USC Marshall School of Business

The Entrepreneur and Venture Management Association’s 2011 Young Presidents’ Organization Roundtable was held April 5, at the Radisson at USC. The tight ratio of students to business owners allowed Marshall MBA students to spend a meaningful amount of time with each entrepreneur, teasing out what they had learned along the way.

The annual roundtable, an event that brings together aspiring capitalists and rising business leaders, attracted more than 70 guests, including YPO members Reza Etedali from REZA Investment Group, David Krantz from AT&T Interactive and Jason Waggoner from Star Waggons.

Matt Johnson, president of the Santa Monica YPO Chapter, welcomed the group, explaining what YPO members are looking for. "We are interested in growing our businesses and in talking about new ones."

Etedali, the keynote speaker, discussed the importance of knowing your own mind. He cited his own experience as an MBA student at USC, when very few people wanted to be in real estate. Though people often told him he was getting into the wrong industry, ultimately, it was a great time to be in real estate, he said.

While urging students to believe in their vision, Etedali also encouraged them to be humble. "The more you are ego-less, the more you will do well," he said.