Our bags are packed

We are off... The McFaddens are on the move, this time to Nigeria. Our updates may be a bit more sparce, but you can keep up with us through our website and our blog. Hugs and kisses to all. Mike & Kel

Jerry Gibson in Oxford

On Saturday, two days before Kelly and I left for Nigeria, a friend, mentor, and wise 'old fossil' visited Oxford. Jerry was in London with his wife, Normadeane, his daughter Becky and her family. To the left you can see Jerry and I walking down the path from the canel to Christ Church. We had a wonderful time. It was truly a blessing to see him before our departure.

Educators Corner: Entrepreneurship Education Resources

A great resource for entrepreneurs, students, teachers, and all those just wanting to learn a little more. Educators Corner: Entrepreneurship Education Resources You'll find video clips, articles, recommended books. Check it out.

Link: Everyone as Co-Creators: Harnessing Collective Innovation with Web 2.0

Unfortunately my time has been crunched over the last few weeks or I would have attempted to summarize my own thoughts on open innovation. That being said, I guess part of the genius behind open source innovation is "harnessing collective innovation", in which the link below is a great introduction to the subject: Everyone as Co-Creators: Harnessing Collective Innovation with Web 2.0 (web2.wsj2.com) Take a peek. There is so much going on in this arena that it's tough to keep up. Mash ups are another area that is growing exponentially. For more info on Mash Ups click here.

Off to Nigeria - departure date: 3 July

Hey All –

Well, some of you have heard and some of you haven’t, Mike and I are moving to Nigeria. Lagos to be exact. “What??!” you say. Yes, it is true. A part of the MBA programme (that is how they spell it in England) is the SCP – Summer Consulting Project. The MBA Students get sent all over the world to work in teams of four for two months. Mike researched and we looked into many different opportunities and we finally landed on one in Nigeria. It is an incredible project. Mike will be working with Access Bank. We are really looking forward to it and we leave in two weeks!

It has been a fast year. Mike has completed all his classes, and now has three months until he graduates with his MBA (summer project and then a few weeks back here in Oxford for final exams and a few ceremonies). He will be in Nigeria for 8 weeks (3 July - 25 Aug) and I will stay there for 4 weeks (3 July - 1 Aug). Then I'll be heading home to celebrate with my sis, KK, her upcoming wedding is in October. I am really looking forward to catching up with many of you in Cali and mostly to spend some time with my sister doing all the fun wedding stuff I have missed in the last few months.

I won’t get sappy on the last year yet…I will wait until that update in September.

Hugs to you all! We would love to hear from you and hear how you are doing. And be sure to keep checking www.mcfaddenplace.com for the latest McFadden updates. I am a bit behind on the monthly updates, but that is because Mike has had to work on papers the last three weeks non-stop!

Cheers,

Kelly Marie McFadden

The thoroughly modern moustache?

Check out this article from yahoo news (photos added by me). I must say, I am proud that my husband is on the cutting edge of style. Congratulations to the MBA's who make this article a reality every term! NEW YORK (AFP) - "I think it's sexy," Donald Bradford, 26, says of the bushy growth that has adorned his upper lip for the past two months. Largely shunned since the 1980s, moustaches are enjoying something of a renaissance among young New Yorkers, following a comeback trail blazed by such hip role models as actor Nicholas Cage and the ultra-trendy fashion photographer Terry Richardson. "It's just cool, right?, and it's fun," said Bradford, a tall man with blonde highlights in his hair to match his silver jacket. Jay Della Vale verges on the evangelical in his praise of the moustache's attributes which, according to the 26-year-old DJ, include intimations of virility, a relaxed style and a healthy sense of humor. "You walk differently. You're more laid back. You dress differently," Della Vale said. "We're on a mission to bring it back." Della Vale's devotion to facial hair prompted him to make a documentary "The Glorious Moustache Challenge" in which he persuaded 30 men to grow moustaches for a month to see what difference it made in their lives and the reactions of those around them. "For the first month, everybody is against it, especially the women," he said. "They say, 'Please don't do that, you remind me of my father ... or a 70s porn star'." According to Della Vale, most of his moustachioed guinea pigs weathered the early critical storm and actually became quite fond of their new accessory. Love of "the stache" was taken for granted at the recent New York City Beard and Moustache Championships, which saw hundreds of hirsute aficionados turn out to root for their favourite styles. Iconic images of movie stars and characters who championed the moustache -- Clark Gable, Sean Connery, Inspector Clouseau, Marlon Brando in "The Godfather" -- were projected onto a giant screen to appreciative applause. But the real adulation was reserved for a photo of the contestants' main hero, Tom Selleck, who brought stache-style to the masses in the early 1980s with the television cop series "Magnum." But not long after those heady days, the moustache's fortunes took a dive in the popularity stakes -- it's fall from grace best summed up by the makeover forced on the "Brawny Man." A brand icon whose lumberjack shirt and heavy moustache had promoted Brawny kitchen towels for decades, the Brawny Man was replaced in 2003 by a clean-shaven hunk who was seen as more in tune with the times. For all the efforts of Della Vale and his cohorts, bringing back the old style is proving a tough sell to the average man in the street. "I feel less confident, more insecure," said Graham Veysey, 24, who grew his moustache and entered the New York contest in a response to a dare from his friends. "It's just not me," Veysey said. "I didn't understand how much it would dominate the conversation. It's like 25 times a day!" New York-based French fashion designer Thomas Vasseur finds his moustache -- complemented with prominent sideburns -- serves as an open invitation to comment from just about everybody. "For some of my friends, it suggests I'm looking for a new identity," said Vasseur, 32. "My mother tells me I remind her of my father who she divorced 25 years ago, my nephews tell me it scratches, and then there are also those, happily, who say that it suits me," he added. No matter what the reaction, Vasseur insists he has no intention of taking a razor to his upper lip. "It's a male accessory, just like highlights or make-up for women," said Vasseur. "I would feel naked without it." As for the future, zealots like Della Vale optimistically predict an "epidemic" of moustaches spreading across the country, while other fashion arbiters are more cautious. "It's almost like a tongue-in-cheek kind of style," said James Bassil, editor-in-chief of the male lifestyle website, AskMen.com. "The general impression that women have of moustaches is either they love them or they are absolutely repulsed by them, and there's no real middle ground," Bassil said. "And there needs to be a middle ground for a fashion or a facial hair trend to be adopted en masse permanently," he added. by Catherine Hours Thu Jun 8, 1:26 PM ET

Golfing Friends

Last weekend I was in Colorado for Craig Melville's wedding (more pictures to come) and while I was out there I got a round of golf with 2 former teammates from the Pomona High School golf team. In the picture from left to right: Neil Seeley (PHS '96), Zac Adams (PHS '95), Michael McFadden (PHS '96), Dave Runyon (Niwott). It was a great time. 

Oxford Blues Golf Picture: Bufty Style

The 2005-2006 Oxford Blues Golf Team

Back row (left to right): Michael Canty, Michael McFadden, Stuart Baird, D.J. Stewart, Simon Jones, David F.M. Ferreria, Mason Grower Front row (left to right): Thomas A. Smith, Gareth O. Jones, Michael Gray, Philip Bickerton

How I Work - March 20, 2006 - CNNMoney

A good article on how a dozen "super-achievers" stay ahead in the fast lane. How I Work - March 20, 2006 I'm not sure of the sustainability of running in the fast lane too long, but in the short term we might as well be smart about it. Enjoy ... but not for too long, others might pass you by :-) Cheers, Mike

Alex English Summary

For those unfamilar with Alex English, I thought I'd enlighten you on one of the best NBA players of all time.

"Alex English was the NBA's most prolific scorer during the 1980s and retired as the seventh-leading scorer with 25, 613 points. After being underutilized by the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers during his first four years in the league, English became the most explosive member of a high-powered Denver Nuggets team that consistently ranked among the league's top-scoring clubs."

NBA.com: Alex English Summary And for those that are not coming to France for the MBA Olympics, you will miss out on the European Alex English:

Trinity Term Quotes

I wanted to share a few memorable quotes thus far in Trinity Term. Some I remember who said it and others I had scribbled in my little green book with no person identified. Apologies.

"Time in business is risk" -Guy Hands, Founder and CEO, Terra Firma

"Buy well, sell well, and don't screw it up in the middle" - Chris Woodhouse, CFO Debenhams, on working for private equity backed companies "What can go right? What can go wrong? What can be done to increase the probablity of it going right or reduce the probability of it going wrong?" -Questions to ask during an entrepreneurial venture "People who solve problems must somehow first arrive at the belief that they can solve problems." -How to Change The World, a social entrepreneurial book "Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." -Proverbs 4:7 "Do you do what you're best at every day?" "Be ruthless in selecting companies to work for. Be ruthless in selecting the right people to come work for you." (and expect the same)

Saying Goodbye to Norma Colamatteo

Mike's beautiful Grandma passed away this last week. We were disappointed to not be at the memorial service, but are thankful we got to hug her a few months before we left for Oxford. This matriarchwill be greatly missed by the Colamatteo family many of whom are shown here. Norma N. Colamatteo, 84, of Chicago and Pompano Beach, died April 25,2006 in McHenry, IL. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Orlando. Norma Natalie was born in Sesser, IL on August 27, 1921. She was the only child of Elsie and James Whitley. She is survived by her children, Diane, Frances Angela and Lonny Jr. She was the best grandma ever to David, Kate, Jennifer, Brian Peter, Michael James, Joey, Brian, Michael, Christopher, Liz, Orlando III and Anthony. The sweetest ''GG'' to Christopher, Natalie, Sara, Kyle, Adriana, Kelson and Tison. Norma was faithful, devoted, and loving to all her ''Sisters'', nieces, nephews and friends. All who knew her was only the richer for the experience. A mother to many, a friend to all. Please call Kraeer Funeral Home at 954-941-4111 for details regarding our celebration of her life. Published in the Chicago Tribune on 4/28/2006.

Great entertainment: Blog Maverick

If you're not at least a recreational blog reader yet it's time to get tuned in. It's one thing to read books, research papers, articles, and novels but it's another thing to get into a person's daily mind. It's amazing how many great minds and not-so-great minds are blogging these days. Any subject, no subject, random, focused, blogs come in all shapes and sizes ... religion, technology, personal, travel experiences, they're all entertaining and some are even educational. One of my favorite blogs to read is Mark Cuban's. He's the owner of the Dallas Mavericks (an NBA basketball team) and a very outspoken chap. Check out one of his latest entries: Dont Blame Me - Im just a stupid shareholder - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _ The Blog world is getting cluttered but so is amazon.com ... do some searches on your favorite subjects and I'm sure you'll find some great reading. PS I'd like to encouage some of you to start blogging ... do it once a week, once a month, if anything it's a great way to document your current thoughts and views. Cheers, Mike

New page on the website

I've been waiting for quite sometime to start a site that captured at least a portion of what I'm learning in school. However, I've realized I'm never going to have the time to do it to the degree I wish ... so, I'll just start it and see how it evolves. Introducing, info share or learnings ... i'm still figuring out what to name it. Speaking of new websites, I'm also in the process of starting a golf only blog ... yep, 2-Under. Not that I'm shooting 2 under these days but it had a nice ring to it and well, a boy can dream right?!

Spain

I got the opportunity to visit a friend of ours, Kyla, in Spain. She is staying in Granada for a few months studying Spanish. Granada was a wonderful city. It is one of the only city's in Spain to offer free Tapas at their bars when you come in for a drink. I really enjoyed getting to try all sorts of different delicious appetizers! We did manage to enjoy some of their other main cuisine as well. Paella a traditional rice and meet dish, as well as Tortilla Espanola - the Spanish Omelet made from egg and potato. In this picture, Kyla's host mother cooked us some home made Paella with vegetables, meet and some sea food. It was really good! On Sunday morning, we headed to the coast. We stayed in a small town called Nerja. How were we to know it was mostly a British touring town! It was lovely and we felt we were having both a Spanish and British experience all at once. It was a gorgeous day and we both went to bed that night sun kissed...which after living in England does not happen too often. We did cheat a bit and ate Mexican food that night. Of course, we are still unsure if you can count curry tacos as Mexican - but the sign said it was authentic! On Monday we traveled from the beach to the mountains! We went to Ronda. It was a wonderful mountain town. It was nestled in a wide valley in the mountains and seperating old from new town was a gorge. The main bridge that connects the two took 40 years to build! I personally liked the small bridge near the bottom of the gorge: San Miguel. I was told once that meant "good looking Michael." Not sure if the spaniards agree. Kyla and I spent all day Tuesday hiking and enjoying the outdoors before heading back to Grananda. Our last day in Granada we got to see La Alhambra. It is amazing and right now nominated to be one of the new 7 wonders of the world. I would vote for it in a heart beat! The architecture comes from a variety of centuries and rulers who all added their own personal touch, making it a mosaic of culture and time. After that I came back to Oxford. It was a great trip. I am so thankful to Kyla for taking the time to show me her wonderful city and share her adventure with me.

Another Cool Moment...

We found out last week that Mike was selected by his class to speak at the farewell dinner in September for the Oxford MBA class of 2006. This is a really neat honor as Mike was nominated and then voted by his classmates to be their representative at this special event. Jessica Shortall, a good friend of ours, was also asked to share. I am really excited for both of them and know they will do a great job!

On a different note, Mike is busy preparing for finals and the varsity Match against Cambridge coming up in a few weeks. Joining us at Muirfield will be Joe Goebel - friend from Cali, Dave Runyon - a man that needs no introduction, and many other friends from SBS. After the tournament Mike will play a few more rounds with Dave and the guys and I have the opportunity to be at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford that week. I am really looking forward to this event as social entrepreneurs from all over the world will gather to listen to incredible speakers. It is quite an opportunity.

More soon, Kelly M Picture above from Mike's Matriculation in October

This Just In: Mike's a Blue!

Mike has been selected as a team member for the Varsity Golf Match against Cambridge in March. “What does this mean?” you ask. I will tell you. For hundreds of years Oxford and Cambridge have been competing against each other in a variety of sports. This match is called the Varsity Match. This is the only match where a student of Oxford can obtain the highly coveted BLUE. With it comes honor, prestige and a very cool blue jacket. J Mike will be fitted today. And yes, I will post a picture of him in it soon. This years match will be held in Muirfield http://www.muirfield.org.uk/ one of the most well known golf courses in the world. If you happen to be in Scotland around the 24th of match please let us know. I am super excited for Mike and very proud of him. I am amazed at how he manages to do so much and do it all so well (cue sappy music). Sorry, had to take a proud wife moment.

Kelly Mc

Shifting the Dial

written by Kelly McFadden "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." — Matthew 11:30 Dr. Don Schoendorfer, founder of Free Wheelchair Mission, put his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering to work by creating a simple, sturdy and inexpensive wheelchair for those in need around the world. Bob Campbell, real-estate entrepreneur, teamed with his local church, offering business knowledge to build partnerships between numerous organizations to help create a program for emancipated youth to get the education and stability they need. Andrea Wherry loved to bake cakes. She baked unique and personalized cakes for homeless children on their birthdays, giving them a special day to remember. Her simple act created a birthday ministry to needy children in her community. The problems of this world can feel overwhelming and out of reach when we read the news or look around us. There are difficult issues that seem beyond our ability to help or do anything. Have confidence in this: God did not call you to be what you aren’t or to do what you cannot. While you will not be asked to fix all the problems around you, you are called to use the gifts He gave you to serve others. There are challenges and difficulties when we partner with Christ in this life; however, Jesus reminds us in this verse that His yoke is easy compared to the alternative. He will never give you more than you can bear. While the yoke is a labor tool for oxen, it is a shared tool. The weight will never fall on your shoulders alone. In fact, your primary partner is the Lord. It is He who carries the weight of the burden for you. Although the world’s problems seem insurmountable, God does not ask us to fix anything. He asks us to use our unique mixture of gifts and talents to shift the dial from despair to hope. Each time you do the work God has set before you, you are a part of His great plan in bringing hope to a hurting world. Search your heart and see what gifts and tools the Lord has given you to be able to reach out and help others.

Reminded of Oxford Welcome Message

The average life has 30,000 days. It's the only capital we get. Invest your time wisely, you are committing 365 to Oxford - make the best of it. Work hard. Have some fun. Make friends and then work harder. Notes from Roy Westbrook's welcome message.

Reflections & Highlights of Michaelmas

Perhaps it is time to take a moment to reflect on the Michaelmas term in Oxford. As we begin Hilary and new adventures are upon us, I would hate to lose all that we have done in the last few months due to my sloth in writing. So this will be a brief, and semi-inclusive look at Michaelmas... Ireland: What a trip we had! It turned into a golf trip for Mike and I on the northwest coast of Ireland. When the rain came down on the courses, we loved it...it seemed to be a part of the experience of golfing in Ireland. But by the third rain soaked day, we were wishing for a bit more sunshine. Our clothes did not have the time to dry between rounds. One torrent in Donegal basically voided the idea of rain-proof gear. There is no such thing when you are basically swimming on a course. Probably the highlight was visiting with Mike's grandfather's brother in his home near Carrick-on-Shannon in a tiny mining village called Arigna. The home was built over 200 years before by his great grandfather. We were able to sit with them in their home and enjoy tea as well as a shot of good old-fashioned Irish Whiskey. Maybe everyone pores guests whiskey at 1500? At first we thought they would be poring tea, but were a little quizzical when the tiny glasses came out. Between that and the conversations about cows, we felt we had traveled back in time. Oxford: Often described as the City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford is just that. It is home to the love of study and learning. It is our home now. Each corner, each cobblestone awakens the senses as you can picture horse drawn carriages and dons of old walking the same roads, the same halls for hundreds of years. If you have always hated school, even Oxford will make you want to pick up a book especially if you get a chance to walk through Duke Humphrey's Library (over 500 years old!). There is probably too much to say about Oxford. So much of it is captured in our pictures, that I will mention only a few things. Mike and I have loved being here. We are overwhelmed by how extremely talented and intelligent his class is. They are also a group who is outgoing and friendly. Oxford has also set up an atmosphere that encourages teamwork, not cut-throat competition. It has been great for me as well as a partner. Partners are included in everything and welcomed with open arms. There are also quite a few in my same situation, so friends were made quickly as we were all eager to meet someone. The hardest thing about this term for me has been all that has been going on at home. If you read this blog you know that my Uncle has been very ill. It has been quite a roller coaster. I was so thankful for Mike's encouragement to get to Italy and be with my aunt when everything first began. I also was able to see my uncle and family in California in November. Praise the Lord that he continues to recover and for the first time we are able to say he is not fighting an infection, but now fighting to recover. We continue to pray for him. One thing I love about England is the pub culture. Don't look so surprised. It is very different than the bar culture back home. Pub's were originally called public houses and offered residents somewhere to socialize since most of their homes were too small to have many over. It was common for people to have a neighborhood pub. Ours has become the Radcliff Arms. It is just down the street and the people there are so friendly. Truly our cheers...where everybody knows your name. The owner Michael once he met us immediately ordered American Sports for us on his TV system so we could keep up with football...And next basketball. We have watched some great games there and were able to take our friends there when they came into town. Key Events: The Templeton 20th Anniversary Dinner, Formal Halls at the colleges, Eating at Christ Church (Harry Potter Hall), having my mum (that's how they say is here) out for a visit, having some friends out over the New Year, dancing at the Lebanese restaurant on Mike's birthday, eating cookies from Danz located in the covered market, exploring this amazing and historic city and making it home, being able to communicate back home through yahoo's IM and seeing my family thru webcams, interacting with and meeting people from all over the world...I am sure I could come up with more if I took more time, but for now that is a good list. Trips: Besides Ireland when we first got here, Mike and I were able to go to Davos Switzerland over the break. What a trip we had. I don't think I will ever ski in Switzerland again only because it could never be that good again. Empty slopes and more snow than one could even hope for for all five days of skiing, let alone one! We had such a lovely time. We also took some moments away from the group. We headed into Klosters and ate at a small family run restaurant called Wynegg. We had fun trying to figure out the train system, getting off on the wrong stop, making our way back and making some new friends as we finally sat to eat some authentic swiss food. Between the cheese and cream, we have both been on a health kick since we returned. We also visited Edinburgh. WOW what a city. It was gorgeous. There is a castle in Edinburgh that sits up top the hill. It can be seen from every angle and offers incredible panoramic views. We had a blast storming the castle, doing the Scottish Whiskey tour, and looking into a little of the Campbell Scottish history. The New Years party was also pretty crazy. 100,000 people lined the streets for stage shows, rides, ice-skating and a wonderful firework show to ring in the new year. It was quite an event. And I would suggest to anyone to get to Edinburgh if you have a chance. The city was charming. Our last big stop was Bath. Bath brought us back into the MBA by heading out with some of our new friends for a weekend trip before the mayhem began again. Bath can best be described as enchanting. It is a city that captivates you the second you see it. IT offers history lessons, pitch and put golf, a gorgeous abbey and a taste of Rome in Britain, not to mention the taste of a Sally Lunn Bunn. Another must visit. Conclusion: All in all, we are still pinching ourselves to see if this is really happening and not just a dream. We have begun the Hilary Term and know this time will be through before we realize it. Our goal is to make the most of the gift we have been given in this adventure. And this term, I promise to contribute a bit more...