 |
| >> DDD Home >> Press >> Newsletter | ||
Digital Divide Data Newsletter – March 2007
ASIAN UPDATE: DDD Wins $250K of Survey Data Entry Work in Cambodia and Laos DDD has been selected by UNICEF in Cambodia and NTPC in Laos to provide complete database design and data entry solutions for large scale survey projects. In Cambodia , surveyors for UNICEF are collecting over 80,000 forms from villages throughout the country analyzing accidents. In Laos , NTPC researchers are surveying villagers affected by the construction of a large dam project. In both these projects, DDD is not only providing the high quality data entry required but also creating the database system needed to enter, track and analyze the results. DDD is talking with other NGOs in the region about providing similar services. DDD Welcomes New Board Member, Dina Bitton Dina is a prominent entrepreneur and leader in the database industry and DDD is very pleased to welcome her as a new member of the Board of Trustees as of this January. Dina brings a depth of experience in software and technology enterprises. She grew up in French Morocco and pursued a BS and MS in Computer Science from the Technion Institute in Israel . She then moved to the United States and became the first woman to achieve a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin , meanwhile raising her two young children. Her career began in academia and was Cornell University 's first female professor in the College of Engineering . She later served as a visiting professor at Stanford University and it was there that she began her career in business. Through her research and in the three successful software companies she founded (DB Software, 1990; Evoke Software, 1993; Callixa , 1999) , Dina created highly influential standards in database development and is internationally know for her designs of some of the industry's crucial benchmarks. [ See the profile on Len Baker in this newsletter for an interesting side note about Dina's first enterprise, DB Software! ] Callixa , her most recent venture, was purchased in 2005 by SAP, the 2 nd largest software company in the world. Until one month ago, Dina served as Vice President but has since left the company. She is an active member of the Women's Technology Cluster, an incubation organization for women-led technology companies and was a founding member and serves on the board. Dina's been a valued advisor and friend to DDD since 2003. She attended DDD's 5-Year Anniversary celebrations in Cambodia this past fall and was so inspired by the impact she saw there that she decided to accept the invitation to join DDD's Board at the timing of her departure from SAP. Dina is looking forward to working with DDD on finding new business areas and is planning on applying her experience in software to “guiding DDD towards newer revenue models and new projects that will be more profitable.” She lives with her husband, Phil, in San Francisco and joins DDD this March for her first Board Meeting. Donor Profile: DDD receives first stock donation from Len Baker It was the donor's first gift and the first of its kind for DDD. Len Baker, prominent venture capitalist, gave DDD its first gift of stock with a value of $25,000. Len has been a partner of Sutter Hill Ventures, the oldest venture capital firm in Silicon Valley , since 1973. With a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford's Graduate School of Business, Len has played an instrumental role in some of Sutter Hills' most significant investment projects. He serves as a trustee of Yale; a member of the Stanford business school's Advisory Council; and a director of Special Investments for the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation. He and his wife have two children and live in Palo Alto , CA . The enduring impact of Len's investments appears elsewhere in this newsletter. Len was actually the one to give Dina Bitton , our newest board member (featured in this newsletter), her first venture capitalist investment for her first company, DB Software, 17 years ago! DDD wishes to thank Len for his generous contribution. If you're interested in supporting DDD, contact Jeremy Hockenstein (jeremy@digitaldividedata.org ) on how you can help. DDD Cambodia Country Manager, Kunthy Kann Selected for Corporate Management Training in Japan 
Kunthy Kann , DDD's Country Manager for Cambodia , has been selected to participate in a prestigious 9-month training program run by the Japanese government and top Japanese corporations. The program identifies emerging business leaders from Southeast Asian countries to learn fundamental Japanese business principles through a program of in-classroom training and internships. “I never thought I'd have a chance to study abroad,” said Kunthy, who leaves for Japan this spring. “I'm very excited to learn new ideas and management strategies to help DDD improve.” DDD is proud to facilitate these kinds of opportunities for our staff and celebrates Kunthy's accomplishment. Employee Profile: An Kimsan , Operator Battambang , Cambodia 
My name is An Kimsan . I was born in 1981 in Battambang . I have disability with my both hands. My family is poor but my parents tried their best to work to support my study until I graduated High school. I really want to continue my study at University, but my parents have no ability to support my study. One day I went to study computer at a local training center. When I finished this course I want to find a job but I could not because I have no experience and no one hires me to work because I'm disabled. Then I heard about DDD and it was my dream to work with information technology. But I was not self-confident. But my teacher at DDD told me that it was not an end for me and that I would get success one day if I tried hard. I was really, really excited when I saw my name on the selected list to be DDD employee. I really like my job. DDD is the only organization that can realize disadvantaged dream. I have learned a lot of things from DDD such as IT skills, English, how to adapt myself to society of different kinds of people. I feel more value and helpful to others and DDD helped me to build my confidence to speak for myself and contribute good ideas. My biggest dream comes true because now I am able to support myself for my school fees at University and I am also happy that I can share my salary to support my family. My goal is to get a degree in accounting by next year and I'll try to find a better job and also leave a chance for DDD to employ another disadvantaged person. Other News:
|
||
