Silicon Valley – My Experiences | Faruq Ahmad

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Silicon Valley – My Experiences | Faruq Ahmad​

Faruq Ahmad has been in silicon valley since its inception. In this discussion, he will share his thoughts on what makes silicon valley tick, and why it has been so successful as an engine of innovation.

The session is moderated by Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy.

About the Guest:

After his BS from MIT he left for graduate school at Stanford in Silicon Valley, where he earned an MS and an MBA. After his second startup exited he became a venture capital investor, and is now focused on advising and mentoring. He is relentlessly optimistic about a future grounded in brainpower.
@ghazi52 @araz @The Eagle @The Accountant @That Guy @Irfan Baloch @PanzerKiel @AgNoStiC MuSliM @Imran Khan @PAKISTANFOREVER @waz @Windjammer @WinterFangs @KaiserX @niaz @farok84 @MastanKhan @krash @FOOLS_NIGHTMARE @Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Cookie Monster @Bratva @Foxtrot Alpha @Rafael @Rafi @Trango Towers @Indus Pakistan @Norwegian @LeGenD @mingle @AZADPAKISTAN2009 @SQ8 @Goenitz @SecularNationalist @farok84 @Blacklight @Meengla @Dalit @ARMalik @Sainthood 101 @Zibago @Jango @untitled @Reichsmarschall @Bleek @Dual Wielder @Smoke @RescueRanger @Trango Towers @Asimzranger @FuturePAF @Imad.Khan @forcetrip @baqai @blain2 @khail007 @N.Siddiqui @kingQamaR @Wergeland @PakAlp @Khan2727 @VCheng @Bleek @Sifar zero @Maula Jatt @PakSarZameen47 @Abid123

 

[VCheng]

He is relentlessly optimistic about a future grounded in brainpower.

This is the key. The. Key. Only the smart will thrive in the future.

 

[Clutch]

This is the key. The. Key. Only the smart will thrive in the future.

Only those that are Brutal and Smart about it. Rest are slaves to the system.

 

[VCheng]

Only those that are Brutal and Smart about it. Rest are slaves to the system.

Sometimes being brutal is the smart thing to do, sometimes not. The smart ones know when to do what and when to do it relative to others.

 

[Meengla]

Sometimes being brutal is the smart thing to do, sometimes not. The smart ones know when to do what and when to do it relative to others.

Yes.
Saddam was brutal but not smart. Stalin was brutal but smart.

 

[VCheng]

Yes.
Saddam was brutal but not smart. Stalin was brutal but smart.

Being smart is the foundation. Being only brutal does not work. The smart ones know where to use brutality, when, and how much, and for how long. The brutal ones without the smarts do not know that.

 

[Clutch]

Sometimes being brutal is the smart thing to do, sometimes not. The smart ones know when to do what and when to do it relative to others.

The reality off this world is that it's run by Brutes.

 

[VCheng]

The reality off this world is that it's run by Brutes.

Only the smart ones.

 

[Meengla]

Being smart is the foundation. Being only brutal does not work. The smart ones know where to use brutality, when, and how much, and for how long. The brutal ones without the smarts do not know that.

You are right, of course.
Saddam did many many good things for Iraq while as a VP. After becoming the President, he launched two wars and paid the price.
Stalin was brutal but he ALSO did many reforms and pulled an agrarian society with huge internal diversity to great heights.

 

[VCheng]

You are right, of course.
Saddam did many many good things for Iraq while as a VP. After becoming the President, he launched two wars and paid the price.
Stalin was brutal but he ALSO did many reforms and pulled an agrarian society with huge internal diversity to great heights.

I'd rather not go off topic in this thread. Silicon Valley and the smart people there have changed the world, wouldn't you agree?

 

[Meengla]

I'd rather not go off topic in this thread. Silicon Valley and the smart people there have changed the world, wouldn't you agree?

They are some of the smart people but not all of the smart people. I consider Stalin very very smart.
But lets leave it for some other day.

 

[Clutch]

Only the smart ones.

Exactly what I said. Smart brutes.

 

[VCheng]

Exactly what I said. Smart brutes.

The smart ones have many attributes, one of which is knowing when to be brutal, and also when not to be.

 

[epebble]

Only those that are Brutal and Smart about it. Rest are slaves to the system.

Japan controls most of the essential technologies in most advanced technologies. It was simply achieved with brainpower. Nobody can use the word brutal with them.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I tried my best to listen to the Speech giver , sorry I lasted only 12 minute before I gave up

This is what I learned from the 12 minutes

(I was calculating cost of this education in my head)
Education in MIT : 80,000 -120,000 USD degree cost
Stanford Masters : 50,000-80,000 USD degree cost
MBA : 80,000 USD

He was lucky to use his education and be on consultive position in Big Companies
He learned after 6 years he wanted to be more involved in Business side of things

As Consultant sometimes you give people advice and no one listens, very true statement

He is 60 year old, giving a speech designed for CEO or CFO about his life lessons. Talking about Mergers and Acquisitions, and the listener in the audience were 19 year old, I wondered what does a 17-18 year old know about Mergers or Corporations , many students had their heads down I was reading their body language

The interviewer was equally unprepared had no agenda

Would have been nice if they stated which part of video talks about VC and Startup


Note: I do respect the man's experience and his education I am sure he is a wonderful person


For me , this is the only speech Pakistani Students age 9 or 10 should focus on

Steve Jobs, Apple Inc Founder
(High School Dropout)

Designer of Most User-Friendly Mobile Human/Machine touch screen interface Design & User Experience Apple Phone Series

• Life teaches you stuff which sometimes is not clear in immediate present, but it will help you in future. "Learn what captures your imagination".

• Life does not Ends if you Get Fired at age 30 (even worse if it was company you founded) , Sometime that shakeup forces you to create new path for yourself.

• Death is a reminder you have limited time. Don't assume your have unlimited time in this life, every moment is important. His reaction to diagnosis of Cancer , while giving the speech he stated his cancer was cured however he eventually Died of same Cancer

Essence of Sillion Valley

Innovation

Year 2007 Launch of Apple Phone

The whole world stopped in 2007 to listen to what he had to say in 2007