A Photographic Journey to the Land of “Guns, Germs, and Steel”
Our own indefatigable traveler and amateur photojournalist Vincent Yip recently completed a month long journey through Central and South America, covering the five countries of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. As usual, he will feast us with his colorful slides and entertain us with interesting travelers’ tales of famous sights/events such as the Brazilian Carnival, the Iguazu Falls and Patagonia snow peaks of Argentina and of course Peru’s Machu Picchu ruins. There will also be photos and stories of the peoples, culture, religions and foods of this most wonderfully diverse continent of the world.
Vincent’s professional experiences range from materials R&D, to technology promotion, to entrepreneurship and business school teaching. He has a multi-lingual and multi-cultural background, having lived and worked in Asia (Singapore and Beijing), Europe (Brussels) and the US (Los Angeles, Chicago & SF). He also previously served in a diplomatic capacity as a deputy Ambassador for Singapore to Belgium, the European Commission, and the Vatican.
As technology consultant, Vincent advises/helps individuals and companies navigate complex entrepreneurial relationships, especially with China, Singapore, Hong Kong & Taiwan, whether by seeking Joint Venture partners or Venture Capital, sourcing suppliers, negotiating contracts, or facilitating research/cultural/trade exchanges. As an Adjunct Professor he has taught MBA/EMBA courses at Kellogg Graduate School of Management and B-schools at Tsinghua, USC, and USF. Since 2008, he has also been teaching Stanford Continuing Studies courses on Project Management and Doing Business in China.
Vincent grew up Catholic within the immensely cosmopolitan city state of Singapore. If he could have been born anywhere on earth, (and he seems to have been to most of them), it would have been there. It grounded Vincent in the international understanding that he has used throughout his life. He speaks of himself as being a 1.5 generation immigrant, having arrived in the U.S. at age 17. He achieved a BA in physics at age 20 while lettering in track and soccer and becoming a wonderful dancer. Then on to USC where he received his PhD in Materials Science, along with the requisite 3 other Masters degrees including an MBA in International Business. Then he returned to his roots with a 13-year stint with the Singapore Government in technology management, including being intimately involved in the conceptualization, development and promotion/administration of the Singapore Science Park. As a deputy ambassador Vincent was stationed in Brussels as a liaison to the EC the forerunner of the EU. His high profile positions led him to be granted meetings with 2 world leaders responsible for the wellbeing of billions, Pope John Paul II in1991 at the Vatican, and China’s paramount leader Deng Xiao Ping. Vincent has lived in and traveled to various countries around the world, and as we know is a keen observer of cultural differences among nations. As a special treat, and to make sure as many of us attend his talk as possible, he has arranged with the IRS to extend all of our tax deadlines until Monday the 18th. What a guy!