Chris Dessi - Vice President zanox, Inc

While walking around logan airport in Boston today after spending a few days at the Affiliate Summit, I noticed the cover of US News - American’s Best Graduate Schools. This issue resounded with me, because although I have a Masters Degree in Direct Marketing from NYU, I feel that there are still some gaps in my education that I know I’ll need as my career evolves.

Then it dawned on me.

We’re in an industry with so much money being pumped into it by advertisers. The affiliate channel has become a legitimate venue for companies to generate new users online in a cost efficient manner. We’re all still making money during an economic downturn, and still I don’t see the MBA’s? Why?

There are CEO’s in our industry that have MBA’s from top Universities, but are our companies recruiting from top schools? There are very smart people in our industry for sure, but take one lap around the floor at the Affiliate Summit, and you will quickly be able to select the top tier executives, and the publishers that just don’t have the depth of experience to enter the board room.

Why? Is it our fault for not recruiting properly, or is it because there is a certain type of person that does well in this business, and your traditional MBA just isn’t it? I think in order for our industry to continue to grow we will need leaders that can make that transition from meeting and interacting with the young gun internet guys to the MBA’s that may be more attracted to the VC firms than the actual companies themselves.

The 1/2 Marathon was a huge success! I'm still sore, but can't wipe the smile off my face at what I've been able to accomplish in such a short time. It was only a few months ago when I entered my first 5k that I really focused on taking this a bit further. I'm encouraged by my performance, and I'm looking forward to my next event.

This week has been busy getting ready for the eTail conference in DC, and then of course we're all very excited about the Affiliate Summit in Boston. Shoot me a note if you're planning on attending either event, and I'll be sure to carve out some time to meet.

View my page on Affiliate Summit

Affiliate Marketing continues to move forward at an accelerated rate despite numerous predictions of a downturn. We're seeing record numbers across all country offices, and continue to be attentive to our bottom line.

Recently we also released news that we're planning on giving away 1million Euro....well not really "giving" it away. We're asking that developers submit their business plans for our review. We will select the best plan, and award a cool million....EURO no less!

Take a look at some of the details on our company blog:

http://blog.zanox.com/en/webservices/1-mio-eur-zanox-web-services-contest-2008/



interested candidates apply by setting up an corresponding account and accepting the terms of conditions.

zanox makes a pre-selection by analysing the zanox publisher statistics of the candidates during the entire contest.

the best 20 candidates will be asked on September 30, 2008, to turn in their business plans until October 5, 2008.

the ultimate top 10 candidates will receive invitations to the closing event in Berlin (probably October 24, 2008).

within a business plan-conference/-competition) the top 10 candidates will get the opportunity to convince the jury by giving a short presentation of their business model and team.

the jury will officially announce the top five candidates in the following recall party.

all participants will be promoted with their brand and Ranking to the campus sponsors and the zanox investors network.

This coming Sunday I'll be competing in my first ever 1/2 Marathon. After catching the running bug a few months back (I entered a 5k, then a 10k and now the 1/2 marathon), I'm feeling better than when I was 25. It's amazing what your body can do when you set a goal, define a road map to meet that goal, and execute.

I can't help but make the connection to our daily business lives. How many of us say "I want to be a CEO", but never map out the strategy to get there? Recently I've been able to start road maps outlining different aspirations in my life. What stimulated my recently found laser focus was that I stumbled upon a list of "things to do before I die" that I'd created when I was about 20, and updated when I was about 22. I had to take a moment to say "well done" because there were more boxes checked off than I expected when I first found the document. Afterward my wife and I sat down to review the list. We both agreed that I should map out what steps I need to take to accomplish each thing on my list. She also encouraged me to seriously evaluate the validity of said list. The activity in contention was "make-out with a Playboy bunny"....unless my wife decides to pose for the "hot wives of westchester" addition, I think I'll have to remove that one, but I digress.

I'll keep you posted on the 1/2 marathon, and hopefully I start posting my progress on some of the "things to do before I die"...

oh yeah...here's a pic of my triumphant finishing of my 10k on Father's Day!