HOWARD SMITH BIO:

Mr. Smith is Vice Chairman-Finance of C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. and a Director of Starr International Company, Inc.

Previously, Mr. Smith was Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of American International Group, Inc. where he was responsible for AIG's Treasury, Investor Relations, Credit & Market Rick Management functions, in addition to the Comptroller's Department.

Prior to joining AIG, he spent 19 years with Coopers & Lybrand and was the Partner in charge of the Firm's New York Office insurance practice.

Mr. Smith earned his B.B.A. degree in accounting from the City College of New York in 1965 and was one of the North American representatives on the Insurance Working Group of the International Accounting Standards Board.

Mr. Smith is the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Weissman Center for International Business of Baruch College and previously was a Trustee at Hofstra University.

CONGRATULATIONS RONALDO STERN!

A profile of Ronaldo Stern was written up for the HauteLiving Blog!

I hope you get a chance to read the article below:

http://www.hauteliving.com/blog/online-exclusive-haute-profile-of-ronaldo-stern-ceo-of-h-stern-jewelers/

JANUARY 20th FORUM

MYNEWCONNECTION is proud to announce its second forum

Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 – 9:00

The Presidents Room at the New York Athletic Club

180 Central Park South, New York, New York 

Featuring Howard Smith

Director and Vice Chairman Finance of CVstarr - a privately-held company with insurance agencies and a portfolio of global investments.

Formerly CFO of AIG - American International Group

Cost: $30 

Includes:

7:00 - 8:00 - Openbar Reception

8:00 - 9:00  -  Forum  

Dress Code: Business attire, jeans and sneakers are NOT allowed 

Please RSVP by January 11th e-mail Mynewconnection@gmail.com 

CHANGE:

I was leaving a meeting today, and I overheard a young girl talking in the elevator. She said, “ I don’t stress about things I cannot control.”

One of the fundamental rules is that change is inevitable. Change is accelerating due to technology and most recently due to shortcomings in the economic system.

This is affecting every aspect of our lives especially so in a particular sector I am interested in -- the creation and distribution of media content. Technology has radically changed how media is accessed, and we must recognize the important changes that are being affected by it. Anyone interested in this field has to understand the new landscape and adapt to it.

We have no control over these external forces, and it is important that we do not waste our energy stressing about things we have no control over. What we can do is work on those things we do have control over. 

ARE WE LOST?

Sometimes everyone feels lost. For different reasons, we feel we are adrift and unable to get a true bearing of where we want to go. This feeling is accentuated in times like this where there is economic stress and many people worry about jobs and income. Our nature is to generally be optimistic about the future and to plan accordingly. Since the present is ever fleeting, ironically we are always thinking about the future. 

We should ask ourselves if we are happy with the way things are now in our lives. If the answer is yes, then you are very fortunate. But for the vast majority of us, we are often filled with doubt. Most people are never certain of what they want and because of this, they fall prey to what they think they want, what their parents want, or what somebody wants for them and so they spend their time chasing goals that make other people happy but not themselves.

Instead, is it important to focus your energy and thoughts of what is really important to you and by striving to achieve this, you will increase your opportunity to happiness.

It is a liberating experience to be certain about anything especially what it is that will make you most happy, and as long as it doesn’t decrease someone else’s happiness, you should pursue it!

I hope the monthly forums will be helpful. Good luck! 

THANKSGIVING:

Maybe this recession has caused us to appreciate Thanksgiving even more than we normally would have. Thanksgiving helps us remember what we should be thankful for. We tend to forget or take things for granted since we become accustomed to our life the way it is, and we think we are entitled to live a certain way. This is why I believe we should remind ourselves that everyday is a day of thanks, and to appreciate those things we have and not take them for granted. I personally am especially thankful for being able to enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting at my computer and being able to communicate with you. I hope you enjoy the holidays!  

Please stay posted for January's upcoming event! 

CHOICES:

I was talking to my friend Marcus and he said, “from what I see around in NYC is that we are never happy with what we have and are always looking for the next best thing.” I’ve noticed that this is a common theme in our lives now as well, but I was unsure that other people were aware of it. Why is it that we are never happy with what we have whether it’s a job or a relationship? Possibly it is because we always have in the back of our minds that there are so many other choices out there. Our ancestors had it much easier than us. Sometimes all these choices really makes life more stressful. Think about it: If you had to pick out a dress from a rack of 3 dresses or a rack of 20 dresses, it is easier to choose from 3 dresses and make a decision based on fewer options.

LESS IS MORE:

The “less is more” strategy of the recession is affecting luxury fashion as well. Just like Steven Kampann in the film industry who recently produced a film with a limited budget forcing him to be more creative, Saks Fifth Avenue, a luxury department store in the fashion industry is now using the same strategy. In the past, Saks would sell its unsold items of the season at a huge discount.  This had a psychological effect on its customers who had become accustomed to seeing luxury items on sale, which made it difficult for them to buy the same item regular price. This is all changing now since Saks is adopting a new policy of carrying fewer items and selling them at full price. Saks believes this new policy will be less risky than stocking up on items. Afterall, luxury items are supposed to be exclusive; therefore, with fewer items, the demand and value of them should increase. This may aspire the type of person who is fashion compulsive to buy something.

For those of us who are not fashion compulsive, we are learning to live with less and we are finding that we can live with less. Since for whatever reason, we choose to save money or not purchase something, we find ourselves getting along without them. We begin to realize that we don’t need things, and we realize this because we are forced to. 

THE STOCK MARKET:

This morning was a stressful morning applying for jobs. 3 resumes sent out, 3 phone calls, one hung up on me and one started laughing. I decided to come to my father's office and help him out. It was a beautiful day out so I thought why not walk there? I cannot find a job, but in the meantime, the stock market is going up! Gold made a new high today. It's $1,142.00 per ounce. A year ago, it was $720.00 so it is up about 58% since last November. I can see why gold is going up because the dollar is losing its value, and most likely, inflation is coming. Even with this downturn, there are still opportunities to be seeked. Warren Buffet is optimistic about America! With his success, I think we should also be optimistic.

SATURDAY MORNING:

I woke up early today to attend a lecture at NYU by Steven Kampmann on Writing and Directing for film: Studio, Independent and Low-budget. Since I usually wake up early, I thought to myself why not miss an opportunity to hear his story? He is an American writer, actor, and director. Regarding his latest movie that he just produced, he told the audience that writing something he cared about and not something commercial or for a studio was liberating. Low budget movies have forced him to be more creative. Sometimes adversity and a limited budget sharpens the mind and helps us focus on things we otherwise may overlook. Imagine this scenario: you are given unlimited words and you have to describe the same thing with a limited amount of words. Just like the recession has reduced what is available to us as we face adversity, it also presents us an opportunity to focus on those things that are essential and more meaningful. This may allow us to be creative, to judge what is valuable, and to finally recognize what was superflouis. So when you are confronted with less and you can't do anything about it, look at it as an opportunity to enhance your own abilities by creating more with less. And because we are unsure of ourselves, sometimes all these choices are counterproductive and make our lives more stressful. 

KEEPING AMERICA GREAT:

I was watching CNBC last night with Warren Buffet and Bill Gates answer Columbia Business students’ questions and something stood out to me. Gates said that finding the thing you are passionate about and that you’re good at can take a bit of years.  I am now 24 years old, and I have used my unemployment time wisely experimenting in different fields to find what I am passionate about.  I received my real estate license, and I interned as a research assistant in Psychology. I agree with Gates when he said that most people get into their 20’s and have to try out some different experiences. Since we don’t have all the time in the world to try everything, my goal for this network is to expose ourselves to different business industries and perhaps open the doors to possible work opportunities in a friendly environment.  The more we get together to learn about different businesses from our guest speakers, the better chance we have to foster both professional and individual growth.  

PICTURES:

Emily Ramdehaul with Marcus Magarian 

Sofia Vassilakis (left) with Mr. Ronaldo Stern

H.STERN FORUM:

H.STERN FORUM IS EDUCATIONAL AND 

ENGAGING WITH A GREAT TURNOUT

New York, New York – November 10^th

The H.Stern forum held tonight was a true success! An international crowd of about 30 people gathered for light refreshments and an engaging discussion with our first distinguished speaker Mr. Ronaldo Stern, President of H.Stern, one of the most prominent jewelry brands.

The discussion started out with the inspiring story of the founding and history of H. Stern.  What began as a one-man operation by a refugee Hans Stern, in a short time turned into an internationally and well-respected name, with over 165 stores in 34 different countries.  

H.Stern is the leading purveyor of colored gemstones. It is deservedly famous for its integrity and good quality.  

Mr. Ronaldo Stern gave an informative and entertaining presentation with an interesting question and answer period. We were honored to have him as our first guest speaker!

Please stay posted and e-mail www.mynewconnection@gmail.com if you have any comments or suggestions.  

DRESS YOUR BEST:

A few days ago,  I attended a presentation by FIT Professor, and Fashion Industry Consultant, Anastasia C. Ben-Gurion about dressing your best.  I enjoy investing time in selecting my outfits, and I like wearing all sorts of styles, from elegant to creative. Dressing your best is essential for that first blind date or even for a job interview.  She said the components of first impressions are:

·       55%  Appearance

·       38%  Vocal and tone of voice

·       7%    Words

So be conscious of your dressing, because people make judgments about you in under 10 seconds, based mostly on the way you are dressed, and your body language.  The essential business outfit is: neutral colored ensemble with a dark jacket or blazer.  You can accessorize it with some jewelry but nothing too dramatic. Perhaps pearls are appropriate. And if you are trying to climb the corporate ladder, steer away from pastels! Good luck!

ARE YOU IN A RECESSION RUT?

Oscar Wilde said, “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

 So…find a new route to go to work or for those who don’t work, take that nice walk through beautiful central park! Cook a meal you have never cooked before or if you are like me, try cooking your first meal! Learn a new language! Do volunteer work! Listen to some Chopin! Come to the first forum event on November 10^th! Get out of that rut!  

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG:

Congratulations to Mr. Bloomberg! He has won his third term as New York mayor. He has done a fine job in NYC since he is committed and dedicated!   

WARREN BUFFET:

Burlington Northern Santa Fe operates one of the largest railroad networks in North America. Berkshire Hathaway will acquire the remaining 77% of BNI that it does not own. The deal values at about 44 billion dollars. This is the largest acquisition Warren Buffet has ever made. We are in a recession. In my opinion, by investing in BNI, Warren Buffet is investing in America; he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. The future is bright!   

HOW TO NETWORK:

Networking is a great tool to help you in your life. We all know the benefits of networking. The question is how do you network? I suggest attending the monthly forums; it is a great way for you to casually talk to successful leaders and CEO’s that may be able to help you by offering you insightful advice and pointing you in the right direction. In addition, you could also meet other young fellow professionals that can offer you some insight.

I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT, NEW YORK:

New York is one of the most amazing cities in the world. Yesterday, I went to the Rock and Roll museum on Mercer street. I was given headphones and journeyed through the exhibit listening to the greatest rock stars from Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Madonna, U2, and Bruce Springsteen. Music from the soundtrack of the greatest hits of these artists played. The effect that music has on people and its ability to instantly change ones mood is phenomenal.  Neuroscientists say that we use both sides of our brain when listening to music, which is why music has such healing powers! I traveled through each era of Rock and Roll from beginning to end and how it evolved from the blues, to rock, then to electronic rock. The last exhibit was John Lennon’s, which was created by Yoko Ono. It included artifacts, films and photos to commemorate John Lennon. At the end of the exhibit, they played “Imagine”, which was indeed very imaginative! I was listening intently to the words of the song and I did try to imagine what a world without borders, greed and divisive religion would be -- a world living in peace. It made me feel good thinking these thoughts, and suddenly, I felt optimistic, and my particularly little problems didn’t seem as important after all. Explore Manhattan and check out the Rock and Roll Museum!

http://www.rockannex.com/home

 

ABOUT MYSELF:

My name is Eugenia Valliades. I graduated Boston University in 2007, and I was recently laid off from an advertising agency due to downsizing. 

I am using my free time to create this blog/network.  My consistent theme is to offer suggestions, insights and tips that will make your life more satisfying and if the objective is to find or change employment, I hope the monthly forums will be helpful. Stay focused and be optimistic and most of all -- keep in touch. If you have any suggestions, I will welcome your ideas. 

E-mail: Mynewconnection@gmail.com  

FORUM EVENT:

MyNewConnection is proud to 

announce the first forum held 

Tuesday, November 10th at 7:00pm

Join us  for a discussion with the CEO 

Ronaldo Stern  of the Jewelry Company H. Stern.  

The company began in Brazil in 1945. Overtime it has expanded around the world to 12 different countries. Today, it has 160 stories worldwide.   "The Company is one of the fastest- growing high-end  Jewelry manufacturers in the world. "

Come join Mr. Ronaldo Stern for an incredible opportunity to learn about the Jewelry industry and what it takes to be successful.  

PLEASE RSVP at Mynewconnection@gmail.com. Seats are limited!  Only people who RSVP and are on the list are able to attend. 

For more information about the company, go to:  http://www.hstern.net/site/home/default.asp

MYNEWCONNECTION:

“Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something; your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down and it has made all the difference in my life.”  - Steve Jobs CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost 

This network is created for motivated young men and women to foster professional and individual growth while meeting and listening to leaders across a spectrum of disciplines and industries ranging from traditional masters of the universe to today’s innovative entrepreneurs.

Forums will be held once a month in NYC. Please stay posted on my blog and RSVP to the next event!