Sameer joined in 2008 and focuses on consumer, cloud/SaaS, and media companies. He's from Maryland and graduated from MIT and Stanford.
Get to know Sameer
What was your first job?
In the summer of 1981 (really) I worked a few evenings a week in the “back of the house” at a local, popular Italian restaurant. It was actually really fun since I did it with a couple of friends. It felt good to get that first paycheck even though the job was washing dishes for minimum wage ($3.35/hour). As an extra bonus, I could order anything off the menu for dinner. Pizza, calzone, sub, lasagna? I also learned how to safely operate an industrial cheese grater, although I’m still searching for a use for that skill.
What’s your favorite invention or innovation?
One of my favorite inventions is the gramophone. Building on Edison’s phonograph, this was the predecessor to the vinyl record player. I think it’s cool because it’s enabled us to the record and listen to music (and creative expression in general), which previously was “lost” if you didn’t hear it live.
What’s your go-to productivity hack?
I do the New York Times word puzzles every morning. There is something great about concentrating and problem solving in a fun way. It makes you sharp and gets you locked in for a busy day. More importantly, I have three generations of family members that do the same thing. It keeps me connected with people across the country through brief banter, and competition gets serious!
What is your most used emoji, gif, or meme?
🚀
