Who is Farhan Lalji?

I was listening to the Stanford podcast of Stephanie Keller Bottom (of Nokia’s Innovent team) today and found myself sharing an experience with her. It wasn’t that we both have degree’s that aren’t really technology related even though we work in technology – although that is true. And it wasn’t the fact that we think big companies can be supportive of innovation – although that’s true as well. It was when she mentioned that her father didn’t understand what she did.

My mom grew up in east Africa and trained to become a teacher. Since coming to Canada in the 70s she’s worked in a bank for most of her life. To her working in a bank or in the government seemed like really good jobs. Being a doctor or a lawyer seemed like really really good careers. She probably wasn’t the only one, I’m sure there are countless other immigrants who came to Canada around the same time and have the same or a similar mentality.

My wife has tried to explain to my mom what a great career I have, how the education I’ve gone through over the last few years is pretty impressive, yada yada yada, but I don’t think she absolutely gets it.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom, a lot. She’s sacrificed a lot to raise me and has done a phenomenal job given what she went through - being in a new country, losing her husband, crappy second marriage - my mom is awesome.

But, it’s interesting that no matter what happens in the next couple of years, no matter how senior I get or what I do, if my mom doesn’t get it I think part of me will feel unfulfilled. I wonder if Stephanie Keller-Bottom feels the same way?