Sam Lessin for Harvard Board of Overseers

Hello everybody,

In this episode, we're speaking with Sam Lessin, a prominent figure in tech and venture capital. Sam has held several exciting roles in his career. He was VP of Product at Facebook and subsequently founded two companies - drop.io and Fin. Most recently, he co-founded and is a General Partner at Slow Ventures, a VC firm that has raised over $750 million. He’s invested in dozens of innovative startups like Venmo, Solana, and Teamshares. Sam also writes prolifically, both on X/Twitter and The Information. 

In this conversation, we'll explore Sam's latest endeavor: an against-all-odds run for the Harvard Board of Overseers. Sam, a Harvard alum, has grown increasingly alarmed by changes on the Harvard campus in recent years. He believes that the school requires serious reform - and must focus on academic excellence above all else while embracing free speech in the classroom & beyond. To reach the ballot, he must receive 3,300 write-in nominations.

We'll delve into what this role entails, the significance of the Harvard example in higher education, and the challenges of running as a write-in candidate. I found the conversation fascinating, and I hope you will, too.

~ Michelle

🎥 P.S. If you prefer to watch the video, you can find it below or on YouTube.

Resources/links:

* Sam for Overseer Website (includes instructions for nomination)

* Sample email template

Chapters:

* Introduction and Background: 00:00

* The Harvard Overseer Board: 03:20

* Confusion between Harvard Corporation and Harvard Overseers: 05:20

* Election and Term of the Overseers: 07:40

* Running as a Write-In Candidate: 09:10

* Challenges and Requirements for Nomination: 10:00

* Multiple Candidates and Bill Ackman's Slate: 13:50

* Power Dynamics and Administrative Reform: 17:00

* The Importance of Harvard's Example: 18:40

* Consistency in Political Statements: 22:10

* Advocating for Change as an Insider-Outsider: 25:40

* How to Support Sam's Campaign: 28:30