Alumni Profile
Jon Brod ’93
Tech Gourmand
Photo: Karsten Moran ’05
J
on Brod ’93 is a quintessential New Yorker. Born and raised in Brooklyn and now nestled in the Upper West Side, Brod is one of New York’s tech elites, having co-founded the hot new tech app Confide, an off-the-record messenger that allows professionals to send and receive secure text messages. Brod transitioned from the big city to Bowdoin with the goal of surrounding himself with students who are simply “a cut above” in every aspect. When asked what he would have told his twenty-year-old Bowdoin self, he responded, “Stop playing Tetris and learn how to code. It’s a must for Internet entrepreneurs.” Previously a top executive at AOL, Brod had his fair share of corporate experiences, but his insatiable penchant for innovation would lead him to branch out on his own. His greatest challenge with venturing into the start-up space has been being brutally honest with himself. “I’ve learned to trust my instincts and figure out when I should listen to others.” Brod has always been up for new challenges. In his Bowdoin days, he was a Meddiebempster, had a three-minute stint with the rugby team, and was an integral part of the toga party’s return to Chi Psi. And now he’s ready to be whisked off to his next adventure. Brod says his love for building, creating, and eating may lead him to France. “I’d love to go to Cordon Bleu because it sounds incredibly fun, exotic, sexy, and fattening.” CLASSNEWS@BOWDOIN.EDU 23