Start:ME Spotlight:

Bryant Isaacs

Organization

Independent Consultant

You took part in Start:ME Next Gen, an entrepreneurship program for high school students run in partnership with 21st century leaders. Describe your experience with those students.

I worked with a group of ~10 students on a business plan pitch for a business idea the students had agreed upon.I found the students to be exceptional team players with an infectious enthusiasm that would be the envy of any team focused on business problems. They self-organized quite rapidly and divided aspects of the pitch across multiple team members and were very well received by the audience. I myself was really energized to interact with these young students who will definitely become leaders in whatever they pursue in the future. They really gave me the feeling that the future of our country is in really good hands.

How did you get involved with Start:ME and why did you come back for a second year?

I listened to a breakfast lecture by Professor Peter Roberts and really got interested in his ideas on local small businesses and their contribution to the vibrancy and long term success of the local community. The Start:ME program was a real effort to kick start such businesses in local Atlanta communities and I found my self hooked on the concept. This was the year I retired from my executive role in a Telecommunications company and I was motivated to get involved in a mentoring role. During that first year I found I was learning quite a bit from my interactions with the entrepreneurs as well as from the structured information shared by program managers. It was such a great feeling participating in the various activities and enjoying the high energy of the group. It was such a great experience I had to come back for the second year.

You're a big time golfer. What's your favorite round and where'd you play it?

I wouldn't use the term 'big time' to describe my golfing as its purely recreational and I have a higher than average handicap index which is helpful when I am playing well on those special days. My favorite round was at The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland in August 2013. I got in line before 3am that morning and didn't get a tee time until 3pm. I shot 39 on the front nine which was the best I'd ever done and I was exhilarated. What a day to remember!