The 92 Report

Show Notes:

Gregory Mose, an English major, currently lives in Aix-en-Provence where he is the director of international relations and professor of International Law at a small American University program called the American College of the Mediterranean. When he graduated, his parents wanted him to go to Law School, but Greg wanted to travel. He was offered a teaching fellow position at Athens College in Greece, and he fell in love with the place and the experience. He returned to the US and law school at Duke where he met his wife.

Working for United Nations

Greg's interest in international public international law led him to work for the UN during Yugoslavia's war crimes tribunal research project. He secured a two-year contract with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Conakry, Guinea, which was a paranoid, isolated place. He worked with refugees there for two years, traveling through Mali, Timbuktu, Dakar, Freetown, Abidjan, and upcountry Guinea.

During this time, he helped resettle some people to the United States. Greg's experience in Conakry was both powerful and passionate. He helped resettle some people to the United States who wouldn't be able to be resettled today. However, he returned home underweight and suffering from malaria and PTSD.

A Career Changes: Director of International Relations - Stay-at-home Dad

Greg joined his fiance in London. After a period of recovery, Greg secured a job in corporate law at an international firm in London. He worked on IPOs and was hired as a young US lawyer in securities practices. After three years, he moved to a London-based firm, Freshfields, Brookhouse, Deringer. Greg and his wife had their son in 2002 and decided to raise their son themselves rather than handing him over to a nanny. He decided to leave his job to write a novel and raise their son while his wife worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. They considered downsizing and moving to the English countryside or getting more remote to facilitate a change in lifestyle. However, after spending time in the South West of France, they decided to do something radical and bought a medieval farmhouse and land in the South West of France, near a village called Montcabrier.

Village Life in Wine Country

Greg describes their experience living in a wine region called the Lot, near the Dordogne, in the southwest. The village had about 30 full-time residents, but most people lived in farmhouses outside the village. The village had a two-room schoolhouse, a bakery, and a mayor's office. Greg and his family rented out renovated three holiday cottages in summers to families with small children. They built a playground, swimming pool, and a beautiful field on their property. Greg also shares his experiences with their neighbors. He also learned how to use a chainsaw and finished his novel, Stunt Road. However, as their son grew older, they decided they needed a bigger centre with more activities and schools. They moved to Aix-en-Provence.

Working in Education

Greg didn't know what he was going to do there, but they enrolled their son in the International School where he was hired to teach a critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge at the International Baccalaureate program. He became a high school teacher for 10 years and realized his love for teaching, and eventually wanted to teach at university. He decided to pursue a PhD program at French universities, which were affordable. The tuition for a PhD was about $500 a year. Greg mentions the benefits of social programs in France. He eventually became a full-time professor at the American College in Aix and runs a master's program in international relations.

Integration with French Culture

Greg's life is different from what people think it is like living in Southern France. He finds it challenging to integrate into the country. In the rural areas, French culture is radically different, with people being warm but also private. Weekends are spent with family, and they do not easily invite people into their homes. However, he finds warmth in the greetings and the respect shown to others. This reinforces a tradition of treating each other as equals and respect. He also talks about how his students from abroad adjust to French culture.

Back to London and Recovery

Greg thinks back to 1998 when he arrived in North London with his fiance and was unemployed. He had been working at UNHCR, which provided decent pay. However, he was always physically cold and underweight due to his previous experiences with malaria and the constant heat in the tropical climate. He was exhausted from the work and the influx of refugees during the renewed violence in Freetown.

One of his bouts of malaria occurred while doing a refugee census in the forest region. He spent three days in a room full of bugs and had limited access to food. He talks about how he broke down and found it was cathartic for him. He talks about a particularly difficult time, and how he teaches a course on armed conflict, linking it to genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and refugees. Large glass He often shares anecdotes from his time there, but admits that sometimes he struggles to get through them.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Greg mentions his first year English course with Helen Vendler. He recalls a kind act of kindness from her. He also mentions professor Burriss Young, who was the Associate Dean of freshmen at the time and lived in Mass Hall. Burriss was an archeologist, and he invited students to tea in his apartment filled with archeological artifacts. This made his first year at Harvard a magical experience. Greg, coming from LA, idealized Harvard. He had a wonderful time in Cabot House, and Greg believes that these experiences will be a lasting memory for him.

Timestamps:

04:44: Early Career and UN Experience

09:31: Transition to Corporate Law and Family Life

22:55: Return to Education and Teaching Career

30:10: Life in Southern France and Cultural Adjustments

40:37: Personal Reflections and Professional Growth

45:02: Memorable Experiences and Influences from Harvard

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorymose/

Stunt Road, by Gregory Mose: https://amzn.to/46Orq4X

The American College of the Mediterranean: https://www.acmfrance.org/

Greg's Blog: https://quercychronicles.wordpress.com/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Keith Quinn who reports:

"Hi. This is Keith Quinn, class of 1992 the featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is water.org. Water.org. Is a global NGO working to bring water and sanitation to the world. The water crisis is a global crisis where 2.2 billion people lack access to safe water, and 3.5 billion people lack access to a safe toilet. I've served on the board of water.org for over 15 years, doing rewarding work, along with two other class of 1992 alums, my fellow board member, Larry Tans, and water.org co-founder, Matt Damon, and I'm proud to say that to date, water.org has changed 76 million lives with water and sanitation. You can learn more about their [email protected] and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: water.org.

Show Notes:

Reverend John H. Finley starts the conversation with a nod to family connections and some good news. He also mentions working at the Unilu Shelter, and how it was a transformative experience for him. Throughout the conversation, the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of individuals to the institution is mentioned.

The Priesthood and Nativity Prep

John describes his experience working at the shelter and how it led to the decision to work with younger people. He decided to become an Episcopal priest, but the bishop wouldn't ordain him since he was openly gay. After college he got involved in building a school and decided that he eventually wanted to open his own. John stayed at Nativity Prep for five years, living in a convent. After applying to Harvard Divinity School, a new bishop approached him and encouraged him to re-consider priesthood. After John applied to Harvard Divinity School, the same priest encouraged him to open a school. He spent a year at HDS, raising money, hiring teachers, and building a facility to start the Epiphany School. The school is similar to the first Jesuit school.

Becoming a Priest and Opening a School

John explains the difference between the Epiphany School and Nativity Schools. Nativity Schools serve low-income kids from homeless, abused, neglected, and poverty-stricken backgrounds, but they look for kids of academic promise and engaged parents, and John explains how this influenced how he structured Epiphany School.

In addition to opening the school, John also became a priest. He has a parish in Boston and is the summer pastor at Trinity York Harbor in Southern Maine, but his main job is running the Epiphany School, and he explains how it has grown with many locations around the world. It has also grown from a middle school to five components: the Middle School, Early Learning Center, Middle School, Graduate Support, Teaching Fellow Program, and Epiphany Impact.

After Epiphany and Extra Curricular Activities

John talks about succession planning and projects outside of running the school. He is currently a trustee of a college scholarship foundation that awards several million dollars a year in college scholarships. He is involved in a program that gives grants to people with projects, and he works with others who want to build schools, helping them replicate the Epiphany model. In addition to running Epiphany School, John also preaches, marries, baptizes, and buries people.

The Nature of the Epiphany School

John explains that the core principles of the school are non-merit based admission, tuition-free tuition, extended school days, and graduate support. The school also aims to move every family out of poverty while the kids are in the school. John emphasizes the importance of tracking every graduate every year to improve the program and understand where they are succeeding and where they could improve. He also emphasizes the importance of evaluating the efficacy of the school's interventions. He shares a story of a philanthropist who took 1000 boys at risk and provided 500 with free summer camp and weekend mentoring. John emphasizes the importance of looking at long-term outcomes and holding oneself accountable for social justice work. For Epiphany, 90% of its funding comes from private donors, and the school's graduates have an unemployment rate of less than 1%, whereas the national average is around 20%. This makes it a great way to attract investment and funding.

The Epiphany Investment in Families

John talks about the school's curriculum improvement system, which involves yearly assessments by outside experts and feedback from faculty. This Kaizen approach ensures that every aspect of the school is being evaluated and critiqued by experts. John emphasizes the importance of working with families, as studies suggest that 30 to 50% of Head Start gains are lost within three to five years due to perverse incentives in the social system. John explains how the school aims to help families, including offering an escrow program for families. This program grew out of the school's work on employment and helps families move towards independence from social programs. John also mentions that every child born in the Epiphany system receives a $3,000 or 529 plan, which is invested in a conservative mix of equities and bonds. This investment message is sent to families early on, ensuring that the funds are for their child.

Personal Values and Super Powers John takes stock of his good traits, including his ability to thank people. He believes that he has a decent work ethic and has a decent radar of what is feasible. John acknowledges that he has had an amazing education, including Harvard, Groton School, and a private elementary school. He has also been successful in cultivating a diverse group of people around him, with his team and founding teachers being with him for 20 years. John enjoys raising money and bringing resources to things, which has helped him sustain his success. John believes that his ability to lead by example are key factors in his success.

The Finley Family Legacy

The conversation turns to John's family legacy and the role it played in his life and world outlook. His great grandfather built City College, a tradition that has been passed down through generations. He left Harvard with no debt and enough income to live a modest life. However, he faced pressure to find his passion and pursue his dreams. John's father encouraged him to pursue his passions, even when he didn't make any money. He eventually realized that he needed more time to pursue his passions. He now enjoys working with his former students and seeing them grow into happy, productive lives.

Social and Emotional Aspects of School

John discusses the importance of social and emotional aspects in a school setting, focusing on rewards for conduct and effort. They use a software program called Class Dojo, which allows teachers to track students' thoughtful choices and courage. This system is tied to parents' phones, allowing them to recognize their child's efforts. John emphasizes the importance of group therapy for all students, with 70% being in individual therapy. Therapists and teachers work together to ensure no one falls through the cracks. The school also has a group called the Brotherhood and Sister Sister, older graduates who provide social and emotional support to students. Another tool used is the holistic student assessment, developed with McLean's and MGH. This self-assessment helps teachers understand a child's progress on social and emotional issues and helps capture the child's heart. The school never gives up on a child, ensuring that they make the school work for them. This discipline is important as it prevents teachers from making excuses for not meeting the full needs of their students.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

John discusses his experiences with various individuals, including Carrie Welch, Peter Gomes, Memorial Church, and the Signet Society. He mentions that the shelter work at Harvard changed his life, as it gave him a sense of making a difference in the world. Many graduates of the shelter went on to interesting careers, such as Katia Falls, who founded a program called On the Rise, which works with women who don't come into the shelter because they don't feel safe. Another example is a recent college graduate who realized the need for a youth homeless shelter in Massachusetts and built a youth homeless shelter in Harvard Square. John believes that Harvard's advantages were ridiculous, but he hopes they are being used in different ways to do good things in the world. The book "Where Harvard meets the Homeless" examines the impact of the shelter work on many people's lives.

Timestamps:

03:13: John's Journey Post-Harvard

07:49: Establishing and Expanding the Epiphany School

14:56: Challenges and Successes of the Epiphany School

20:55: Social-Emotional Support and Financial Sustainability

44:53: Personal Life and Future Plans

47:08: Impact of Harvard and Shelter Work

Links:

www.epiphanyschool.com

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is recommended by Julie Mallozzi who reports:

"This is Julie Mallozzi, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is Brown Girls. Doc Mafia. Brown Girls. Doc, Mafia works to disrupt inequity in the film industry by nurturing, amplifying and investing in the creative capacity and professional success of its members. I've been a member of Brown Girls for several years, and find them very well organized and effective. They do a lot to support the documentary community, without huge resources. You can learn more about their work at browngirlsdocmafia.org and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.

To learn more about their work, visit: browngirlsdocmafia.org.

Show Notes:

Kendalle Cobb, a family physician, has been practicing in Cleveland since 2004. She graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and completed her family medicine residency at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Fontana, California. After a year in Boston, she returned to serve on the faculty at her former residency program. She met her husband, who taught at a boarding school in Claremont, California, and after they got married, they moved to Cleveland to be closer to his family.

Family Physician and Physician Advisor

Kendalle shares that family medicine, as a primary care specialty, takes a more holistic approach with the inclusion of counseling and a "cradle to grave" mentality that follows the patient through different stages of life. She sees patients 50% of the time in a family health center in the community. The rest of her time is spent as one of the associate chiefs of staff and as a physician advisor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, a five-year program that trains students to be physician investigators, focusing on research, scholarship, personal and professional development, and reflective practice. The physician advisor attests to the students' competency report is representative of the feedback that the students receive.

Supporting Medical Students

Kendalle talks about working as a physician advisor. She shares what she has learned in this role. One aspect she has realized is that people are often used to being self-sufficient, making it challenging to ask for help or to work in collaborative environments. She explains what some students struggled with in terms of peer-to-peer interaction, challenges of the assessment system, and accepting that there will always be areas of improvement. Kendalle helps normalize expectations for students. She also talks about the connections between her work as a physician advisor and as a family physician.

The Partnership Aspect of Medicine

When Kendalle first thought about becoming a doctor, she initially had an idea of being able to fix things, but now she appreciates the partnership aspect of medicine where she accompanies people along their path. She mentions that there is often a difference between the textbook ideal treatment and what's best for the patient in front of her. She explains that medicine is a team sport, and group work requires trust and collaboration, and while she didn't like group work in school, she realizes that, in medicine, no individual can do everything, and doctors rely on others to answer phones, send messages, and process refill requests. By understanding and addressing these challenges, doctors can help their students navigate the challenges they face and become better doctors.

Counseling and Family Medicine

Kendalle talks about how family medicine and her approach to counseling has evolved over time. During her residency, one afternoon a week was dedicated to mental health, in addition to didactic sessions, she had two hour-long patients, supervised by a family physician and psychiatrist. Over the course of her residency, she had an increasing number of clinic sessions to see an increasing number of patients with various physical and mental health concerns. She learned that some people just want to share their feelings without wanting to change anything. She shares a story of a patient who was upset about a situation, and although their conversation was not health related, it helped Kendalle support the patient in figuring out next steps. In addition to counseling, she also learned to use tactical phrases and questions to help patients make decisions that align with their goals. This approach allows for more effective communication and understanding of patients' needs and concerns.

Creating a Safe Space for All Patients

Kendalle discusses the importance of understanding and addressing various health issues in healthcare settings. She shares her experiences with the stub toe theory, which is really "broken arm theory," which is when a doctor attributes any concern with which a patient presents, to some other risk factor (smoking, obesity, gender identity). She also discusses the importance of considering factors that can affect health in interacting with patients. She shares a case of a woman with previously well-controlled blood pressure whose blood pressure was high. Kendalle uncovered a social stressor. Kendalle emphasizes the need to consider different priorities and the reasons behind people's decisions regarding their health. She avoids asking the question "why" and instead asks "what factors contributed" to the patient's decision or thoughts about their health issues. This approach helps patients feel less defensive and allows Kendalle to better partner with patients to manage their health.

Confidentiality in the Doctor's Office

Kendalle explains that she is often the doctor for more than one generation in a family, and she shares a story that stresses the importance of confidentiality in the doctor's office. She also talks about how difficult it can be when extended family members want to become her patients, but the fact that the family entrusts the doctor with their loved ones is special. She also talks about the trust, gratitude, and grace shown by the patients, and how these are the moments that stay with her.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Kendalle mentions history professor Michael McCormick, who helped her develop confidence in analyzing primary sources from medieval and early modern Europe. She also mentions fundraising for CityStep by organizing a formal event in Memorial Hall.

Timestamps:

01:26: Kendall Cobb's Career Journey

02:28: Understanding Family Medicine

04:12: Teaching and Advising at Cleveland Clinic

05:40: Learning and Adapting in Medical Education

12:02: Counseling and Patient Interactions

13:57: Handling Patient Health Issues

25:21: Patient Relationships and Trust

29:10: Personal Life and Interests

31:33: Harvard Memories and Influences

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcobbmd/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is the Houston Learning Network recommended by Huang Quan Vu who reports:

"Hi. I'm Huang Quan Vu, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is the Houston Learning Network. HLN helps Houston area educators grow their practice and transform their classrooms by providing funding and support so they could attend in person professional development at Harvard, participate in virtual Harvard educational programming from Houston and learn from Harvard educators who passed through Houston. I was a founding member of HLN, and I'm currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. You can learn more about their work at Houston learning network.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: HoustonLearningNetwork.org.

Show Notes:

Pete Zorn, a lawyer and biotech executive, spent nine years in North Carolina, attending law school at the University of Carolina, Chapel Hill. He moved back to the Boston area with his wife and child where he stayed with his law firm, working remotely before taking an in-house position with one of his clients. He took the company public and stayed there for 11 years. He has since worked with three other biotech companies in various business and legal capacities, and is currently the president and Chief Legal Officer of Genevant.

The Leading Nucleic Acid Delivery Company in the World

Genevant specializes in lipid nanoparticles, which help protect and deliver nucleic acids like mRNA in the body to do its job. The company partners with biotech and pharma companies worldwide. Pete explains that nucleic acids, which store and express genetic material, can address diseases by encoding for a gene or addressing gene deficiencies, defects, or overexpression. However, nucleic acids can degrade in the body if not properly protected, making lipid nanoparticles an emerging mode of delivering nucleic acids. He talks about the concept of a lipid nanoparticle, which is a small fat bubble that encapsulates or envelops nucleic acid, protecting it from enzymes in the body and directing it to the desired tissue or cell type. If not protected, nucleic acids like mRNAs would be degraded in the body before they can have their intended effect. Genevant is a pioneer of lipid nanoparticles and owns a substantial amount of intellectual property in the space. They manufacture only at a research scale, but they license the technology to companies, who will manufacture the products in their plants using Genevant's technology.

Partnership Deals in Biotech

Pete explains that, unlike mergers and acquisition deals where negotiation is mostly about price, in life science collaborations you negotiate everything, including sharing intellectual property and responsibility, how parties will work together, and, of course, price. It's an ongoing relationship that is being negotiated. The most challenging part is negotiating the deal if the partnership comes to an end. This is to ensure that the parties are in the right place when the collaboration ends. Pete discusses the various aspects of a biotech partnership, including ongoing intellectual property (IP) development, responsibility, allocation, and governance issues. He mentions two main categories: consideration of licensing and payment for technology, and the allocation of intellectual property.

Genevant's Technology Platform

Genevant, a company that expands its technology platform through these deals, owns improvements to their platform. Special arrangements may be included for those that require the payload or partner's technology. These details are crucial in negotiating and time management. In addition to licensing and payment, partnering arrangements involve governance, confidentiality representations, commitments, and risk allocation. The agreed amounts can change depending on external factors and must be carefully negotiated.

Joining the Biotech World

Pete discusses his career in biotech, highlighting the advantages of being with a smaller, growing company compared to working with a larger, established company. He shares his first deal with a big pharma company in his 20s, where he had to negotiate a complex deal for a company that desperately needed to make the deal happen. He talks about the challenges involved, including the human challenge of establishing trust. The company needed to define the rights they were giving to another company while retaining enough space to allow them to work with other companies as well. The technical challenge was to draw fine lines in the constantly evolving scientific area, while also allowing them room to work independently. The deal was a nine-month negotiation and a 300-page contract, but it was a seminal moment for his company, which has since merged out of existence.

Drug Development Success

Pete talks about drug development and successes achieved. He shares a story of a company that had a successful phase two, which led to collaboration with a big pharma company. However, the company subsequently endured a disastrous phase three, which resulted in a dramatic downturn in stock price for the company. Despite this, the company was not sued, which he takes pride in. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks in drug development, as it allows the company to succeed and advance. He approaches the legal side of his job by finding ways to accomplish business objectives while managing that risk.

Career Turning Points

Pete also shares some turning points in his career. He continues to do deal making and is currently involved in intellectual property litigation related to lipid nanoparticles used in COVID vaccines. The conversation turns to the world of chief legal officers in biotech companies, specifically in the Boston area. Pete shares his experience working remotely for a North Carolina company and then with a European company, which allowed him to build networks and interact with other professionals. He also shares his life outside of work, raising two children – including a son with autism – and focusing on their well-being. He emphasizes that autism is a spectrum, with no two kids being the same. He mentions that there are different challenges for parents of children with autism and offers a few words of advice to parents in that situation.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Pete, who was a psychology major at Harvard, mentions his favorite class was a civil rights class with the knowledgeable, charismatic and powerful speaker, Julian Bond. He mentions how he took a year off before going to Law school, and how happenstance played a role in his career in the life sciences industry.

Timestamps:

03:48: Pete Zorn's Role at Genevant and Nucleic Acid Delivery

08:13: Complex Partnerships in Biotech

14:59: Pete Zorn's Entry into Biotech and Key Deals

22:11: Challenges and Successes in Biotech

27:14: Pete Zorn's Career and Personal Life

29:06: Advice for Parents of Children with Autism

37:07: Reflections on Harvard

Links:

Website: https://www.genevant.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-zorn-8b63391/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles recommended by Cara Familian Natterson who reports:

" Hi. This is Cara Familian Natterson, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is Children's Hospital Los Angeles, also known as CHLA. I joined the CHLA Board of Directors last year, but I've been working with the doctors at this amazing hospital for decades. CHLA isn't just one of the top 10 children's hospitals in the country, it's also the only one that is a safety net hospital with more than 70% of their patients on medicaid. They will never turn a child away, regardless of a family's financial situation or immigration status. If you want to learn more, go to C, H, L, A, dot, O, R, G, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: CHLA.org.

Show Notes:

Lawrence Steyn moved to Los Angeles to work with Walt Disney, where he helped think through financing new theme parks and movies. After leaving Disney, he went into traditional investment banking. He also mentions that he was a character in a theme park training program, where he was a penguin in full costume. His experience in LA and his role as a character in the training program were both memorable and challenging, and being a penguin was the hardest job he had in the 30+ years since graduating.

From Investment Banking to the Tech Industry

Lawrence moved to New York and worked at Goldman, including spending several years in London. He worked at Morgan Stanley and also as vice chairman at JP Morgan. After COVID-19, he faced a midlife crisis and decided to work at an autonomous vehicle company called Pony.ai. The company was Chinese-centric and had a large nexus with China. This was around 2020/21 during a time when relations between the U.S. and China were strained. The company faced financial and geopolitical challenges from China, who wanted to assert control over its tech sector, and restrictions from the US. Lawrence talks about an event that took place in the U.S. that allowed a government body to exert their control and limit the company. However, Lawrence started lobbying for Pony's cause, visiting Capitol Hill and California representatives, however it became clear that Pony was never going to go public as an American-centric company.

Joining a Manufacturing-centric P.E. Firm

As his time at Pony was coming to an end, a private equity firm, American Industrial Partners, approached Lawrence to join them. Lawrence discusses the changing business world, government issues, and supply chain changes post-COVID. As an American manufacturing-centric private equity firm, he observes the shrinking of supply chains and the refocus on American hard enterprise, but he compares this with his experience at Pony, as a $6-7 billion company started by seven guys in a garage, compared to the cost of manufacturing enterprises. Lawrence enjoys his work and the opportunity to create billions of dollars of value through low capital and high-IQ work. Lawrence also shares his experience with venture capital tech.

A Superpower and Brokering a Big Deal

Lawrence believes that his superpower is listening to people's words and being thoughtful, especially when dealing with potential clients. He emphasizes being creative and challenging himself to think of unexpected twists in situations. He shares an example from his time at Morgan Stanley, and the most successful deal of his career. He was the sole advisor to United Technologies, which was the biggest industrial deal up to that date. The unique idea was that United Technologies wanted to buy Rockwell Collins. Lawrence talks about the idea he put forward that allowed United Technologies to keep the Rockwell Collins name and maintain its rich heritage, while United Technologies owned about 60% of the company. The deal was a complex and unique one, with high effort and structuring involved.

Global Trade Wars and Tariffs

The conversation revolves around the ongoing global trade wars, particularly the tariffs. Lawrence states that while the uncertainty has slowed everything down, however, the outcome has not been terrible. The market has returned to close to all-time highs. Lawrence mentions that the long-term impact of these tariffs is questionable, as the reduction in the dollar's role as a global reserve currency is problematic. He also discusses the importance of having a strong US global leadership role and the need for a good manufacturing base. He mentions that the lack of access to various materials has proven problematic, and that the US should focus on American manufacturing capabilities. However, he also mentions that American Industrial Partners have been investing in American manufacturing capabilities for decades, and their history and majority of businesses are America-centric.

A Global Trade Slow Down

The Trump administration's focus on tariffs has slowed down global trade, with the US and Mexico experiencing increased tensions. The US has been focusing on geopolitical issues, such as China and Mexico, but the long-term impact of these tariffs is uncertain. The US has been investing in American manufacturing capabilities for decades, and many businesses have found that having an American manufacturing base is more valuable to people around the world. The uncertainty surrounding the introduction of tariffs has led to negotiations and investment being put on hold, as the US has good manufacturing capabilities in Mexico. The short-term impacts of these tariffs have been less dramatic, and the long-term impacts are more theoretical at this point. However, the US has managed to maintain its manufacturing base and maintain its global leadership role.

Barriers to Growth in Manufacturing

The conversation turns to barriers to the growth of the manufacturing industry in America, including electricity, skilled labor, zoning, local supply chain, permits, and environmental reviews etc. Lawrence highlights the importance of re-electrifying America, which is a complex process that takes time and requires skilled and unskilled labor. The supply chain, as seen with Apple's desire to manufacture in the US. The biggest challenge for manufacturers is the uncertainty of tariffs and their impact on the US manufacturing industry. If there were a sustainable and constructive policy in place for decades, manufacturers would be more comfortable investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities. However, the whimsy of these policies can be problematic, as they may be reversed or ended by lawsuits, hinders planning and investment.

An Effective Pro-US Manufacturing Policy

A more effective pro-US manufacturing policy with bipartisan support could be beneficial. Some goals that could be valuable include bringing manufacturing back to the US for data centers, shipbuilding, and auto manufacturing. However, the broad concept of remanufacturing in the US doesn't necessarily mean achieving everything at once. A thoughtful policy with bipartisan support could be powerful, but a more consistent, specific, targeted policy with broad support could be more effective.

Influential Harvard Courses and Professors

Lawrence mentions a Michael Sandel's core class, Justice, that focuses on different theories of justice, which he believes are important for thinking thoughtfully about political and global events. He also enjoyed a seminar with Marjorie Garber on Shakespeare, which he took as a core class and then revisited as an alumni for a deep dive. He also mentions activities centered around the International Relations Council, Model UN, and American Industrial Partners.

Timestamps:

04:16: Experiences at Pony.ai and Autonomous Vehicles

09:36: Transition to American Industrial Partners

23:35: Challenges in American Manufacturing

37:17: Personal Reflections and Future Plans

40:58: Backgammon and Personal Interests

43:35: Harvard Memories and Influences

48:05: Connecting with the Harvard Community

Links:

Website: https://americanindustrial.com/team/lawrence-steyn/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this week's episode is Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio recommended by John Unger who reports:

"Hello, class of 1992 this is your classmate, John Unger of Kirkland House in Weld North. I'm submitting to you the featured nonprofit for this week's episode of The 92 Report, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lighthouse is a wonderful and impactful organization that gives guidance and support to orphans and foster care children in our city, and my mom has been a heavily involved volunteer for decades. You can learn about Lighthouse Youth Services at its website, lys.org Thank you for your consideration. Now here's Will with this week's episode".

To learn more about their work, visit: LYS.org.

Sandi DuBowski discusses the one-year anniversary of his film Sabbath Queen, which he spent 21 years making. He reflects on the journey of the 21st-century radical rabbi and how it has shaped their life. He discusses the inspiration behind his film, Tomboychik, the concept of which was developed after conversations with his grandmother. The film is a living video memorial to her spirit; it won several awards, including the Golden Gate award at the San Francisco Film Festival and the Whitney Museum program, and launched Sandi into the film world. Documentary Films and Festivals Sandi talks about his work as an associate director of the New York Lesbian/Gay Experimental Film Video festival, MIX. He initially worked on a feature film called Fresh Kill and later worked for Planned Parenthood as a researcher and producing videos. After working for Planned Parenthood, he started filming the major feature documentary, Trembling Before G-d, about Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are lesbian or gay. The film had a World Premiere at Sundance, and won two prizes at the Berlin Film Festival. It screened in cinemas and festivals worldwide, and Sandi went on the road for three years, doing outreach and engagement. Sandi concludes by expressing gratitude for the support and funding he received from the Steven Spielberg Righteous Persons Foundation. He also mentions that his film Sabbath Queen has been a significant moment in his life, as he reconnects with classmates from Harvard, high school, elementary school, film, queer, Jewish, and activist circles. The film has been a testament to the power of storytelling and the transformative power of time. Breaking from Traditional Religious Conventions Sandi fell into the world of filmmaking by accident. He worked with great people, including cinematographers and editors, to create a team of creatives. The film "Trembling Before G-d" was a significant leap forward in technical craft and embraced the lives of people who were not in the public realm. The first Orthodox gay Rabbi came out in the film, and the first person from a Hasidic world to come out as lesbian was featured. The film also convinced Orthodox rabbis to speak publicly on the issue, which was a tipping point in the culture. The filmmaker met with Amichai, who was already post-denominational and pushing the boundaries of Orthodoxy. Sandi talks about the film's concept and how it inspired a Muslim man to make a movie on Islam and homosexuality.

Filming the Documentary Sabbath Queen Sandi shares the journey of filming Sabbath Queen, which involved following Rabbi Amichai over 21 years. The film took six years to edit due to multiple storylines, nearly 3000 hours of footage, and time spent exploring Amichai's complex identity and his numerous worlds within his rabbinic family. The film was a complicated project, but Sandi and Amichai have remained close friends. The film is Biblical in many ways, as it is a coming of age and a paradigm shift from a thousands-year-old faith to the present. The film aims to address the challenges faced by religion, as well as the rise of authoritarianism and fascism. Sandi believes that creating a film that looks at time and how values can be manifested in our lives, communities, families, houses of worship, and nations is crucial for upholding values and morals.

A Documentary Filmmaker's Journey Sandi shares his experiences and lessons learned from his journey as a documentary filmmaker. He explains that his life has been unexpected and doesn't fit neatly into boxes. He also shares his experience with Good Pitch, a platform that focuses on social issue documentaries and collaborations with filmmakers. He has built a strong community around films and the film movement, which has been translated into his work with Sabbath Queen. He believes that film communities intersect with many other communities, creating an outpouring of connection and networks. One of the ways Sabbath Queen is promoting community is through live rituals and gatherings. In Berlin, he hosted a Sabbath Queen Friday night feast with Rabbi Amichai, which encouraged togetherness, peacemaking, and reflection. In San Francisco, they hosted a SoulSpa and in Chicago a Saturday night Let the Light In. Sandi also talks about expanded cinema and the importance of gathering, him co-founding a progressive group called The Creative Resistance with media makers and a Queens Food Caravan. Sandi discusses the importance of having creative collaborators who provide feedback and help in the process of creating a character-driven film. He mentions that it is crucial to have test screenings and feedback screenings to help filmmakers work on their work over time.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses Sandi mentions a History and Literature course on the Vietnam War. The course focused on the interdisciplinary nature of storytelling and history, which helped Sandi understand how we process our lives, stories, wounds, and traumas.

Timestamps:

03:28: Early Film Projects and Personal Exploration

12:34: Transition to Long-Term Documentary Filmmaking

22:01: Challenges and Rewards of Long-term Filmmaking

22:23: Personal Life and Community Building

22:41: Advice for Long-term Documentary Filmmakers

41:35: Impact of Sabbath Queen and Future Plans

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Mark Jacobstein, class of '92, who reports:

"Hi. I'm Mark Jacobstein, class of 1992. The feature nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is The Friends of Cancer Research. The Friends of Cancer Research powers advances in science and policy that speed life saving treatments to patients. I'm proud to have worked with them during my time at Garden Health and found that they were by far the most important and effective 501, C3, in the world of cancer research. You can learn more about their work at Friends of Research, friends of cancer research.org, and now here's Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: FriendsofCancerResearch.org.

Show Notes:

Lili Barouch, a cardiologist, went to medical school at Johns Hopkins. After moving to Baltimore, she became a cardiologist specializing in heart failure and transplant. She joined the faculty in 2003 and worked on basic science research, research lab, and inpatient and outpatient care for heart failure and transplant patients. Lili stayed in this role for about 10 years before transitioning to outpatient cardiology. She moved to Howard County, Maryland, where her children have grown up.

Founding the Sports Cardiology Program

Lili started becoming more athletic around 20 years ago. This led to her interest in sports cardiology, a field geared towards athletes. She founded the sports cardiology program at Johns Hopkins and a training program for future sports cardiologists. She talks about building a new program from scratch, how the field of sports cardiology has grown significantly.

Sports Cardiology Screening

Sports cardiology involves screening athletes, including younger athletes, high-level athletes, and masters athletes. Screening includes evaluating athletes for risk factors, symptomatic athletes, those with known cardiac diseases, and those with significant changes in the heart due to high-level exertion. Lili talks about findings through screenings in sports cardiology including congenital heart defects, a family history of cardiac death at a young age, or abnormal ECGs. She mentions that there is no single standard throughout the country for what type of screening is required for college athletics. The general Sports Med and team physician screen everyone to a certain extent. Sports cardiologists typically are involved in second-level screening, for example, high blood pressure is an area that needs to be addressed, especially in younger athletes. By understanding the specifics of each type of screening and addressing any underlying conditions, athletes can better prepare for their future athletic careers.

Stress Tests and ECG Abnormalities

The conversation turns to the importance of stress tests and ECG abnormalities in sports. Athletes often tend to be symptom minimizers, ignoring minor symptoms that don't seem to affect anything at the time. However, many athletes who develop cardiac arrests report having some symptoms before they report them later. Lili talks about finding the balance between not wanting to alarm patients and not wanting them to ignore symptoms.

Guidelines in Sports Cardiology

Sports Cardiology is its own field. New guidelines have come out this year about shared decision making, which helps athletes decide whether to continue playing or not. The previous guidelines were more paternalistic, with doctors telling athletes whether they can play or are not allowed to play. This led to many athletes hiding symptoms or being disqualified. Newer guidelines have looked at more recent research studies to determine if restricting individuals actually helps them. Many places found that it's okay for athletes to participate in ways that were not possible 10 or 15 years ago, but it also affects their psychological state severely if they get disqualified from their sport.

Changes to the Heart

Lili discusses the changes to the heart of elite athletes, including professional athletes, major sports leagues, and Olympic athletes. She explains that the higher level of an athlete, the more likely they are to have more people involved in their care. Studies on elite athletes, such as Tour de France cyclists and Olympic athletes, have shown that those who do high levels of endurance exercise, such as cycling, long-distance running, swimming, and cross-country skiing, tend to have an increase in the size of their heart chambers.

The Health Benefits of Exercise

The American Heart Association guidelines recommend a minimum of two 30 minute strength training workouts and at least three 30 to 45 minute aerobic exercise workouts of moderate intensity per week. The minimum recommended amount of exercise is two and a half hours per week, spread out throughout the week. For endurance athletes, this may be more than two hours a day. Lili talks about the benefits of exercise, highlighting that there are marginal additional gains up to three to four times the minimum recommended amount. The most significant gain is when one goes from zero hours per week to two or three hours per week of total exercise, up to about eight hours per week. This leads to greater fitness, benefits in blood pressure, cholesterol, reducing the risk of diabetes, and longevity. However, beyond eight or 10 hours per week, there are no additional health benefits.

Joining the Race

Lili started running in 2006, initially as a fitness exercise but eventually becoming an athlete due to her autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis. She joined the running club and was challenged by a friend to do a triathlon. She initially struggled with swimming, but eventually learned to swim and competed in several distances, including the full Ironman. Lili has run six marathons, mostly short and medium distance triathlons, and has achieved significant accomplishments such as qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2018 and competing in the Boston Marathon in 2018. However, she also faced joint issues due to her rheumatoid arthritis, which led her to focus more on long distance triathlons.

The Growth of the Sports Cardiology Program

Lili founded a sports cardiology program based on her clinic, which primarily focuses on athlete patients. The program is also developing a National Registry of masters athletes to study the impact of high exercise levels on athletes' health. The program involves training fellows in cardiology who are interested in sports cardiology. A fellowship program was developed for one fellow, and the first formal graduates completed the program last year. Lili talks about an annual meeting called "The Care of the Athletic Heart" in Washington, DC, where they organize formal talks, educational symposia, and case presentations to help others get into the field. She also talks about resources and funding for the program.

Timestamps

02:19: Transition to Outpatient Cardiology and Personal Life

06:14: Evolution and Role in Sports Cardiology

07:05: Screening and Management of Athletes

15:25: Elite Athletes and Cardiac Health

27:15: Lily's Personal Athletic Journey

33:59: Founding the Sports Cardiology Program

37:26: Administrative and Research Aspects

40:56: Memorable Courses at Harvard

43:30: Resources and Future Plans

Links:

https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/lili-barouch/2705370

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart-vascular-institute/cardiology/sports-cardiology

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart-vascular-institute/education/sports-cardiology-fellowship

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Heather Taussig, class of '92, who reports:

"Hi, I'm Heather Taussig, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of the 92 report is Fostering Healthy Futures. Fostering Healthy Futures is an evidence based mentoring program for children and teens in foster care. I am the program developer and principal investigator of Fostering Healthy Futures, which my team and I launched in 2002. You can learn more about our work at FosteringHealthyFuturesdotorg."

To learn more about their work, visit: https://www.fosteringhealthyfutures.org/

Show Notes:

Tanya Selvaratnam shares her journey from high school to present day. She moved to New York after graduating and worked at Columbia Law School's Center for Chinese Legal Studies. She also assisted Anna Deavere Smith on her show "Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992" about the LA riots. Tanya went back to Harvard for graduate school, studying Chinese language and the history of law.

An Adventure in Theatre

After her father passed away, she returned to New York, where she was working on the Beijing Women's Conference. Wandering the streets one day, she came across The Performing Garage with a poster on the wall for a show by the Wooster Group. On a whim, she slipped a note on the door offering to help in any capacity and was taken on as an intern. Before long, she was asked to come to rehearsals, and, despite having no intentions of becoming a performer, this led to her performing with the Wooster Group. She toured all over the world with them and with other companies like the Builders Association.

On Becoming a Film Producer

Currently, Tanya writes books and makes movies. She also advises various organizations, foundations, and corporations. She recently started advising the Open Future Lab in Vienna, Austria. She has also worked as a producer, which began when she worked at the Ms. Foundation for Women, on what was then called "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" as well as the Gloria awards. She also worked with Jed Weintrob, whom she had met at Harvard when she was in his production of "Dracula." In the late 90s, Jed asked her to produce a movie he was writing at the time. It went on to premiere at Sundance and then the Berlinale in 2002. This led to more work as a producer, and Tanya is still currently producing.

The Connection between Event Organizer and Film Producer

Tanya shares her experiences in organizing events since high school. While at Phillips Academy Andover, she was the head of the South Asian Students Association and served on the divestment committee during apartheid days. She organized events like readings of poetry, essays, and performances to raise awareness about activism and advocacy. After college, she also organized events for the youth tent at the Women's Conference in China, where she performed a piece called "Wet Sari Syndrome," which was a take on Bollywood movies. Tanya learned the craft of producing films directly from her friend and trusted colleague, Jed. She was willing to work hard, focusing on tasks such as finding locations, cleaning up the set, and figuring out what needed to happen to make the film come together. Tanya was able to tap into her resources and connections to make shoots possible and be attentive to Jed's vision.

Dealing with Difficult Times

The conversation turns to her experience with bullying and harassment, which she has faced in various situations. She deals with this by focusing on her tasks and work. Tanya goes to Portland to write and escape from these situations, as it provides a safe space to escape the pressures of life. She also talks about her two books, The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock, which grew out of her own struggles with fertility and Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence. When dealing with fertility issues, Tanya was shocked at the amount of misinformation surrounding fertility awareness. She talks about the problems with sex education in America and how the book changed when she was diagnosed with two types of cancer. In her second book, she shares her experiences of being entrapped in an abusive relationship with former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. She explains why she was motivated to write the book and why she went into hiding after her story first became public.

Working with Cultural Institutions

Tanya has also worked on cultural events around the world, such as at the Rubell Museum in Miami, the Women's Conference in China, with Anna Deavere Smith and the Wooster Group. She has collaborated with major institutions and museums, such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barbican in London, and Victoria Theatre in Singapore. She toured to 62 cities all over the world in a space of 12 years. She's also worked with the Sundance Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. She talks about The Federation, an organization that aims to show how art unites people and keeps cultural borders open. She recently worked with Carrie Mae Weems at the Torino book fair in Italy.

Co-directing and Producing a Documentary Short

Tanya co-directed and produced a 13-minute documentary short called Love to the Max, which was acquired by the New Yorker magazine and recently nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Short. The film was inspired by the mother of Max Briggle, who was targeted for loving and supporting her trans kid. Tanya was inspired to make the film after Max Briggle's mother reached out to a women's listserv for help because she'd been approached by child protection services. Tanya has also been working with Catherine Gund for 17 years, producing a film called Paint Me a Road Out of Here, which is about the interconnected journeys of artists Faith Ringgold and Mary Baxter. She is also working on a new book called Love Me and Leave Me, which is about adventures through intimate pleasure and intimacy in many forms.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Tanya initially thought she would study science at Harvard but found the large classes to be lacking in intimacy. She became interested in Chinese history and legal history, taking classes with visiting scholars and professors like Chang Weijen, William Alford, Professor Kuhn, and Professor Bol; Caroline Reeves, a graduate student, helped her decide what to explore for her thesis.

Timestamps:

05:38: Transition to Producing and Social Justice Work

13:22: Challenges and Learning in the Film Industry

20:28: Personal Struggles and Advocacy

34:07: Work with Museums and Cultural Institutions

37:11: Future Projects and Reflections

41:10: Harvard Experiences and Influences

Links:

Website: Tanyaturnsup.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyaauthor/

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Olu Ajilore, class of '92, who reports:

"The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 report is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or AFSP. AFSP is a volunteer organization that supports those affected by suicide through research, education and advocacy. I've worked with our local chapter of AFSP raising funds with their annual out of the darkness walks, and I'm proud to serve on the Scientific Council for AFSP. You can learn more about their [email protected]."

To learn more about their work, visit: afsp.org

Show Notes:

Bo Rutledge, a professor and dean at the University of Georgia Law School, opens the conversation by talking about his parents, who made sacrifices to support their children's education, and how he felt called to serve and worked for the governor in California where he met many inspiring civil servants. A Graduate Degree and Long-Distance Relationship In Scotland, he obtained a graduate degree and met his wife Birgit, who is Austrian. They had a wonderful year together overseas and then spent three years in a long-distance relationship while Bo attended law school and Brigit studied to become a teacher. After graduating, Bo clerked for two years, and briefly practiced law in Europe. After the birth of their first child, Bo and Birgit decided to become teachers, Bo as a law professor and Brigit as a foreign language teacher. They have both been teaching for nearly 22 years. Inspiring Students as a Professor and Dean Bo's parents instilled in him an appreciation for education and the power of education. As a professor and dean, he has worked to inspire students about the power of education and the ability to realize their full potential without letting debt hinder them in their careers. In the ten years he has served as Dean, his efforts have led to a significant reduction in student debt and the creation of a generation of people who feel the freedom Bo experienced thanks to his parents.

A Law School Crisis Bo faced a crisis in 2014-15 due to a decline in law school applications. Legal education had experienced a 40% drop in national and 50% drop in local applications. To overcome this, Bo focused on the institution's values. Inspired by the belief that "public higher education is the greatest engine of upward socio-economic mobility in our society", he acknowledged that tuition increases contributed to the student debt crisis and decided not to increase tuition for the students at the University of Georgia Law School. Building Support for Students In conjunction with a freeze on tuition fees, the school also communicated with the school's supportive alumni cohort, who provided financial support, job opportunities, and counsel. They had a team of 125 people, including faculty and staff, who cared about the impact they could have on students' lives who helped support measures taken to accommodate the low intake of students. They cut 7.5% of their operating budget in the first 18 months, and invested in revenue-generating opportunities and fundraisers. As Dean, Bo measured success ruthlessly, using values rather than spending per student. They focused on student success, job creation, and debt reduction. This approach helped the university navigate the crisis and refine its message. Bo talks about how the recession caused a decline in public investment in public institutions, and how he helped drive support for students and inspire students. One Student Success Story Bo shares the reason why one student decided to go to law school, and how the relationship with alumni presented a strong support group for this student. This story has galvanized Bo's resolve to focus on helping students over the years. Bo mentions that one focus of the school is to support first-generation graduates. He emphasizes that higher education is truly special in a world where most people in prior generations and societies couldn't afford or attend college, and it offers the opportunity to connect with a mentor. The Higher Education Affordability Crisis Bo believes that the affordability crisis in higher education is fixable and has written published articles on this topic. He believes that the student loan industry is a mixed blessing. It allows people access to institutions they otherwise couldn't afford, but it also makes it easier for institutions to raise tuition. He also highlights the lack of clear ownership lines or a clear line of accountability to boards and shareholders in most higher education institutions. He learned that, as a dean, one must figure out their accountability mechanisms and constituencies in a world without a simplified structure. In summary, Bo's experience as dean has taught him about the economics of institutions, the difficulty of shaping the culture, and the importance of accountability in higher education institutions. Travel Personally and Professionally Bo has traveled extensively for nearly 40 years. He spent his first couple of years in Vienna, Austria, practicing law at an international law firm. Two places that stuck with him were Budapest, Hungary, and Ostrova, Czech Republic. He shares stories of the people he met and how their experience gave him insight into living under communist rule. He has also traveled to countries like Poland and India, where their university traditions are both historically rich and still very nascent, and how they are inspired by the education system in the U.S. Bo has had the privilege of meeting people from different backgrounds and this has allowed him to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by students in different countries, and to bring these experiences back to the university. Influential Harvard Professors and Courses Bo mentions professors Michael Sandel, Dennis Thompson, and Stanley Hoffmann. He cites Sandel's justice class as an inspiration for a course he teaches to undergrads on moral dilemmas, which, in addition to the course topics, focuses on teaching the ability to discuss and debate socially divisive topics. He mentions Dennis Thompson's teachings on Political Ethics and Public Policy, Stanley Hoffman's teachings on Ethics and International relations, and Paul Pierson and Mark Peterson. Pierson taught Bo how to have faith in his ideas, while Peterson taught him how to write. He believes that Harvard is both intellectually intimidating and liberating, as it allows students to confront ethically nettlesome issues.

Timestamps:

03:26: Early Career and Mentorship

05:02: Service and Educational Reform

16:33: Inspiring Students and Overcoming Challenges

23:55: Lessons Learned as Dean

28:53: Influential Books and Personal Growth

34:05: Travel and Professional Experiences

41:27: Influential Professors and Courses

Link:

Email: [email protected]

Featured Non-profit:

The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 Report is recommended by Bill Ashmankas who reports:

"Hi. I'm Bill Ashmanskas, class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of the 92 report is the Delaware Valley golden retriever rescue since 1993 DVGRR has successfully placed 1000s of golden retrievers and other DVGRR dogs into new homes throughout eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and beyond. DVGRR has been recognized for its innovative work in rescuing and rehabilitating puppy mill breeder dogs. Allison and I adopted our first DVGRR dog in 2015 and our current dog in 2021 both retired breeder dogs, and we've been regular donors since 2015 you can learn more about their work at D, V, G, R, R.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode."

To learn more about their work, visit: www. DVGRR.org.

Show Notes: Dan Tabak, a lawyer and treasurer of Harvard Hillel, spent three years at Columbia Law School, he then worked as a litigator at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, but took a year off to clerk for a federal judge in Brooklyn. He went back to work at Simpson Thacher before moving on to his current firm, Cohen & Gresser which operates primarily in New York City but has offices in London, Paris, Dubai, and Washington, D.C. He currently lives in Scarsdale, New York with his wife and two kids. On the Board of Harvard Hillel Dan joined the board of Harvard Hillel during the pandemic, which allowed him to participate more actively. He explains why he joined the board and supporting the Jewish community was an important part of his decision. In response to the fact that Harvard has been in the news in connection with anti-semitism, Dan states that the board has a diverse board with diverse viewpoints. He also mentions a 311 page study on anti-semitism at Harvard and notes that there are problems at Harvard that were different from what his class perceived, and that students today interact differently than when Dan was a student, specifically the inability to disagree with civility and respect for diversity of opinions. The Decline of Jewish Students at HarvardDan discusses the decline in Jewish students at Harvard and similar institutions, noting that he believes it has not emerged from a top-down decision, but traces back to the Immigration Act of 1965. He notes that there was a high likelihood of having a Jewish roommate or blockmate in the class of 1992 and a lower chance now, which has led to fewer people understanding Jews and Jewish life at these institutions. He attributes the decline to the emphasis on more diversity on identities within admissions and how students feel a responsibility to represent their specific background as well as the Immigration Act of 1965, which opened doors to different communities, particularly immigrant families, who tend to value education highly and are now more represented at Harvard. A Career in Law and Improving the Public School Systems Dan talks about his career at Simpson Thacher, one of the world's largest firms. His senior thesis in college involved a school funding decision in New Jersey. From his first week as a summer associate at Simpson Thacher to his departure years later, he worked with a group bringing a similar case in New York, Campaign For Fiscal Equity against the state of New York. The case involved school kids in New York City suing the state for a sound basic education under the New York State Constitution. The trial went nine months, and the students won the trial. He summarizes the process from determining there is a right to finding the remedy. The remedy involved resources and money, and the case went through another set of hearings to determine the appropriate resolution. Dan also discusses what the research revealed about class sizes, funding, and how the family situation impacts the education of a student. A Focus on Financial Service CompaniesThe conversation turns to Dan's legal work, focusing on commercial litigation, with a focus on financial services companies, and bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related litigation. He talks about his involvement in a case involving Terry Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, in the bankruptcy of Gawker and Gawker's founder. He also touches on how this case helped lead to a change in how the public views the publication of sex tapes. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the legal landscape and the impact of cases like this on the legal landscape. Skills and Superpowers in LawDan believes that his strengths in law are the strategizing of how to get from here to there, listening to the client, and having a goal in mind. He also mentions being a good writer, which helps convey his thoughts. He initially was less strong at oral arguments but has since improved his skills and persuaded judges to change course and decide for his clients. One example of a successful legal strategy involves listening to clients and helping them figure out what they really want. For example, he has worked with pro bono clients who are more interested in justice than achieving a result. They often get a settlement offer and he explains the consequences if they don't take it. He explains that the lawyer must work through the emotional aspects and consider the implications of suing them and going to court. With corporate clients, Dan emphasizes the importance of listening to clients' goals and working relationships with the other party. A settlement can be a win-win situation for everyone involved, as long as they can continue doing business together. This is a different function of listening to what the client is trying to get out of the case. The Limitations of Legal EducationDan believes that a course he took from Roger Fisher with the Harvard Negotiation project was more helpful in negotiation and negotiation strategy than anything he learned in law school. He also mentions that law school was more about hearing the cases and understanding the law, rather than emotional intelligence and negotiating strategies. He also mentions that law schools did not teach how to manage junior attorneys and paralegals, which he believes is essential for success in law firms. He talks about the many small inflection points in a lawyer's career, such as meeting the right people and introducing them to potential clients that change or shape direction and offer opportunities. Influential Harvard Professors and CoursesDan mentions the Negotiation course and a Constitutional Law class with H.W. Perry, where he learned how to read legal cases and understand constitutional law. Dan shares a memorable experience while he was taking the Constitutional Law course where he argued a case in front of classmates, including "Chief Justice" Ketanji Brown Jackson, and also mentions learning in an Intro to Psychology course about the concept of idiosyncrasy credits.