We had a fun-filled, action-packed time last week.  The cohort of companies from the first round of SEED descended upon the center for an immersion session.  This is about 5 days of non-stop education by visiting Stanford professors.  It was a great opportunity for me to meet the folks we’ll be coaching for the next few months.  Most encouraging was discovering that, for the most part, I still got my chops.  A year and a half out to pasture didn’t rust them beyond recognition.  I’m back – or well on the way there.

Coaches, staff, and the entire SEED cohort in front of the Stanford SEED Center

We held several breakout sessions that were facilitated by the coaches.  These involved taking the topics presented and applying them in the real world situations that these CEOs face.  For example, after parts of the marketing presentation given by Sidhar Narayanan, we worked through the 4 P’s and came up with statements for each and an overall marketing strategy for a particular company.  It gave these leaders an opportunity to spend some time away from the office to focus on these absolutely critical items, which are never urgent enough to usurp the crisis of the day.  I benefited by getting some refreshers and practice.

I rediscovered the joy of leading a productive group session.  Bringing total strangers together and working a big problem to a sound solution is very energizing.  I’m still learning to bridge the cultural gap, but once we got the group rolling, it was less like pulling teeth and more like coaxing a river to flow around or over the big rocks.

A perk I didn’t anticipate:  as a SEED coach, I get intensive sessions with these great Stanford GSB professors without having to pay tuition!  And they are gifted.  Both Sidhar and Jesper Sørensen were excellent.  Jesper taught strategy and organizational design in a very engaging interactive set of sessions.  During my stay, I’ll get the benefit of 3 more intensive sessions spaced out every 2 months.

Professor Jesper Sorensen and the SEED cohort working through Strategy and Organizational Design

Professor Sidhar Narayanan lecturing to the SEED cohort on Marketing strategy

Then … PARTY!  As this was the last of the set of 4 sessions for the first cohort, Stanford put on a Commencement celebration:  red carpet, photographers, press event, music, dinner, the whole shebang.  They really did it well – a great way to end a week of hard work.  Then I got my first weekend off in 3 weeks.  It’s all been an exciting, enjoyable blur, but the down time was needed for recharging.  We’ll decide our company matchups this week.  Then the fun really begins.

Tralance Addy, Emmanuel Kitcher, Housessories CEO Nwamaka Okoye and CMO Nkemjika Nwobi presentation of plaque

My dinner companions: Graco Engineering CEO Nii-Oblitey Commey, his wife and father

My first African shirt, in the SEED pattern. The color? Why Cardinal of course!