Many faces looked familiar, yet their names were not in the conscious part of my mind. I always have problems when meeting up with group of old schoolmates or colleagues. But today I was glad the organizers gave a big name tag to everyone who attended the 'Intel Alumni Gathering'. We instantly recalled the names and linked them to the faces. Thanks for saving us the embarrassment of forgetting the names.
I observed that most of the people have gone less obese then they were some 8 years ago when I left Intel. They appear to be healthier and fitter. A former senior manager added to my observation -these ex-Intelliers are probably happier after leaving Intel.
Intel has been a big and significant part of the lives of the people who gathered here today. It is common to see them enumerate their years in Intel, some up to 10+ years, 20+ years, and even 37 years! You may take this people out of Intel, but you can't take Intel out of them. They still use the Intel Jargons in a typical Intel ways.
E&O Penang is a nice and grand place to have lunch. The ambience is suitable for most of us who have held the identify of being yuppies, who usually have great pride in our being. From the conversation, I noticed that this identity often didn't serve us well after we leave Intel, especially if we take up jobs in much smaller companies, or if we start our own businesses. Working in a big multinational is like living in a structured and protected environment. Once we get out from there, we have to play by the rules of the jungle. Many of us couldn't do that well. We got bruises before we realize this and adjust our senses.
Most of us have advanced in age, and one of the main topics in our conversations was health. We shared quite a bit about how we keep ourselves healthy - tai-chi, treadmill, hiking, diet-watching, etc. The younger attendees tends to talk about money, particularly investment choices - forex, mutual funds, etc. It is not uncommon for Intelliers who left Intel some 15 years ago - when Intel shares were unbelievably profitable - to have lots of spare money to invest.
There weren't much common things about this group of people after they leave Intel. But we were together for so long in the same organization and we know each other well and trust each other. We are willing and open to share a lot of wisdom we acquired and experience we had. I guess this is the biggest value for us in joining alumni - be it school or company alumni.
4 comments:
Dear Janaka, I can relate to your observations, we are so structured and protected in Intel and some of us got trapped when we go out to the world outside of Intel. Intel is an environment where we have a lot of trust in our people but this is not so when we go out. I can talk so many things so freely with Intelliers, ex and current, but when I am outside, I am on my guard. Great observations and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Wendy
Hi Janaka, still fresh in my mind that when i introduced myself to you, you seem to crack your head to see who i am. My observation on those ex-inteliers friends of us, all of us look great and look more fit and younger life after Intel.
Thanks to Chi Wai for initiating this group, IAN and the successful gathering! Hope (as most of us agreed) we do have such a gathering again!
Steven Quah
iVISION TRADING
Dear Janaka,
being out of Intel for 30 months, the journey outside is bumpy, but a lot of fun and exposure too
Even though i missed the fun of seeing all the faces that might look common to me, i can feel the fun and happiness of seeing our ex-colleague again and seeing everyone still have live after intel, even better, haha
I related a lot to your point that intel is really a protected environment that we live and grow up with, and the world outside is really something that we have to learn to live with
and the phrase you say we can take people out of intel but not take intel out of them, so truth !! and thats where all the transition needed for us who step out
great sharing
Hi Janaka,
Sorry for the late reply, I tend to agree with a lot of what you said. I left in Nov 2006 and it was a big adjustment in terms of work culture/environment when I joined AMD several weeks later. I was able to adapt after having attended the Change Mgmt classes I attended years ago!! Haha!
I really enjoyed the gathering and hope to attend future ones!
From : ES Lim
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