Our inaugural Android and Kindle editions debuted in September, joining the iPad edition in our tablet offerings. For details on downloading these, visit alumni.hbs.edu/tablet

Afghanistan’s Hope and Light

Re: A call for change

A wonderful story of entrepreneurial courage against great odds. I tip my hat to Karim Khoja (AMP 156, 1999) for the leadership he has demonstrated at Roshan. This is how hearts and minds are truly won. I might add, public outcry has never been a concern of the Taliban. The Taliban have stopped destroying the cell phone towers because the cell phone has become their primary command and control communication system.
—Joe Lanza (AMP 103, 1988) via bulletin@hbs.edu

I don’t know if it’s chutzpah or ignorance regarding the history of and current situation in Afghanistan or both that enables the editors to think that telecommunications can “save Afghanistan from collapse.” It’s a very nice feel-good story, but how cell phones are going to bring a tribal culture dominated by religious extremism, corruption, repression of women, and a lack of access to education and commercial infrastructure into the 21st century is beyond me.
—Audrey Kadis (MBA 1977) via bulletin@hbs.edu

Groundwork

Re: Foundations for the future

Great vision. The master plan feels good and logical with the purpose of being a residential learning center not only for virtual contacts but, more importantly, for human-to-human learning through planned and unplanned conversations.

The architecture shown on the master plan seems to be a continuation of the volumes, rhythm, and scale of the existing buildings. To me this seems the right way to go. The danger is to fall in the trap of doing something architecturally completely off (although this was acceptable for the chapel as a stand-alone building) that would harm the harmony of the campus.
—Gaëtan Hannecart (MBA 1994) via LinkedIn

Kresge’s Afterlife

Re: Campus recycling

Great efforts by HBS to recycle this used furniture! Sad to see that Kresge Hall no longer exists, as I was one of the last HBS students to witness its final day. I am, however, looking forward to the Chao Center’s opening day!
—James Hsieh (PLD 2015) via alumni.hbs.edu

2014 Alumni Achievement Awards

Re: Sheila Lirio Marcelo (MBA 1998/JD 1999)

My own family has depended on Care.com with great results, and it’s wonderful to read stories like Marcelo’s. It’s got a bit of everything our community aspires to in creating business leaders who shape the world for the better.
—Tanuj Deora (MBA 2006) via alumni.hbs.edu

Byte-Testing Bitcoin

Re: Crypto-currency

While I like the idea of a currency not controlled by national politics, I think, for growth and stability, the Bitcoin supply should grow approximately at the real rate of our global economies—perhaps with a built-in boom/bust modulator. However, I understand that its growth is purely mechanical now and could even become deflationary in a few years. If so, it is trying to become “digital gold” rather than a helpful market-based alternative to national currencies.
—David Andrew Fisher (MBA 1980) via alumni.hbs.edu

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