# Investors Mo Koyfman & Jeremy Philips Share Tips on How to Make Your Own Luck at MBA Block Lunch

Mo Koyfman, general partner at Spark Capital, a venture capital firm; and Jeremy Philips, managing partner of Occam Partners, which invests in technology and media, and a member of the Board of Directors of TripAdvisor, joined Dean [Peter Henry](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/peter-henry) and MBA students for NYU Stern’s Block Lunch event series. Both Koyfman and Philips offered their perspectives on the past and future of several digital and social media businesses including Apple, Amazon, Google, Seamless, Twitter, Vimeo, Yahoo and YouTube. They also shared several pieces of advice with Stern MBA students:
- Follow your instincts and your passion
- Beware of your perceptions of risk – some adventurous opportunities are less risky than you might think
- Read a lot, work hard and get smart about your industry
- Create your own luck by ensuring that you meet the right people

According to Koyfman and Philips, successful businesses “change the game” so much so that others cannot easily follow in their footsteps. They also argued that creating barriers to entry for the competition is key for long-term success. “The best entrepreneurs are full of optimism but also have a healthy dose of paranoia,” explained Koyfman.

![Mo Koyfman](/sites/default/files/assets/images/con_045088.jpg)
Mo Koyfman, general partner at Spark Capital

![Jeremy Philips](/sites/default/files/assets/images/con_045089.jpg)
Jeremy Philips, managing partner of Occam Partners

Over the course of the semester, MBA students will have an opportunity to hear candid perspectives from thought leaders in varied industries.

Business and Policy Leader Events

— 10/28/2013

###  Past Block Lunch Events

- [Susan Jurevics, CEO of Pottermore](/node/7982)
- [Christopher Howard, President of Hampden-Sydney College](/node/7939)
- [Tom Bernstein, President and Co-Founder of Chelsea Piers](/node/7839)
- [Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group](/node/7354)
- [Mo Koyfman, General Partner at Spark Capital, and Jeremy Philips, Managing Partner of Occam Partners](/node/7348)
- [Dina Powell, President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation](/node/6560)
- [Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE USA](/node/6481)
- [Michael Warren, Principal of Albright Stonebridge Group](/node/6482)
- [Hugo Lindgren, Editor of *The New York Times Magazine*](/node/6007)
- [Ken Mehlman, Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee](/node/6006)
- [Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom](/node/46977)