Israeli VC on Sand Hill road

International Women's Day '07

Today is International Women's Day, the global day connecting all women around the world and inspiring them to achieve their full potential.  I look forward to the day for when we don't require a special day in order to inspire women...

In today's Haaretz newspaper, the front page of the Gallery section, features an article about the women that help professional women do their job - the nannies.  (Eshkar - our nanny - was also interviewed for this article.) It's absolutely essential to have outstanding support at home, to allow us to do our professional job.  Last year, on a day of great frustration, I blogged about what happens when your nanny doesn't come to work...  But we all need to remember that although a great Nanny is a must-have, so are others:  your friends, the kids, extended family members... and the husband!

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The laptop as an extension to one’s body

The laptop as an extension to one’s body ().   Ouch!  That sounds awful.

I was trying to think of another way of describing the feeling of leaving the office without one’s laptop.  I ALWAYS take it with me.  That is, except yesterday.   There seemed to be no point, as I left the office really late, and arrived really early this morning, and after all, I do have blackberry to maintain contact with the world, just in case I need it.  So, I just left it.

But the void that it created was strange enough, that I felt the need to blog about it.  It felt as if I’d left something crucial behind, something that just didn’t belong without me, something that’s almost attached to one’s body.

It’s actually a scary thought .  I have discussed the Blackberry/Crackberry phenomena before, but it continues to amaze me as how dependent we have become – I have become – on being on-line, being there and having all that I need at my finger tips.

So, are we going to see Technology rehab centers popping up in our area soon?

technorati tags: laptop blackberry crackberry

TheMarker Com.vention - next week

Thought it worth mentioning TheMarker’s upcoming  Internet Com.vention scheduled for March 18&19.  I couldn’t find an English-only site (although if you click on the Hebrew tabs, you’ll eventually find the Day 1 and Day 2 agendas in English).  I did not attend last years Comvention (as I was in the Silicon Valley), but Danny Cohen said it was great and worthwhile.  Hence this post….

technorati tags: themarker com.venture 2007

The Day after Purim

So, what’s the most common question in Israel on the day after Purim?

But of course: “Where will you be for the Passover Seder?”

Purim in Israel - impressions

Purim is probably the most festive of the Jewish holidays, and is often compared to Halloween.  Lots of parties for kids and adults, and just a happy feeling in the air. Kids dress in costume, which means they plan for this holiday much in advance.

In our home, our youngest (Ben - almost 4 these days), started out destined to be a soldier.  Soon this evolved into Batman, and then into a pirate. He wandered around the house as a pirate for at least 4 days before the big day.  But, when that day arrived, a pirate was the last thing he wanted to be…. so, ultimately he went to preschool as a knight (nothing beats the sword and shield apparently).

Other than the indecisiveness of a 4 year old,  I wanted to talk about trick-or-treat, Moshav style. It is customary in Purim to bring a “gift of goodies” or “Mishloach Manot” to one’s friends.  In school, each kid brings a goodie bag, which are exchanged with other kids.  In the Moshav in which we live, kids parade through the Moshav, delivering such goodie bags to the older members of the Moshav.  On Friday afternoon, the kids assembled near the pool, were divided into groups, and went off to deliver these goodie bags.  Grandchildren were alway in the group that will knock on the door of their grandparents.  In this Moshav, the custom has a twist – not only to the grandparents receive the goodie bags, but the kids receive candy, in a very Halloween style.  (Note: several of the original founders of this Moshav immigrated from the US in the ‘30’s….)

My kids were delighted!  Halloween was also a big favorite while we were in the states, and now, they had their own version of it. It’s hard to beat the smiles of the little one’s parading in costume, with bags of candy. 

technorati tags: purim

Jet lag - discussed again...

I have had several posts on this subject during the months in which I’ve been blogging. When I travel to Silicon Valley, I still find myself ready for a nap at 4PM in the afternoon (if not earlier). Even if you’re a great traveler, there is still a difference in the way you function normally, compared to under the influence of jet lag.

It’s an inherent disadvantage of Israeli entrepreneurs, executives and others, that hold important meetings, when they’re just not at their very best.

There is much debate about where should an executive team of an Israeli start-up reside: Israel, US (East Coast or West), etc.  Most of the reasoning for an East Coast HQ, has to do with easier travel and better communication with Israel.  I have always been a big proponent for Silicon Valley-based HQ (surprised?), but it’s hard to argue with the convenience factors (especially, when you’re ready for that nap).

But there are a lot of people that live in Israel, yet operate their companies from NY and elsewhere. The Saturday night flight from TLV to NY, and the Thursday night flight back to TLV is packed with transatlantic commuters. I don’t know how they do it.

To me it seems that they live in a perpetual state of jet lag.

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TLV to Silicon Valley in record time

One thing about Israel… it’s FAR.  Well, not far from the Mediterranean or the Red Sea, but far from Silicon Valley.  I’m often asked by colleagues what’s the best way of traveling to Israel.  Everybody has their own “best way”.  I thought to share mine, since this week, I made it in record time – fastest ever. What is record time?  Airport-to-Airport was a bit over 18 hours. 

Here’s how it’s done:

El-Al #005, from TLV to LAX, leaves just before 1AM, arrives at LAX at about 6:30 AM (and is a great night flight, for anybody that can sleep on a plane). By 7:40, I was on the flight from LAX to SJC, and with Starbuck’s in hand by 9AM. 

Isn’t is amazing that one can get excited about an 18 hour trip???

technorati tags: Elal travel to israel Israel to USA