It was a gorgeous spring morning in New York, and the Bacchanal festival at Columbia University was in full swing when Gustav Borgefalk and I met for coffee. Gustav is currently a student at the Stockholm School of Economics. Mild mannered, friendly and easygoing, he told me all about his passion for essay writing and case studies, and how this has provided inspiration for his newest venture, Student Competitions. Gustav on Facebook and Twitter.

Tell us about the story of your latest project/occupation

My current focus is on Student Competitions (SC), a website that I started with friends in Sweden. We pitched the idea for this company on the Swedish version of the television show, Dragon’s Den, and are now up and running at full speed. We bridge the information gap between students and organizations that hold student competitions, by guiding students to both local and global events. Hence, we provide them a larger sphere in which to participate and showcase their skills. Competition is intrinsic to life, and I believe that it can lead to positive growth. It gives anyone the opportunity to become an academic superstar, and win opportunities and recognition regardless of their background. Currently, we have offices in Sweden, the UK and India, and are in the process of expanding to China and the US. SC was recently one named of the world’s 100 Most Innovative Student Ventures by the Kairos Society and exhibited at a fair at the New York Stock Exchange!

What are you doing and how did you get there?

My desire to found Student Competitions originated from my own passion for competition. Last year I submitted a case study for a microfinance organization in India called Hand in Hand and won the opportunity to do an internship in Tamil Nadu. We worked on bridging the ‘digital divide’ that has arisen in urban and rural India, by providing self-sustaining Internet access in rural India. I consider myself an opportunist, and do not turn opportunities down. I just say yes and make the most of it! By helping other people, you will always be presented with new opportunities. The good you do will come back to you, because individuals want to help one another succeed if you are helpful to them.

Tell us about the biggest successes and failures in your life. What worked, what didn’t and what did you learn?

For me, the biggest success in life is really tied into being a happy person. Feeling good about myself, and what I do, is the most important thing. Being able to pursue, and stay committed to, an entrepreneurial path in life has been one of my successes. Winning one of the world’s largest student essay competitions in 2007 helped me realize that I was a strong competitor and has paved the way for the rest of my opportunities. However, I have had my fair share of failures too. Often, I have not been able to live up to people’s expectations because I’m constantly trying to live up to my own. Two years ago I entered a business venture with seven other friends, but found that I had stepped into a role that I wasn’t really ready for and consequently was not able to deliver results. It taught me how important it is to be comfortable with my settings; one that includes the right people, in an environment that I’m in control of, at an appropriate stage in my life. On the occasion that I won the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award, I had travelled to Switzerland to present my paper. I climbed onto the stage, in front of 600 of the world’s most influential leaders…and promptly fainted in under a minute! In hindsight, it was the best PR stunt I could ever have pulled. It meant that they actually had to read my paper for themselves to find out what I was going to say.

What do you want to achieve in a) the next week, b) the next year, and c) the next 10 years?

a) Firstly, I have to make it back to Europe this week, once air traffic is back to normal. I am throwing a launch party for Student Competitions back in Sweden, in connection with Dragon’s Den. I am also going to reconnect with old friends, as well as apply for one or two new competitions. I try to participate in one every week!

b) Next year, I want Student Competitions to be the worlds best website for information on student competitions. I want to do new things, continue exploring the world, and meet great new people. I’m also going to graduate! Just a few more exams to take care of.

c) In the next 10 years, I want to work with the worlds greatest entrepreneurs, make the world a better place, and have a lot of fun while doing it =D

What was your most inspiring moment during the last two weeks?

Since it is my first time to the US, experiencing springtime in New York has been just smashing! My first meeting with Sandboxers in NY was also truly inspirational.

How could other Sandboxers and the outside world support you and why would that be exciting for them?

Sandboxers can help me spread the world about Student Competitions by talking and blogging about it. I know that Sandboxers love global opportunities, and by helping me with this venture, perhaps I too can guide them towards competitions that are of interest, or assist them with new undertakings. I’m very grateful to Fabian for providing me with invaluable support here in NY.

Gustav’s Favorites:

Quote: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” (Henry Ford) 
Travel

Destination: Nepal. Wonderful climate, people, heritage, and SCENERY! I love mountains!

People: Happy people =)

Music: 80’s Music and Rock.

Nirav Devnani works with Sandbox in New York and studies at Columbia College. He wants to thank the volcano for giving him the chance to interview one more stranded Sandboxer! He hopes do do many more : )

While the icelandic volcano continues to spit its ashes, planes are grounded in whole Europe with the exception of Italy, Portugal and Spain. And although KLM and a couple of other companies are currently running independant tests about the impact of the cloud on their machines, the air lockdown is now likely to last until the end of week, some say that it might even be much longer (the last time Eyjafjallajökull erupted – in 1821 – it lasted over a year!).

Conspirationists have come up with theories about Iceland or the NASA hiding a damaged UFO, but the overall agreement is that the only one to blame is Nature: we just have to accept the current situation and wait until it resolves.

The dark side

Of course, the negative impact of the air traffic ban is huge:
- international businesses are severely slowed down
- several airlines might run into new financial difficulties
- the tourist industry is going to suffer
- air freight is suspended causing shortages of perishable goods usually imported by plane such as fruit, vegetables, flowers, etc.
- it affects many people personally, who had to renounce to their holidays (or can’t get back to work), there are many stories of missed weddings and important reunions on Twitter

Why we love the cloud

But despite all this, we shouldn’t close the eyes on the many positive things that this unprecedented situation is creating:

A quiet blue sky

First of all, look at the sky: especially over London, many can’t recall having seen such a beautiful clear blue sky. The air is totally quiet. That is a thing worth seeing once in a life and that forces humility.

Amazing initiatives

Some people don’t want to just wait for the cloud to vanish, they are transforming the problem into an opportunity. An example: Sandbox member Nathaniel Whittemore managed to organize a TEDxVolcano event in London tonight, with some very inspiring speakers currently stuck in London. Everything has been organized within 36 hours (getting a TEDx licence, booking a location, finding speakers & sponsors, promotin the event on Techcrunch). We are co-organizing the event thanks to our London-based team member Christian Busch (who was supposed to fly out with me today for a client meeting).

Solidarity

The ash cloud binds new ties between people. Some are offering shelter to travelers who can’t find or afford a hotel. Facebook groups are popping up, where strangers join efforts for getting back home quicker and at a lower cost (renting cars, buses or boats together).

Creativity

Constraints foster creativity: Norwegian Prime Minister governs the country from New York with an iPad, Twitter users came up with the word “ashtag“, a band composed the “Ash Cloud Song“. If you hear about interesting stories how this ash cloud makes people more creative, list them below.

Learnings and imagination

The ash cloud gives us a chance to imagine what a world without planes would be like. As recent writer-in-residence at Heathrow airport Alain de Botton puts it in beautiful post, “In a future world without aeroplanes, children would gather at the feet of old men, and hear extraordinary tales of a mythic time when vast and complicated machines the size of several houses used to take to the skies and fly high over the Himalayas and the Tasman Sea.”

Seeing how dependable we are from air travel is also a chance for us to think about our relation to the Earth: we often think ourselves as almighty, but Nature is always stronger. And that is certainly a lesson we should take.