Figuring out life after graduation, whether we are LLMs or JDs, can be a bit daunting for most of us. Law school has the potential to make us more risk-averse, so we want to have a plan, and a back-up plan, and a back-up plan for the back-up plan.
LIDS and SELA helped students see a different perspective on November 13th, 2014 by presenting Benjamin Stone, Co-founder & Vice Chairman of Indego Africa, Director of Strategy & General Counsel of MCE Social Capital, and co-founder of Dollar a Day.Mr. Stone graduated from New York University School of Law in 2004, and completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship in 2010.
In 2006 he was a practicing attorney working at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, when he decided to leave his job and start Indego Africa, a non-profit social enterprise which helps women in Rwanda earn a living by facilitating market access and providing business education. Despite a few hick-ups, since it’s launch Indego has helped female artisans sell their product online at various stores including Anthropologie, DANNIJO, J.Crew, Madewell, and Nicole Miller.
Mr. Stone admited that if he could do it all over again, he would do things differently, but was also adament that the only way to figure this out is by just going out and doing it. He advised students not to overplan, noting that lots of people map out hundreds of ideas but never actually get started. Just do it and be okay with failure. Put yourself out there in an uncomfortable situation and when you find something wrong, recognize it and learn to do it better.
It is no surprise Indego Africa is such a success. Mr. Stone certaintly gave me food for thought.
nthawiwannabun@llm15.law.harvard.edi
