Welcome back to The Sunstone Way.
Let’s talk this week about personal motivation – why we do what we do. Our Sunstone Why is made up of the individual why’s of those who make up Sunstone Management, starting at the top and running throughout the company.
It might sound a little corny, but one big reason why we do what we do is for each other. We’re supportive of each other. We each have particular tasks we must complete to make the flywheel of our business turn, but we also make sure we help our colleagues with their tasks as well.
We take pride in our family, our Sunstone family. Or maybe pride isn’t the right word. We value the sense of belonging. We work together for something bigger than ourselves.
From The Top
Our founder John Shen’s book, “Crossing The Swamp,” talks about the value of belonging. His companies rely on belonging to the Chinese immigrant community along with belonging to the American entrepreneurial community.
John also emphasizes the importance of working with partners, finding those with the same set of priorities – and the same Why — to help drive the enterprise. All of the parallel companies, from American Lending Center to Sunstone Management to Partake Collective, have the same sense of belonging to and giving back to the community.
Stella Zhang, John’s partner at Sunstone and American Lending Center, has returned to her alma mater, the University of California, Irvine, in a big way to give back. She has provided a large sponsorship and continues to spend her own time on the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition. The annual pitch contest from students in the Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship gives out $100,000 to help develop their business ideas.
In Our Backyard
Sunstone Management was founded in Long Beach, and now is headquartered in Irvine. We are expanding, with a presence in New York City and more locations soon, and we continue to emphasize support of our hometowns. Our Sunstone Community Fund, as well as Sunstone Management, sponsors and hosts events, our employees participate in community activities, and we continue to work with the Long Beach Accelerator and startup communities in Irvine.
I live in Long Beach. My grandfather moved here and raised his family as a milkman; my father was the first in the family to attend college – and that college was California State University, Long Beach. We are invested in the future of Long Beach and I am working to make my community a better place.
We’re starting to work now on Mayor Rex Richardson’s vision for a new economy, Launch Beach, to bring 100 new startup companies to the city in the next five years. We have begun work on making that happen. You’ll be hearing more about that soon.
At its core, that effort comes out of the Sunstone Why of belonging. That’s the Sunstone Way.
As always, be a Sunstone!
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
Sunstone Management Inc.
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© Sunstone Management Inc.
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More About Sunstone Management
Sunstone Management is a diversified private capital management firm with headquarters in Southern California that provides a range of early-stage venture capital, real estate, and fixed income funds to qualified and accredited investors. The firm delivers new and exciting options for economic growth through innovative public-private partnerships, making use of its unique experience across government, education, and private sectors. Identified by Financial Times as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies three years in a row. Connect with Sunstone Management at:
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