I recently wrote an opinion piece that was featured in the NY Times. If you're moved by this post please consider donating to an organization I've learned about called Birthright AFRICA: http://www.birthrightafrica.org/donate. If you want to get in touch about the idea, please message me on my contact page. Blessings and Sankofa, Mercedes https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/04/opinion/sunday/travel-blacks-africa.html
Getting up to Speed in VC and What I’ve Learned
If you are considering VC and have the opportunity to work at a fund, here is my TL;DR advice about how to design your first few months: 1) identify what parts of the role you want to test / explore and be very transparent / intentional about these areas 2) keep a journal of your... Continue Reading →
Where is VR/AR and Education Now?
Originally published on VRScout on July 25, 2017: https://vrscout.com/news/vr-ar-education-now/ In March 2014 Facebook bought Oculus and the current wave of interest in VR and AR was reborn. While the public largely scoffed at the awkward goggles, industry pundits proclaimed VR/AR would one day replace our 2D screens, and highlighted education as one of the top applications in... Continue Reading →
Top Companies and Players in the VR/AR Education Space
With VR/AR being such a nascent industry, it can be difficult to get a grasp of the landscape and who is doing what. I created a guide to some of the top companies and key players in the VR/AR space to help demystify the space. Enjoy!
2016’s Top 5 Trends in Alternative Higher Education
2016 was a busy year in alternative higher education! From MOOCs to coding bootcamps to Online Program Managers (OPMs) to universities, all players kept busy innovating and pushing the boundaries to move us toward a world where more adults feel prepared to engage and succeed in society. Here's a rundown of 2016's Top 5 Trends... Continue Reading →
Paranoid Optimism
You can assume that everything that can go wrong, will, and still be an optimist. Trust me, I'm a pro at it. Flash back a few years ago to early 2014. At work, my division was growing like wildfire. Like a thorny weed. Like bunny rabbits. Heck it was growing so fast we couldn't remember... Continue Reading →
It’s not all Online – Trends to Watch in Higher Education 2015
Across the country, universities are feeling a pinch. The cost of operating a university is rising, and increases in tuition can't keep up. Across the country, students are also feeling a pinch. Tuition is rising, and the long-promised value of a higher degree is becoming more and more dubious. To combat these issues, universities and third party... Continue Reading →
How I Make Big Life Decisions
If you've read my blog you understand I love self-help advice. Giving and receiving it. One of my favorite types of self-help advice is around decision making. For years I have used a tool to help make big life decisions and shared it with all my friends. Yesterday my girlfriend and I were on the phone... Continue Reading →
Internal Ventures…..What’s That?
"You run new ventures....so what does that mean??" This is a question I receive almost every time I tell anyone what I do. I stepped into a role at General Assembly as Head of New Ventures 5 months ago and have quickly realized the role is not just rare, but that many have no idea what... Continue Reading →
