Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at Wharton

Hi ho, hi ho.

Today I attended a Wharton Leadership Lecture given by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Ostensibly here to woo Wharton into opting for Microsoft WindowsLive instead of Gmail (sorry Steve-O, I'm a Gmail girl), Steve (he asked me to call him that) gave a brief talk followed by Q&A to a packed house. This guy has amazing energy, and you can see why he's the leader of one of the world's most powerful companies...he is channeling Chris Farley's "You're gonna be living in a van down by the river!!!", but it works on him. He stressed how people are an organization's most important asset, and this is a theme which has recurred in every leadership lecture. Being a C-level exec seems to be all about charisma and connections, and my good buddy Steve is no exception. Word.

I also got my first (phone) interview for next week with a certain superhip and happening Silicon Valley powerhouse whose name may or may not rhyme with Snapple. If you guessed Google, to you I say: purchase some headgear immediately (this kind: http://www.phma.org/images/wear_helmet_poster.pdf , not this kind: www.orthokineticscorp.com/images/chelsea.jpg) . I am entirely unprepared and will spend my weekend "getting to know the space" (god, I love to say that) and pathetically and hopelessly attempting to review case interviews just in case.

Rock on. That is all.