MBA and Executive MBA students at Fisher recently took advantage of an opportunity to engage with leaders in the technology industry as part of the 10^th annual Silicon Valley Tour.

The Tour is conducted each year by Ohio State’s Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (TEC) Institute, and is led by Dr. Michael Camp, executive director of the TEC Institute, and Dan Oglevee, academic director of Fisher’s Executive MBA Program.

“The Silicon Valley Tour is a signature event for the TEC Institute and the Fisher Entrepreneur Association that connects our students with proven leaders in the area of venture capital and technology entrepreneurship,” said Camp. “Thanks to the tremendous engagement of our alumni and friends in the Silicon Valley area, our students are provided with an experience that can shape and define their entrepreneurial career paths.”

Over the course of four days, the students met with venture capitalists and tech leaders from throughout Silicon Valley and were provided an inside look at how entrepreneurial ideas and concepts become solutions and products. Throughout the 10-year history of this tour, Fisher students have met with 10 of the top 20 firms in the world, including Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia.

“Fisher’s Silicon Valley trip was simply amazing,” said Khalid Parris, a second-year MBA student. “I enjoyed immersing myself in the unique and laid-back culture of Bay Area venture capitalism and learned so much. Most investors in the region began as entrepreneurs, so venture capitalists in Silicon Valley are more likely to invest in risky ideas and accept failure.

“Additionally, I repeatedly heard that failed entrepreneurs are eligible for re-investment, as long as they work hard and generate suitable ideas.”

The tour included a number of opportunities to connect with Fisher and Ohio State alumni, including a dinner with Jim Terranova (BSBA ’75), who has hosted students as part of the tour for each of the past 10 years.

The tour concluded with an evening reception with Ken Coleman (BSBA ’65, MBA ’72), where students met with John Thompson, chairman of Microsoft, and Brad Smith chairman and CEO of Intuit.

“Fisher continues to impress through its vast network of alumni,” said Gordon Gough, an EMBA student and president and CEO of the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants. “Silicon Valley was no different. Jim Terranova graciously hosted us at his firm and developed an excellent group of meetings that included venture capital firms and entrepreneurs. The closing event for our Silicon Valley trip was a wonderful dinner with Ken Coleman and his wife in their home. Both John and Brad spent meaningful time with us — all because of their relationship with Ken.

“Fisher is not only an excellent institution blessed with such great alumni as Jim and Ken, but a network that is highly engaged and far-reaching.”