Ronald Reagan Building : Venue of the Presidential Summit

The Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship was held at the Atrium Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington D.C

The ballroom set up was simple, with an aura of seriousness and arranged in an elegant manner - with round tables and chairs around them for the delegates and a small stage with a rostrum and settees for the panelists.

The backdrop simply read : Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship.

No further fuss - no unnecessary logos, names of the VIPs etc on it. Simple and to the point.

2 huge screens on the left and right projected the images of those on the panel and also at times the focus was on the delegates.

The back of the room was set up for the media and their camera crew. 

Note pads were readily available if you need to use them. 

The delegates were in rapt attention during the proceedings but during breaks, they did what they know best - sprang from their chairs to meet each other or speak to the media. 

I arrived there early, as advised by the officials. Some of us were there at 9am. The first session was not until 10.15 am.

26th April 2010 was turning out to be a milestone in my life. 

1 May 2010 : Washington D.C

It is expected to be a warm day today. The sun is out early and people are out and about. I see many people jogging and some just sipping coffee by wayside cafes. 

I've been in Washington D.C for a week now and have begun to love this beautiful city.

The city is sprawling with ample spaces and gardens and the buildings are not taller than the Washington Monument, which is about 555 feet high.

When I wan in Bandung in 2008 I heard Charles Landry speak about Creative Cities. Charles Landry is the author of the book, Creative City.

In what makes a creative city, Charles said, " a creative city is a generous city. It gives value to space".

This is evident in Washington D.C. The place give you a sense of space and purposefulness.

It seems everything is there for a reason. People are busy and they go about their daily task in an orderly fashion.

Despite their busyness, people take time to smile at each other, greet each other and also are ever helpful. I have yet to find a person who was too busy to greet, smile or help me get to my destination.

Good people - what makes them generally? A sense of self-esteem?

I know some of you may be wondering, "what happened to his reporting of the Presidential Summit and his International Visitor Leadership Program ?"

Let me tell you this : writing about the Presidential Summit is not an easy matter especially one such as this - the first ever Summit on Entrepreneurship ever hosted by a President of the United States.

Writing the chronology of the events and what transpired is the easy part.

Loads of information on this is already readily available on the White House website and likely in other sites.

What I would like to write about is about the extraordinary people I've met and the conversations I've had with them. 

I don't want to rush into this narration. These people are extraordinary and some of the conversations has been life transforming ones.  

Another reason I was unable to quickly report was that the venue did not have free internet access and it was not easy to flip open a computer in a venue with so much conversation and networking going on. You don't want to miss anything.

It is also considered impolite to keep pounding on the keyboard as people are trying to passionately tell their stories. The media was there to report already - I am there to learn, talk, network, look at people and see the glint in their eye and to capture the energy that is changing the world.

So, join me in this journey. It will be a slow and careful one with the observations of a bystander.

Today, I plan to meet a friend by the name of Cludia Pompa from Paraguay. Claudia is studying at the George Washington University and I 've known her through the Global Entrepreneurship Week since 2008. 

Claudia and I plan to take a walk along the Ambassador's row and to attend some open houses and meets some ambassadors. Hope to meet the Malaysian envoy to the US, Mr Jarjis, if he is around. 

So stay tuned..

26 April : Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship (PSE), Day 1 : Opening Speech by Secretary Locke

1. I was rather exhausted and excited the previous night and had to take a sleeping tablet to help me sleep. However before I went to sleep I informed the front desk to give me a wake up call at 6am and if I still did not wake up, authorized them to come into my room to wake me up.

2. I also asked my wife, Vani to call me at 6am in case I slept off. 

3. But no sleeping pill can keep me in bed I guess. Its going to be the day we will see and hopefully get to shake the hands of the President of the United States !

4. Some delegates and I planned to walk to the Ronald Reagan Building but there was a slight drizzle and we decided to take a taxi. 

5. The day began with Secretary Locke giving the opening address. It was truly an inspiring speech. It reflects the American Dream.

5. In his speech, Secretary Locke narrated the story of how his grandfather emigrated from China to Washington and found a job as a servant. His father too a Chinese immigrant had a grocery store.

6. Secretary Locke, when he took his oath as Governor mentioned that his mansion was 1 mile away from where his grandfather used to sweep floors a 100 years ago.

7. "....100 years to travel a mile", he said to an applauding audience.

8. His bio says, Secretary Locke is the first Chinese American to hold this post in a President's cabinet.

Is this possible in any other country?

More stories as I overcome and adjust to the rhythm here...

...meeting Mr Pradeep Ramamurthy from the White House

Seen here with Ms Pandith and Mr. Pradeep Ramamurthy.

Mr. Ramamurthy is the Senior Director of Global Engagement at the White House National Security Council.

Mr. Ramamurthy will also moderate a session on Cultural Entrepreneurship on Day 2 of the Summit.

I've interacted with Mr Ramamurthy a few weeks ago when the White House held a web media briefing for all media worldwide. Mr Ramamurthy was leading the session.

25/4 - With Madam Farah Anwar Pandith

I am seen here with Madam Farah Anwar Pandith.

Ms Pandith as she is more popularly known is the Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the US.

She was appointed in 2009 by the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Refer to wiki on here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farah_Pandith.

I have met Ms Pandith in KL late last year - apparently she saw a feature of me in a Malaysian newspaper on her flight to KL. She took the page with her, got to the Embassy and told them "find him". 

Withing 30 minutes I was tracked and was "summoned" for a meeting with "our important guest from the US", said the Embassy staff.

I was on leave, driving in town in jeans and a casual shirt, unshaven for a few days and it was raining cats and dogs. There was no way I was going to go home to change, shave or freshen up. 

I decided to turn up at the meeting as I was - Ms Pandith and the Embassy people were the gracious hosts. Ms Pandith, had on the table the newspaper article.

We had an intense discussion and she was really a lovely person to talk to - sharp, articulate and no-nonsense. She followed-up briskly with meetings and points after that. There were others at the meeting too.

Follow- through and follow-up ! A trait I know many of our entrepreneurs don't possess or lazy to put to use.

I think by just following-up with people we have met we achieve a great deal, build credibility and forge real relationships.

Ms Pandith is the embodiment of that and I learned a great deal from her.

Oh yes, Ms Pandith mentioned back in November when we met she wanted to introduce me to someone. Now this is April and I am sure she has a lot on her mind but NO - she remembered and made sure I got introduced to that person.

Now, that is something I guess some of our VIPs and even us can emulate?

25th April - Washington D.C : The Presidential Summit Reception and the Kauffman Reception

I attended two receptions this evening - one hosted by the State Government at 5.30 to 6.30 pm and the other hosted by the Kauffman Foundation from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Both events were held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel but in different rooms.

They were well attended - almost all the delegates to the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship (PES) was there at both the events.


People looked happy to be here. They were networking like there is no tomorrow.

I was somehow unable to find our Malaysian delegates.

On my part, I was like fish in the water - at home, meeting and mingling new people and listening to all their awesome stories.

In the next few blog entries, I hope to write about each one of them - whoever I can photograph and put up,

Cheers

24 April 2010 : Arrived in Washington D.C

1. The flight landed at the Dulles International airport at about 10.50 am. 24hour journey from Kuala Lumpur with a 3 hour stop-over in Incheon, Seoul.

2. As usual in long journeys, I don't eat or sleep much. One meal, at the most and loads of water and perhaps about 4 glasses of wine. Most of the flight time I use, to read - no movies either. This is the space I feel I am least interrupted to devour my books.

3. Immigration was very easy but I was sent to a B section : Customs session for some questions. I was made to wait for a few minutes and then was called forward to answer some questions.  

4. "I believe sir you are here as the guest of our government?", the officer asked. 

"Yes", I replied. "You have any documents for this?"  he continued. 
"Oh yes, here there are.." I said with a smile showing him all the invitation letters I have been issued by the State Government and the US Embassy.

5. He took them, read them and then looked up at me and smiled...perhaps wondering what most people must be wondering - "how in the world did this bloke get invited to this stuff". ;-)

6. "Sir, you are all set, enjoy yourself " he said, handing me back all the papers.

7. Was greeted by the signs that read "Entrepreneurship Summit" as I emerged into the main hall of the airport.

8. The driver from Titan Limousine was waiting with my name - got into the Lincoln and off I went to the hotel - the Grand Hyatt.

9. Lovely hotel, checked in with no fuss - electronic all the way.

10. Once in the room, freshened up to go explore the Washington D.C 

More photos on my Facebook in album :24/4 Washington D.C : First Impressions.