Multicultural Critical Theory. At B-School?

As I was hanging out and doing my sponge-like absorption of the vibes shooting left and right from the leading-edge thinkers in this emerging culture-cum-business age at the Chief Culture Officer Boot Camp, Lane Wallace was offering up their observation that “students needed to learn how to think critically and creatively every bit as much as they needed to learn finance or accounting” via their NYTimes (02/13/10) article.

People often ask me if I’m back to school for my M.B.A. I’m usually not very good at holding back the look of “ew, no!” that shoots across my face, but I’m trying to be better about it.  I have plenty of Ivy-clad MBA’s in my circle of friends that could buy me 10-times over to remind me that not all business school types are pulseless and blank drones who suck the vibrancy from culture without concern for the aesthetic value of life experience in the name of capitalism, one spreadsheet at a time.  Yes, I’m a capitalist.  I’m a producer.  I create capital and culture.

Ironically, I will (generally) explain that I am pursuing the equivalent of a “C-MBA” (Creative Masters in Business Administration).  I’m blessed to be in a situation to cherry-pick, what I feel, is the best of the best in applied business strategy, anthropological and sociological understandings, psychological theory (from environmental and cognitive to behavior), and applied design management. However, I will walk away with an “M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies,” which based on most hierarchical classification systems in corporate America, will completely keep me off the radar of most senior/executive-level hiring opportunities — even those I would totally rock.

Chief Culture Officer: The Boot Camp

I’ve found a man who understands me.  It sounds impossible, I know.  But Grant McCracken has figured me out.

Grant has been in my life for about two months, and it’s been a culturally-charged lovefest ever since (Even his wife, Pam, is gorgeous — such a charmed life, Mr. McCracken!). I crossed his path (the intersection of anthropology and economics — yes, economics. I know I just lost half of you) when I stumbled upon the new Masters of Branding program at the School of Visual Arts.  Listed as one of the guest speakers, I learned about Grant as I researched the program in detail (an excellent program — very exciting in the world of branding!).

Chief Culture Officer was released a few months ago.  The book is a celebration for us ‘both/and-ers’ in this world.
Many of us are creatives, but have an extraordinary aptitude for business.  For us, going to business school would be akin to a lobotomy.  Some of us are more structured business-types, but have an incredible interest and curiosity in culture and its influence on business.

I read it in one (lengthy) all-nighter.  I can’t use life-changing or inspiring to describe it, because that would suggest a new way of seeing the world.  Grant’s discourse on the significance of cultural reference and understanding on the future of business IS the way I see the world. Validating and optimistic is Chief Culture Officer. And yesterday was further evidence of this.  But more on that in a minute. First, a little more about Chief Culture Officer…this is the necessary future of business as Grant sees it:

Wizardry, Transparency + Due Dates

This is my first Saturday at home in a month.  Mid-January into usually mid-February is always back-to-back-to-back-to-back weekends of fencing – not that I’m complaining.  It just means that after the holidays, I hit the ground running.  In an ideal world, I have all of my ducks in a row and am prepared for it.  However, in my temporary world of higher education, it causes a bit of havoc because it happens at exactly the same time as the new semester.  So, no matter how well I plan and clean and prepare for the tsunami, a month later and I’m looking around my apartment and at my to-do list with shock and awe.  How do dust bunnies and laundry multiply like this?!?!  And suddenly, my once clean calendar is filled to the brim with readings and due dates. Oh, and then there are the bills. Yeah, those.  Egads!

As of the writing of this post,

In Praise of Online Obscurity

My magic number seems to be around “350.” I’m not a “friend collector” in the social world of onlineness. If I don’t know you in person, chances are good that you’re not a friend on my Facebook. With Twitter, I’m a little more liberal. It’s open, but I’m not actively recruiting eyeballs for “my brand.” I engage with those who engage with me and will send the occasional “@” to those I follow who don’t reciprocate for whatever reason.  If you follow me (@nycredhead), you will see a lot of RT’s from those I respect in the branding/media worlds, as well as friendly banter with long time friends.  I throw out ideas and questions and comments to anyone willing to take note or to engage with me. Admittedly some days, I feel like I’m yapping into an abyss (like yesterday, for instance).  On those days, take a break and find something else to do. Work? Oh, perhaps.

Yesterday’s Tweet: “Nobody loves me. I’m talking to myself. *sigh* I’ll just be over here minding my own….licking my wounds…don’t mind me….”

Back to One…

I do senior-level digital influence and brand strategy. I know, I should have a blog.  The truth is, I’ve had several of them over the past few years — personal and professional.  As the landscape and purpose of social media has evolved — especially over the past 18-months — I have been less satisfied with the shape of my online presence.  And so, I yanked the blog-thing a few months to consider and meditate where I want to take the whole thing. Other life-lived experiences have taken precedence to manifesting something new into the blogosphere, but it’s been long enough. I’m here. I’m back. However you find me, let’s get on to building this thing together.

I’m currently writing a paper at NYU on something I refer to as