Bonus Session!


Thursday June 4th 4:15-5:45 Packard 204
Economics of Startups: When to found or join a startup company?
Speaker: David Obershaw, GSB Alumnus, and host of the Insanely Great Products Workshops

What is the real probability of success vs. failure for most startup companies? If you have a big idea, what are the potential paths you can follow? Should you start your career in a larger organization even if you have an entrepreneurial bias?

Stanford Graduate Student Spring Workshop

Learn how Genentech, Apple, Pure Digital (makers of Flip Video), Intel, and
RockYou actually create their products


Co-sponsored by the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Facilitated by David Obershaw, Stanford GSB Alumnus

Target Audience: Graduate students from all seven schools interested in better understanding how products are created in different industries and companies
Dates: May 5: Michael D. Hillman and Andy Baynes, Apple
May 12: Jia Shen, RockYou
May 19* Ariel Braunstein, Pure Digital (makers of Flip Video)
May 26: Dave House, Intel
June 2: Richard Scheller, Genentech
June 4: David Obershaw, GSB Alumnus (Bonus Session: Economics of Startups)
Where: Packard 101 (NOTE: May 19th session in Herrin T175)
When: 4:15-5:45PM

Refreshments will be served after each session

"Those with a passion for law or sausage should watch neither
being made" - Mark Twain


Abstract


Great products emerge from a sometimes painful and conflict-laden process of collaboration between different functions within companies. This Workshop seeks to demystify this process by reviewing real-life case studies of the development of successful and familiar products. Scientists, engineers and businesspeople directly leading the development process will share their experiences on specific products in a panel discussion format. Companies included in the program: Apple, Genentech, Pure Digital (makers of the Flip Video camera), RockYou, and Intel. Each session will focus exclusively on one company, and thus we will get a much more detailed perspective on how products actually get created in these very different companies. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists, and we look forward to a lively discussion about alternative paths to building successful products.

While great products are occasionally the brainchild of one or a few individuals, most complex products are the result of contentious compromise between different functions within companies. This Workshop will explore a variety of methods and processes that can yield great products. Success in product development most often requires a capacity to collaborate effectively with people from all walks of life - where vast cultural, educational, and personality differences must be bridged. This Workshop will provide Graduate Students from all schools a view of this process - and the challenges and joys associated creating great products.

All sessions will run from 4:15-5:45, and will be held in Packard 101
(Note: May 19th session will be in Herrin T175)

Questions:
email: teresa.lynn@stanford.edu


About David Obershaw

David Obershaw works with early-stage technology companies - advising, consulting, and investing. He has over twenty-five-years of experience in high-technology marketing, sales, product management, and business development. Previously, David served as Vice President of Business Development for Proofpoint, and Vice President of Marketing and Merchant Sales for PeopleSoft's eBusiness Division. Prior to PeopleSoft, he served as Director of Marketing and Business Development at Red Pepper Software, and as Director of Product and Federal Marketing for MasPar Computer Corporation. He also held a variety of marketing and product management positions within the Hewlett-Packard Company, and he initiated his career in field sales with IBM Corporation. He earned his MBA degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and BA degrees from UCLA.