James Tinsley

MBA 2012

Hometown: Born in Holland
Also raised in Houston, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
Pre-MBA: Account Executive at AKQA

James Tinsley

Post Graduation Goals:

I’ll be working at Google as an Account Executive in Sales. My dream job involves the ways consumers and brands communicate with each other.

A favorite GSB memory:

GSB Show - I was the stage manager and had an absolute blast putting on the biggest production of the GSB year!

Sunday

08:30am

Spent last night camping with 3 non-GSB friends in Big Tree National Park in the foothills of the Sierras, about 3 hours east of campus.

09:00am

Pop tarts and yogurt around the campfire.

10:00am

Short hike in the forest admiring the massive redwoods and the carcass of a 300 foot, 1250 year old tree which was felled in the late 1800's.

01:00pm

Drive back to campus with a stop at In-n-Out Burger for lunch (Double Double and a milkshake!).

04:00pm

Get home, unpack, and triage emails. 75 emails in only 24 hours of being off the grid. Key Tasks: - Buy plane tickets and reserve car for 4 of us (GSBers) wandering around Europe over Thanksgiving break. - Respond to several emails regarding Student Association IT Committee issues. - Reply to parents about Christmas plans. - Fill out STEP Social Events form for things to do when Chinese Students are here in January. - Set up meeting with Entrepreneur to interview him about his startup for Formation of New Ventures class.

07:00pm

Catch-up dinner with a friend at NoLa's in downtown Palo Alto to hear about the preschool she founded. Always interesting to hear about founding and growth stories for non-tech companies! This is always with me, it governs my life!

09:30pm

Senate agenda emailed out.

09:45pm

Create slides on the electric car industry in China to send out to my group, respond to yet more emails, check the SA Senate agenda to see if I have to prepare anything for that meeting scheduled for Monday at noon. Debate on Facebook as to whether the Cardinal has a shot at getting to the National Championship football game. Set up a few dinners for the week with friends. Late-breaking emails: - Do I want to join a startup? Probably not tonight... - Set up next meeting of the IT Committee - Review the results of the SA Student Survey

Tuesday

07:15am

Up, quick exercise in my room, shower and off to campus after sending an email to the GSB show directors reminding everyone to wear their show t-shirts to promote tonight's GSB Show meeting.

08:00am

Drive to campus, gorgeous view down Palm Drive!

08:15am

Just enough time to grab chai and a croissant from Coupa Cafe.

08:30am

Phone call with classmate Shaka Bahadu (foreground) and Rahim Fazal, chairman of Involver. We talk to him about the founding of his company for our Formation of New Ventures paper (due next Tuesday). Breakfast while conference calling.

09:30am

Just enough time to triage email before class, and print my presentation slides and notes for this afternoon's 'Electric Auto' session

10:00am

'Formation of New Ventures.' Today's focus is on Venture Capital structuring and Angel investment

12:00pm

Final session of 'Global Electric Auto Industry.' My group is presenting on the EV market in China from the perspective of a new entrant. Today's class will have each of the three groups present on their areas of focus (Europe, US, China), then we'll have a general discussion about the course (this is the final session), and give feedback on improvements for future iterations.

03:00pm

Meeting with group to discuss Mongol Rally - next summer's ridiculous adventure from London to Ulanbataar in Mongolia.

03:30pm

Finally got the Google Offer Letter!!

04:00pm

Catch up on email, key tasks: - Email CMC to discuss negotiating my summer employer's Full-Time Offer Letter. - Set up next meeting of Student Association IT Committee.