What I Wish I Knew Then: What I’d Tell My Younger Self and Why it Matters to You
Reflecting on the experiences, lessons, and perspectives he has gained throughout an extraordinary career, Sean Forbes ’90, will share what he wishes he had known as an engineering student – and the insights that have shaped his journey ever since.
As a Duffield Engineering student, he learned something that would stay with him for life: how to think like an engineer. The ability to approach complex problems, ask the right questions, adapt to new challenges, and think critically has shaped his career, and has proven valuable far beyond engineering.
Now, looking back, he will share the advice he wishes he could have given himself when he was just beginning his journey. What matters most? What lessons take years to learn? And how can the way we learn to think as engineers prepare us not only for a career, but for a life of opportunity, growth, and impact?
Join us for a candid and personal reflection on the lessons that endure, the experiences that shape us, and the power of a Cornell engineer.
Bio: Sean Forbes ’90 is the Founder and Chairman of SC Forbes Ventures VII. He has previously served as Chairman, CEO and/or board member of companies spanning national security big data analytics, precious metal distribution, customer relationship management, healthcare devices, and kinetic Special Forces training. And has benefited from sale and IPO events across them. Sean stood up and was former Managing Director of The Texas Bullion Depository, the largest state depository in the U.S. He serves on the Texas A&M Innovation Board, several technology and defense advisory boards, and holds an active Top Secret / SCI clearance.
Forbes began his career as a private equity consultant with Bain & Company in Boston and Moscow after serving as a decorated Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. He graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Cornell University and has an MBA from Harvard. Sean is married to Dr. Brenda Forbes. They have three sons and an English Bulldog. In his off-time Sean enjoys flying, diving, shooting, mentoring Tier 1 Operators, and studying the implications of Younger Dryas meteor impact events. He has been a guest lecturer at Cornell and Harvard for the last 20 years.