become major disagreements. In the following piece, Stefano Maifreni SEMBA2012 shares his thoughts on these questions. How do you prepare for conflict, and deal with it in a professional way? Experience has […]

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Stories from the Rift: Founder – Product – Market – Fit

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are contemplating taking the leap of faith and becoming a full-time entrepreneur. One of the most common questions I have encountered is – “Co-Founders and where/why/how/when do I find them?” So, is the Fit-Founder a myth? Err… The Founder-Fit… Is the Founder-Fit a […]

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Stories From The Shift – Taking That Leap of Faith

In these unprecedented times of (using the word unprecedented) uncertainty, many of us are feeling rudderless and adrift in the vast emptiness of the unknown ocean that lies around us… Many contemplate whether they should continue with their corporate role, or take the leap of faith to become a full-time entrepreneur. One of the most common […]

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Stories From The Shift – Chasing Shadows

Every single day, aspiring first-time entrepreneurs around the world spend their time chasing the shadows cast by LinkedIn reports of their peers getting funded and they enter Dreamland, where they start chasing one shadow after the next after the next. Over the past few weeks, I have been approached by a number of folks about […]

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