Mentoring in Europe & Buying a Caboose

What a wild week! We matched the last of the first group of EMEA SEED
participants. All 32 have now started their mentoring
partnerships.

• 75% of the mentors are executives, including:
  • 5 Vice Presidents (including one Fellow)
  • 19 Directors (including 7 Distinguished Engineers)
• Location:
  • 20 of the Mentors are based in California (62%)
  • The others are in France (4), Canada (1), the UK (1), and
    other parts of the USA (6)
• Priority Patterns:
  • 16 of the SEED participants were matched with their
    1st or 2nd choice Mentor (50%)

  • 9 were matched with their 3rd of 4th choice Mentor (28%)
  • 7 were matched with a Mentor lower down on their
    Mentor Wish List (22%)
• Cycle Time:
  • Matching started on 5 December and ended today:
    a 36 day cycle

  • 25% were matched in the first week
  • 66% were matched in the first two weeks
  • 94% were matched in the first month
• SEED Experience:
  • 4 SEED Alumni Returning as Mentors
  • 18 Mentors are serving for the 1st time with SEED
  • 7 Mentors are in their 2nd time with SEED
  • 3 Star Mentors are in their 3rd or 4th time with SEED
  • 4 Superstar Mentors are in their 5th or 6th time with SEED

In addition, John and I are making a bid to buy a

Western Pacific Caboose. (Yes, the end car on an old train!)
We have wanted one for our backyard
office and library for years. This is the second time we have
bid and we will know in a few days if we get this one! Check out
what goes into
moving a caboose! We have been calling the city about permits,
crane and trucking companies, insurance companies, a soils engineer
(to discuss filling in the swimming pool the caboose will replace),
and lots of other folks.

In addition, we fly out next week for a trip to St. Petersburg
and Tel Aviv to meet potential SEEDs. And this is Midterm exams
week for our daughter. No problem!