Harvard Business School Bulletin
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Memorial column, On behalf of the members of Section A, MBA 1993. Jack Willis, 1520 York Avenue, Apt. 21E, New York, NY 10128; Charlene Li, 1541 La Mesa Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010; Andrew Matheson, 6 Hurd Street, Belmont, MA 02478 -- Section B On Sept. 11, 2001, we lost a dear friend and colleague when Waleed Iskandar died aboard American Airlines Flight 11 en route to visit his parents in Los Angeles. At the time, Waleed was living in London and working as a consultant with the Monitor Group. Here's a recap of Waleed's life. He was born in Beirut in 1967 and in 1984 came to the US to attend Stanford University. In 1989 he graduated with a BS and an MS with distinction in industrial engineering and computer science. In 1990 Waleed started working with Monitor in Cambridge and continued to do projects there while attending HBS. When he graduated in 1993, Waleed was named a Baker scholar. After HBS Waleed worked throughout the world, in the US, Korea, and throughout Europe. He established Monitor Group's Istanbul office and helped develop Monitor's Central and Eastern European and Middle East operations. Most recently he was living in London and was head of Europe for Monitor's digital strategy unit. He loved to travel and recently returned from a vacation to Greece, where he and his fiancée, Nicolette Cavaleros, were planning to be married in July next year. But these details fail to capture the many ways in which Waleed touched us during the time we spent together at HBS and in later years. Although Waleed is gone, the many memories and thoughts he leaves behind keep him in our thoughts. Here's a collection of memorials contributed by members of Waleed's HBS community. The first place many of us first met Waleed was in the classroom, and we were all amazed by his intelligence and insight. Steve Cahillane wrote: "Memories of Waleed are very vivid; he was impossible to forget. First year I sat next to him, and the first week he made me really fear I was an admissions error. He was doing calculus in his head. Luckily, I soon realized that he was different, that he was truly gifted with an incredible intellect. We were also on the B team intramural basketball team together. How did a guy not from the US become so good? Always slashing to the basket, he was an exciting and intense player." John Cullinane added, "I remember clearly how intelligent he was and how the classroom seemed extra quiet when he spoke. I feel like professors called on Waleed often when they needed the 'right' answer to the case. Speaking of professors, Prof. Adam Brandenberger also wrote in: "I had the privilege of being Waleed's teacher at HBS. I thought I knew how much of a privilege it is to be a teacher, but it is only now, when one of my students was lost on Sept. 11, that I really know. There is a bond with a student that remains long after the course is over and the student has left school. The bond with Waleed was formed a long time ago and remains unbroken." Tim Wicks from Section E wrote: "I met Waleed in the first few days of our first year at HBS. A friend from Section B introduced us, and within a few days, a group of four of us, which included Waleed, formed a study group and agreed to meet every morning before our first class. Most of us were adapting to the initial workload and intensity of HBS and would spend a fair amount of our early study-group meetings talking about this. Waleed had a good-natured way of breaking through our shock by joking that the pace at HBS was a nice break from the pace he'd been running at Monitor. I learned much from Waleed during our hours together each morning. He had a gift for cutting through all the details and getting down to the few facts that mattered. This was especially impressive to me because while I would have been laboring all afternoon and night on the day before we'd discuss the cases, Waleed typically would have either been out waterskiing or working on some project a t Monitor. Waleed was truly one of the most intelligent individuals I've met in my career. I'll miss his kind, unassuming style that was so disarming, given his incredible intellect. I offer my deepest condolences to his parents, family, and fiancé in their loss. My prayers are with you." Jeremy Verba had this to add about Waleed's in-class performances. He wrote: "One of the clearest memories I have of Waleed is that he had one of the best BS meters in our section. You could often see him smirking when someone was going off on a rant or in the wrong direction on a discussion, and then, every now and then, he would pop in with his insights and take the conversation off in a completely different direction. While I have not kept in touch with Waleed since graduation, he was one of the people I looked forward to seeing at our reunions. In a way, he was a touchpoint as we all lived out our crazy lives. I will miss him when I read the Bulletin or attend a reunion. For me, his absence will be felt often." But we all quickly got to know that behind the awesome intellect lay a fun and warm person. John Pingree wrote: "Waleed was not only a keen intellect and astute businessperson but also an incredible human being. He enjoyed life fully and helped those around him to do so as well. His ability to build relationships with people from different backgrounds left this world a bit more friendly, tolerant, and hospitable." John Cullinane observed: "Outside class, Waleed was always easygoing and friendly. Late in our second year, a few of my non-HBS friends attended our Section B sendoff party on Cape Cod, where they met Waleed. Two of these friends called me recently, unsolicited, to ask about Waleed after reading the newspaper. They were saddened by the news. I was so impressed that Waleed had made a warm, lasting impression on two virtual strangers he had met for only two hours over five years ago." Kaz Onose added, "I will cherish my memory of him. He was always so heartful and kind to me during my days at HBS. Thank you indeed, Waleed." Dan Muth wrote, "We remember Waleed as very smart, confident, relaxed, concerned about and for others in the Section. He was a positive energy in any room; you couldn't come away from a conversation with Waleed without smiling!" Elizabeth Pulver Castleman also wrote about that sense of concern: "I think I can safely consider myself one of the more stressed-out students at HBS, especially in our first year, when the support of our sectionmates was so important. I can honestly say that Waleed was one of the kindest people I met. One could hardly spend time with him and not share his contagious smile and carefree attitude. When I think of him, I immediately picture his smile, the genuinely happy, relaxed, friendly, 'no worries' kind of smile that few people have, that makes people feel that he's truly glad to see them. Although Waleed was fun and relaxed, he was also brilliant, a combination that served him well at HBS and made him a truly unique business leader. Waleed tried to convince me to take school less seriously, and I'm sorry to say he wasn't entirely successful at the time. But I, for one, am going to reserve a place in my mind and heart to keep that message from Waleed with me: to just relax, everything will be OK, smile. When I get upset about the recent events, overwhelmed by work and family responsibilities, weighed down by worries, I'll remember that smile and that wonderful sense of everything being OK, which Waleed shared with me." Scott Sims wrote: "Waleed was an extremely bright and capable person. I recall his always smiling, confident manner. Perhaps the greatest respect we can show him will be to increase our commitments, in our jobs, our community service, and other contributions, to defeat the terrorism that caused such loss." Thomas Schmitt wrote: "The set of feelings this tragedy leaves is beyond description. Even from a distance, Waleed to me always incorporated everything that is good about HBS graduates: positive, 'can-do,' kind, and passionate, going the extra mile to help others. As I was thinking about the tragedy, another thought came through for me, which also triggered this note: I am not connecting enough with the remarkable group of people I was fortunate to be part of during my two years at B-School. Just in the last issue of the Bulletin, I read about Joel's relocating back to Minnesota, a move driven by family considerations. Here is one example of somebody I can learn from who has his priorities firmly in order. Life is a precious resource. I will try to share and connect more with sectionmates going forward. My thoughts and wishes are with everybody."  (Waleed Iskandar doing the knees skiing) We all knew about Waleed's incredible passion for waterskiing, and some of us were actually lucky enough to get out on the water with him. Claude Germain wrote: "What I'll remember most is Waleed's teaching me to barefoot waterski. On quite a few chilly spring mornings, before the sun was up, Waleed would come and pick me up in a beater of a station wagon. We'd head out to get coffee and drive out to Worcester. That's where he kept his Ski Nautique ski boat. And then, as we'd sit there on the shore, freezing and teeth chattering, Waleed would simply jump in the water to 'warm up.' Nothing, not even the day it snowed, would dampen his enthusiasm for being able to barefoot waterski on that early-morning, glassy lake. There are so many other memories, but the one of him grinning like a maniac through the falling snow as he's waterskiing is the one I remember the most." Joel Anderson also had some waterskiing experiences to share and wrote: "I have so many great memories of Waleed. My favorites are the times I waterskied with him. True to his passion for life and energy for everything, he displayed it on the water. Waleed was an incredible barefoot skier, and I am sure he loved trying to teach me. All I could accomplish, though, were many face plants into the water. Of course, Waleed would show me over and over with such ease and patience for my unsuccessful attempts. Whether it was school, business, sporting activities, or just having fun, he approached life with an incredible positive attitude and respect for everyone he came in contact with. I say goodbye, with a renewed commitment. Thanks, Waleed, for having a lasting impact on me and many others! You will be missed by all of us." Who can forget those rooftop parties! Pam Codispoti wrote: "I remember Waleed with a great deal of fondness. He had a wonderful smile, a great sense of humor, and an incredibly warm heart, not to mention the fact that he was one of the smartest individuals I have met. One of my favorite B-School memories was the party Waleed had at his apartment after a Red Sox game during our first year." Steve Cahillane wrote, "Of course, there were the parties in Back Bay, with Waleed opening his spectacular home to all of us. He was friendly, funny, and easy to be friends with. We'll all miss him; he was one of the really, really good guys." Todd Berkeley also has great memories from those parties: "I remember the rooftop with no railing, when my then 2-year-old son, Garrett, made a dash for the edge. I am sure some of you still recall the diving catch that kept him from going over the edge. Waleed's place was more of a bachelor pad than a family rec center! The Berkleys will never forget those rooftop parties in Back Bay. I will miss Waleed. I'll miss his strength, his intelligence, his easy-going smile. As part of his early-morning study group in our first year, I was always amazed at his insights on cases that were so different from mine but right on the money. We could not have come from more different circumstances, but we struck up a fast friendship based on mutual respect and admiration. Why, he even introduced me to the Simpsons, a fine tradition that I have now passed on to my sons. He will be missed but not forgotten." Evan McDonnell wrote: "I, too, remember the parties on his rooftop and in particular his kindness in loaning me a sweatshirt at the first section event, for I (a veteran of many hot DC summers) was unprepared for winter starting in December in Boston. He was a vibrant part of our section, and I'm comforted by the good memories I have. I hope you all are too." Vicky Vettergren Guth added: "I, like my other sectionmates, will miss Waleed dearly. He was and still is such an integral part of our section family. I, too, remember fun times on his balcony. Strangely or not, what is sticking with me most right now is a wonderful visual of him sitting in his chair, down in the front of the class, swinging slightly back and forth, peacefully pondering. I choose to hold on to that memory."  (Waleed and Max Weston) After business school, Waleed continued to have an impact on our lives. Mina Sooch, who also worked at Monitor after HBS, wrote: "When I remember Waleed, I cannot help but admire his intellectual wit and outgoing personality. I can keenly recall many times in class when he would summarize all the issues in the case with great brilliance, leaving the professor and the class amazed! He was also a great role model at Monitor, and one could only characterize his entire career as a 'rising star.' He also took risks, such as when he moved to Europe and led the way to open the Turkey office, even in times of local turmoil. Even though we were both at Monitor for almost eight years together, I saw him only a few times these last few years when we both happened to be in Cambridge. There was always much to catch up on from HBS or Monitor stories. Our lasting friendship as Section B mates has and will always be a bond we all share with great memories and, now, with great sadness." Geoff Porges also had the opportunity to work with Waleed after HBS. He wrote: "In April 1999 I fell out with my management at Merck and was asked to resign after a six-year career. That evening Waleed joined me and a few other colleagues to commiserate on a very painful occasion. I appreciated that he was there with me as I asked for suggestions about what to do next. As I recall, sailing to Antarctica featured very prominently in the discussion. Over the preceding months, Waleed had worked on a Monitor team assigned to my division of the company. I couldn't believe the remarkable coincidence of having him working so closely with my team and me. Sadly, the experience was marred by Waleed's distress about his then fiancée's illness and finally death. He truly appeared to sacrifice everything to her care and attention. Everyone appreciated having Waleed on the team, and so many of my former colleagues there called me to let me know about his tragic death. I'm sorry I hadn't seen more of him recently in London, for our careers again veered off in different directions. I'll miss him very much, and Merck, Monitor, and our world are diminished by his absence." Côme Laguë from Section D also wrote: "Waleed was the first investor in the company I cofounded with Monique Maddy (Section D), African Communications Group. He had a profound impact on my life. I will remember him most for his kindness, caring, brilliance, integrity, cheerful and easy personality, and the actions he took to make the world a better place. I was always amazed by the vast array of things that occupied Waleed's time as he made his journeys to all corners of the earth. He was truly a citizen of the world and touched the lives of countless people, a model leader, and someone you could always count on. I will miss him deeply." Lastly, I think that Adam Keller captured what many of us feel when we think of Waleed. He wrote: "Waleed always had a twinkle in his eye and a wonderful giggle in his laugh. So bright and such a happy-go-lucky person, seemingly never with worries and always with the ability to make others smile. He was a person who could cheer you up just by being around you. I can still hear him laugh, and that makes me cry and smile at the same time." Many other section and classmates wrote in, from all around the world, sending their condolences to Waleed's family. Classmates who attended Waleed's memorial service in Cambridge included Sarah Barnes, Eddie Ford Brown and his wife, Rachel, John Cullinane, Mary Ann Finiw, Ted Henderson, Andrew Matheson, Isabel Miller, Kaz Onose, Christina Benet (Section C), Ania Camargo (Section C), Côme Laguë, Monique Maddy, and Christina Heenan Suh (Section E). Waleed's father, Joseph Iskandar, asked that I pass along two requests: The first is to send him photos of Waleed and his friends , because they help keep Waleed's memory alive for the family. (Please send to Joseph Iskandar, 10031 Wystone Ave, Northridge, CA 91324, or joseph@iskandar.com). The second request is to visit the Web site he's built in Waleed's memory, at: http://www.iskandar.com/waleed911. |
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