“Part 3: A Reflection on My EMS Experience” by Rizwan Oskoui

Hello again, dear readers! This is the end of the series and, as many literary journeys go, this one is going to end on a slightly sentimental note. I’ve been part of Executive Management Service (EMS) Cohort #1 since September 2020; it’s only fitting that I wrap up this experience with a reflection on my personal trek. Grab your caffeine source of choice, a biscuit, and a chair.

For starters, I really just applied to the program on a…

“Part 2: Ode to Maslow” by Rizwan Oskoui

Welcome back, dear readers! Have I sold you on the value of professional mindfulness yet? (See Part 1: Translating Soft Skills in the Time of Covid.) If you’re not quite there, you’re in luck. I’ve got another installment.

You may need a bit of background for this one, so let’s get down to basics. Every business class I’ve ever taken has referred to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a core concept, a way of understanding what drives…

“Translating Soft Skills in the Time of Covid (Part 1)” by Rizwan Oskoui

Life moves quickly. We live in a day and age where everything happens in a blur, our schedules and responsibilities a jumble of multicolored blocks on cell phones. Even in the middle of a pandemic (when we’re supposed to be slowing down) the days seem to end almost as soon as they begin. 

The solution seems simple: practice mindfulness. Focus on the moment, on the space within you and around you, on feelings and thoughts. Simply be…

“Beyond Broadway” by Shani Nyandemoh

The neon lights of Broadway have dimmed – no, actually, they’ve gone dark.  For actors, that means no more two show days, passing by the marquee to head through the stage door or hearing the familiar call for places. Broadway is considered the pinnacle of success for many artists and where many long to be one day. It is the ultimate collection and collaboration of the best and brightest all in one place, to accomplish one mission: to…

“Protect This House” by Melissa Farzin

Rules of engagement – we all have them, but we normally don’t take the time to write them down. As my sister was getting ready to graduate from college, I had accumulated almost five years of professional work experience, and was contemplating an appropriate graduation gift– something meaningful, useful, and personal. I thought back to my own transition from academia to what they call the “real world,” and quickly found myself…

Quality and ISO Certification

What constitutes Quality? In “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” the hero’s quest for the meaning of Quality leads to madness. If you google Quality, you might find something like “…the non-inferiority or superiority of something; it’s also defined as being suitable for its intended purpose while satisfying customer expectations.” That’s Wikipedia. According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO),…