Professor Tom Kosnik-A principled life in Academia and Business

Tom Kosnik, Silicon Valley Savant-in a give and take dialogue with Y-Lab Teen Accelerator Fellows provided practical life lessons on; How to Cross Chasms, How Silicon Valley works and how to work Silicon Valley, and Why having a Plato-esq view of your life’s mission around work and play and play and work is paramount.

Great discussions led by Professor Kosnik ( taught at Harvard Business School from 1985 to 1989 and at Stanford University from 1990 to 2018), as Tom and the Teen Fellows-the majority of whom are young women of color-from the U.S. and around the world-agreed on the need to help women level the playing field and how to do so.

Professor Tom Kosnik talk with Y-Labs Teens

Leveling the playing field for Women

Kosnik’s current GLEAN project embodies many foundational tenants of Y-Labs. GLEAN, or the Global Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Altruists Network, helps entrepreneurs in Asia and The Pacific Rim win customers, attract talent, raise money, and go global. GLEAN’s goals include promoting peace on the Pacific Rim, leveling the playing field for women, mentoring the next generation of leaders and saving the Coral Reef was a wonderful example and bright light for Y-Lab Accelertor Fellows who want doing good while building a business as their life’s mission-a topic close to Kosnik and the teen Fellow’s hearts.

Leveling the playing field for women, Female leadership role model COO Sheryl Sandberg

For both Prof. Kosnik and the young entrepreneurial women of Y-Lab a highlight of the discussion was when Mr. Kosnik described an incident over not wanting to wash the dinner dishes when he was 12, Tom’s mother said “there no such thing as Women’s Work, just work-so wash the dishes.” Tom became an excellent dish washer.

Paths through Silicon Valley

The Teen Accelerator Fellows learned many key lessons about how Silicon Valley works, including “3 paradoxes of The Valley” and how to learn the code of potential investors. But, the best piece of advice was that Silicon Valley believes in the young and will believe you.

Prof. Kosnik shared Tesla and Elon Musk’s story with the Y-teens

As a teen in high school learned Tom Kosnik learned how to build relationships and stressed the real life importance of taking quiet times to understand your own personal mission and objectives in life and try paths that are a bit unusual. He encouraged the young leaders to reach for the stars.

Prof. Kosnik’s sharing his high school experience with Y-Lab teens

Y-Labs Co-Founder, Christina Zhu-Weaver hosted the event on Zoom.

Y-Lab Co-founder Christina Zhu-Weaver introducing Professor Tom Kosnik during Y-Labs Speaker Series

About Y-Labs

Y-Labs is a highly selective entrepreneurship, venture design and social innovation program for talented teenagers who have demonstrative potential in STEAMS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Sports). Our mission is to accelerate the talent and passion of young people for innovation-led entrepreneurship that leads to real social change within their communities. Our network of experienced Silicon Valley professionals provide mentorship and coaching to Y-Labs Fellows. We are dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Learn more about Y-Labs here.

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