Hello there! My name is Connor Schmitz, and I am from Southbroom, a coastal village a bit outside of Durban. I am a student. My passion derives from the idea of going through with building or realizing something given a limited toolset. In the past few years, I have grown quite fond of biology, literature, politics, community engagement, inventing stuff, and finance. Thankfully, I have had access to the internet for a few hours a day, allowing me to constantly educate myself in various fields despite being homeschooled due to familial circumstances.
I spent a few weeks crafting a curriculum that would allow me to thoroughly learn a wide range of topics. It begins with an exploration of politics and international relations, examining various political systems, geopolitical dynamics, and the economics of global power. The curriculum delves into economics, covering foundational institutions, global trade, and critical issues like inequality and currency dynamics. It places emphasis on understanding climate change, exploring scientific approaches, economic implications, and global diplomatic efforts. The plan also provides in-depth analysis of welfare, healthcare, and insurance systems, comparing national models and examining the challenges and innovations within these sectors. Additionally, the curriculum explores education systems, transportation systems, and energy sources, offering insights into global trends, technological advancements, and sustainability. It addresses agricultural policies and food security, emphasizing the complexities of global food production and sustainability. The study of psychology, religion, and culture deepens the understanding of human behavior, belief systems, and societal dynamics. The curriculum also includes a focus on business, covering finance, investing, and entrepreneurship, and emphasizes self-care, exploring topics like longevity, diet, and mental health. Finally, the inclusion of fiction highlights the importance of storytelling in fostering imagination and strategic thinking.
I enjoy reading Biology literature and contemplating ways to combat certain diseases, enhance biological systems, and come up with new theories. Although I am unable to test any of my ideas, and so empirically they have no power, I do not let that stop me from spending a few hours to occasionally speculate ways to engineer biological systems for the better, occasionally sharing them with professors to hear feedback.
I love immersing myself in worlds, but even more, I love to create my own. I enjoy writing poetry and stories from time to time.
Initiated and co-leading a pioneering research project to develop and test a new method of generating advertisements using AI, targeting small businesses. Designed and implemented the study to compare the engagement of AI-generated ads with traditional human-created ads, focusing on metrics such as Click Through Rate (CTR), Conversion Rate (CVR), and Attention Retention (ATR). Conducted human subject testing to validate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the new advertising approach. The impactful findings are being prepared for publication and presentation in academic and industry forums, poised to shape future digital marketing strategies. The research paper is being written under the guidance of HBS's Professor John Deighton.