Many of us entrepreneurs and business angels have quietly been giving some of our time back to the community, helping ventures and organisations with our experience, point of view and network of contacts. We do it because we enjoy the discussions, the cause, the project, or just because we feel it’s the right thing to do.
I was involved for a couple of years with the Alumni association of the IAE de Paris (the MBA program at the Sorbonne University in Paris), and was in charge of professional networks. I’m not running for the board this year as I feel it’s now time for someone else to move the project forward.
For the past 4 years, I’ve also been student representative at INSEAD for my class, and now lifelong representative for the class in France. Fabrice Fischer has taken over for all class representatives, and has asked me to join as co-chair. Well, let’s see what we can do … 
Last year, I joined the advisory board of EPITECH, a French engineering school. I reported their China initiative last June and Jacques today links to a clip on TV showing our students in their exchange program in China.
And, earlier this year, I joined the advisory board of geneanet.org, a leading European genealogy portal. I’ve been personally hosting my family tree with them for the past 5 years, so I’m glad that I can now help push the product forward. We had our first board meeting last month, and I can tell you we have lots and lots coming up. Already out are the portal’s blog (http://www.leblognenealogie.com, already featuered on Europe2 radio), and the wiki at http://www.geneawiki.com. It’s run by my good friend Christophe Becker who explains the service on this video.
