Member Q&A with Oliver Farzin-Nia
This month's member Q&A is a bit different than past interviews. Oliver Farzin-Nia has been a member since October 2020. He's that guy who stops to talk—or at least says hello-—to community managers whenever he's passing the reception desk. He's the guy whose laughter you hear in the kitchen and think, "Does this guy not realize I'm working on a very important thought-leadership paper about how inflation is raising the cost of door-hinge springs?" And then you go into the kitchen and find members and Createscape employees alike taking a few minutes to chat and blow off some steam." And we're not talking about the weather.
At Createscape, the staff meets every week and one of the topics we cover are events and how to get more members involved and engaged. For some of us, being an extrovert is hard work. For Oliver it came easy. Though it did make it hard to focus on conducting what should have been a straightforward Q&A.
That said, here is a very brief chunk of our conversation. Who knows? Perhaps there will be a part 2 -- if he's game, of course.
Createscape: Oliver Farzin-Nia. You've been a member here since September 2021 and I don't know anything about you. But from what I see on your Createscape bio, you're from the Palisades in California. Or is it just Palisades?
Oliver: Pacific Palisades. And also, that's where I went to high school. It's not where I lived.
When Oliver isn’t working to hard at the office, he enjoys rock climbing, skydiving, scuba diving, and other challenging outdoor activities.
CS: Where did you live?
Oliver: Inglewood.
CS: Where is that?
Oliver: So L.A. is what most people classify as Los Angeles. It isn't technically like L.A. city. It's L.A. County, So I grew up in Inglewood, which is near like South Central.
CS: Is it that a little bit of a rough area? Not exactly BH 90210, right? Or, back in the day, we just called it Beverly Hills.
Oliver: Yeah, historically it could have some rough part. But I went to a high school about 18 miles away. My parents wanted me to go to a good school. It was a long commute for any kid. It was across the other side of the city.
CS: So then you went to University of California, Southern California, then University of Edinburgh in Scotland, then IESE Business School in Barcelona. Why are you in the witness protection program and what is your true identity?
Oliver: That's a good question! But, sorry, I can't talk about it. Also, the order of that is a little off.
CS: Hey, I got it from your Linkedin!
Oliver: [Laughs] So I went to UCSC for my undergraduate and master's degree. From there, I was exploring doing a Ph.D. at USC.
CS: Are you a doctor?
Oliver: No, mostly because I was too young when I was interested in that path. I was like 22 at the time. But I was applying for a Ph.D. program. Advisors really want you to study in school a few more years and figure things out. I if did that, I would still be in school today.
So I was working with a professor and looking to get like my master's thesis in politically motivated violence and terrorism.
CS: So pretty light stuff. You were obviously a partier in college! And what do you think that professor would think of what you're doing now?
Oliver: [Laughs]
CS: OK, do I have this right? You went from studying the theoretical and practical aspects of politics at both the national and international context at Edinburg in Scotland to business strategy investments, venture capital and private equity, entrepreneurship, leadership and management and finance.
Oliver: Yes.
CS: So you changed your major? Or your major evolved?
Oliver: Sort of. I can still use in my work today what I studied in school. I was (and still am) interested in the evolutionof understanding of the world around me. I never lost my interest in working toward certain goals.
CS: OK, let's take a quick minute to get into the weeds because your work really is fascinating and it doesn't fit into an elevator pitch—or a fun Createscape Q&A...Go!
Oliver: In high school, I was interested in science, including politics. And I was like, 'Oh, this is something I could do!' And then I started working on campaigns and realized that actually running an office was more interesting to me. I also went to London for a while and got really interested in and became a CEO for social enterprise. When I ran that, that's how I got even more involved in understanding how businesses work and their interaction with the world around them. At the time, it was kind of like an evolution where I think politics provided inroads into my understanding of everything else.
CS: So now we're really changing the subject. At least I'm going to try to. You're a venture capitalist—or what they call a VC. Here's a quiz I came up with. There are just a few ways to break into this industry (and be successful). You ...
... founded a company and sold it, made a ton of dough and you thought, 'Well, this is easy' I found my career!'
...saw a TV show that features cool barefoot VCs with their offices, kegs and ping-pong tables and thought, "I found my people!"
Or you were born into enormous wealth and after you graduated, you didn't know how to do anything other than spend money.
Oliver: Do I only get those three choices?
CS: Yes.
Oliver: [Huge guttural laugh!] OK. What was choice number two?
CS: You saw a TV show that features rad barefoot VCs with their offices, kegs and ping-pong tables and thought, "I found my people!"
Oliver: Well, I would pick that one but it is really is not like that at all. And I'm not like that at all. [Ed note: He is most certainly not! At this point, Oliver and I talked a few more minutes about his journey into his profession, including doing internship and just putting in all the work and long hours at the bottom of the ladder. Oliver clearly did not take any of my proposed non-serious paths. Talk to him at our next happy hour or other events. I promise, you won't regret it.]
Oliver is a Createscape Ambassador & long-time member; his genuine smile and playful sense of humor instantly makes anyone around him feel at ease and comfortable.
CS: I imagine you get pitched all the time? Socializing is probably a drag for you because you really are an outgoing guy and the fun Oliver is nothing like the serious Oliver.
Oliver: Well, my personality is not one to go around, like in the movies, and tell people what I do. I don't think many people actually know that part me. [He takes a few minutes to contemplate this question and then articulate his answer]. You know, when people do ask me what I do, I normally say I work with start-ups I tell them I help them get funded. It's true, but it's only part of my work.
CS: Well, since I knew I had you for 30 minutes, I thought I would pitch you.
Oliver: [Laughs] You've got it here. Go for it.
CS: So a couple of years ago, I overheard these girls talking to each other and made a pact that when they're older, they're going to tell each other when one has a really long chin hair or nose hair, or any other inappropriate hair or mark that our old eyes can no longer see.
That's a big problem for us women! Your eyesight changes and then suddenly, you can't see close up. You see people all the time with long hairs on their face and no one is telling them. And men need this just as much as women. So I want to create an app where you take a picture of your face as often as you want and it will point out where you have a very unusual long hair or mark. We can even scale it let you know if you have something in your teeth or—I guess the possibilities are endless, right? What do you think? We're looking at a unicorn here, right?
Oliver: [Extremely kind facial expression] Well, I'm not sure about that.
CS: Well, can this idea keep me middle class? Can it earn enough to afford to live in Austin?
Oliver: Ha! So it's all a statistical landscape, right? [Ed note: I sort of tuned out the rest of the answer because this is obviously a billion-dollar idea. And talking business and finances is not my strong suit. I'm really the ideas gal! But the gist of it is ... Oliver's not buying' it. Literally or figuratively.]
CS: We keep talking about getting less serious and then going back to your work and studies. It's totally my fault. I should be in control of this interview. So I'm really going for it now!
Oliver: OK. I'm ready.
CS: Can you explain to me why you didn't give the company that manufactures your motorcycle enough time to finish it?
Oliver: [Another deep, guttural laugh. If you want to hang with someone who likes to laugh, Oliver is your guy!] It's actually just the style of the bike.
CS: I don't understand it. And does your mom know you have a motorcycle?
Oliver: Yes. And she's not that happy about it.
So the bike is a style called "naked sport bike." Yes, it's a real thing. [Editor note: Wikipedia also calls it a standard or roadster.]
I like it because I feel it's more aggressive to ride but it's still like an an upright cruiser. There's a middle ground where it's like more sporty, but it doesn't have a lot of the fairings that other bikes have. Which means it changes the aerodynamics a little bit. I find it more comfortable to ride because, you know, on some bikes, it can feel like you're sitting in a very aggressive position.
Hi Mom: I bought a motorcycle… Love, Ollie-bear
CS: This seems like the type of bike you have to know you want. Because, like I said, if I walked into the motorcycle store and saw this bike, I would think they were still building it.
Obviously, at this point, I should tell readers what kind of bike it is..
Oliver: It's the KTM 790 Duke.
CS: Well, it's definitely one of the most unique bikes I've ever seen. But as long as your mother is OK with you riding it, then I have no problem with it.
Oliver: Weelllllllll.... Let's just say she knows I have it.