“What are you up to this summer?” I asked. “Taking off for two months,” he said. “Why?” “I’m getting a kidney transplant.” I recently visited my favorite wine shop, Marty’s, and reconnected there with Peter Tryba (up top, with his daughter). He is the head of the wine department and has picked out for me some
Author: Jo Tango
Beer at 2 p.m.?
Last week, I really enjoyed meeting up with Kitt George, Dennis Keohane and M.E. Francis for a “Beers with…” video interview. I was supposed to do the inaugural one last spring, but I had given up alcohol for Lent. The clip is here. The New England Venture Capital Association (NEVCA) originated the idea, and I think it
My Thoughts on the Venture Capital Industry
One of our investors is updating his POV on the VC environment and reached out for my 2 cents. After thinking about it, I would describe my observations of VC with this headline: “steady as she goes.” Here’s why. Intra-firm dynamics have stabilized. I think the firms that needed to restructure pretty much have, as
‘At Peleliu and Okinawa’
I just finished reading Eugene Sledge’s book, With The Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. It is an unvarnished account of his time in the Marine Corps during WWII, fighting some of the gritiest battles in the campaign against Japan. It’s a very courageously-written book about what life was like as an infantryman and the
Fighting Cancer
My mother died from cancer, as did my friend, Mike Connell. Thankfully, I know many others who have gone through treatment and are doing well. One of our closest friends is in remission. While she went through chemotherapy, I ran into her husband at the grocery store. “Fighting cancer is a marathon,” he said. “It
What Will Be Your Retirement Speech?
I’ve met Steve Ward (photo up top) a few times, and I’ve heard students rave about him. They say he is an amazing teacher. He recently retired from The Roxbury Latin School and gave an amazing speech. What would you say at your retirement speech? How can you capture what you’ve experienced in a short talk? Well,