Posts

Paul Lam Bitscouts Reflection

I was sick so I was unable to make the presentation at TMX, so instead I will reflect on my Bitscouts reflection, which we also did in April. During the day, we presented at a company called Bitscouts, which teaches young kids in public schools the basics of coding. The company was started by a Sage Alumni, so it was very interesting to meet with him and talk to him about his experiences after Sage and his entrepreneurial journey. What started as a Kickstarter for a coding themed board game finally became Bitscouts, which is now focused on public schools. We also met members of his Bitscouts team, who were also from the area. I thought our presentation went smoothly, even though we were missing a few members, and we were able to answer all their questions pretty well. I also made sure to try and speak a lot slower this time, and Mr. Anderson made sure to signal to me whenever I was talking too fast. After our presentation, we had some more time to talk with the Bitscouts...

Paul Lam Schmaze and Raj Swim Reflection

For Kiva, we presented at two companies: Schmaze Industries and Raj Swim. I presented at Schmaze and really enjoyed meeting the people working there because they asked interesting questions, gave important insights as business people, and were nice enough to take us around their factory. One of the most interesting things that stuck out to me was that the company bought a machine that converted all the pollution coming out of the factory into clean air. Although it would take a very very long time for the machine to cover its upfront cost, the company still bought it because they thought it was important to be environmentally conscious, even if it was not making them money. I thought the presentation went very well for us and I am happy that I had a chance to present. One important lesson that I've learned through Kiva is to always make sure you are always prepared, and that you always show up early to account for any unexpected delays you may find. We managed to get there early an...

April Blog

Today was a shorter day as we only presented at one company, TMX Engineering in Santa Ana. Personally, it was a tougher day for me as I was running on a low amount of sleep after coming home late the night before from a baseball game. However, I was able to share the speaking responsibilities with Matthew Choi which allowed me to focus on a specific part. In addition, I felt that I did a good job in answering the questions asked by the largest crowd we have ever spoken to. I really felt that the audience was fascinated by KIVA and was happy that I was spreading the message to other people so that they can make a difference. After presenting, I enjoyed touring the facilities and learning about the company. Overall, it was a great day.

March Post

On this service learning day, we went to 2 different companies, shmaze and raj swim. The first part of the day was dedicated to shmaze where we presented as a group and also was lucky enough to receive a tour from him. Our presentation was only to 2 people but they offered great advice after our presentation and I really enjoyed learning from someone so successful and established.  On the second part of the day we went to raj swim. We presented to more people this time and also got to tour the place. It was nice to see their operations and it broadened my perspectives on the difference between business models and how each person's individual roles. The presentations were not that difficult and gets easier by the day because of the more practice that we get. My communication has gotten better and it has been a good experience to learn and grow as a presenter and a striving business professional. 

March Individual Blog- Melissa

For this Service learning day we went to two companies: Shmaze and Raj Swim. Both companies were very different experiences, but we definitely had an overall positive reaction to Kiva. I presented at the second company, Raj Swim, and it was the first time we had presented individually. I thought it went well, especially because I am the history section so I don't get as many questions as the group members explaining other aspects of Kiva. For me, the best part of this day was getting to experience these two very different businesses. At Shmaze, one of the men told us the story of how he became an entrepreneur which was very inspiring, and Raj was an interesting business in a field I am interested in.

Brian's Individual Blog

We visited Shmaze Industries and Raj Swim on March 21st. It was very amazing to see the sizes of industries within our neighborhood as Shmaze and Raj were both admirable companies with highly professional employees. I found the presentations definitely better than the presentation at Kingston since this was our second and third presentation. I was able to have a better grasp of presenting in front of a professional crowd and I felt honored as people gave us advice after the presentations. Beyond the presentations themselves, I was very surprised to hear certain questions and the depth that they go forth. The questions went beyond challenging and rather incorporated many economic terms and other industrial theories. This whole experience not only taught me how to present in a professional environment but also refreshed my basic economic concepts and theories.

March Blog

March 21 was a long day as it was our first full day of presenting to businesses. I presented in the morning at Shmaze industries, my first solo presentation. Overall I thought I did pretty well as I was able to explain the field partners and answer many of the questions asked. In addition, I was able to memorize my script so that I looked professional while presenting. That being said, I realize that I spoke a little too fast during the presentation and need to take my time when speaking. After the presentation, we were fortunate enough to be given a tour and I really saw the many forms entrepreneurship can take. So while tiring, this day was beneficial and I really learned a lot.