This is a good interview with Bob Ackerman of Allegis Capital by Robert Scoble.  I'm biased but I like the operating perspective in VCs.  If life takes me that direction at some point, I look forward to applying some of the lessons learned by living long sales cycles, struggling to come up with the right positioning, suffering through a destructive change of mind by a 'strategic partner' or putting a buggy product in the hands of the first customer. 

You don't get that perspective in an investment bank or through an HBS case study.  Who knows, maybe the pendulum swings back towards operating vets as Bob discusses here.  A bit long (30-ish minutes) but worth the time.

http://twistage.fastcompany.tv/plugins/player.swf?v=3aec989158ffd&p=scobleizer-tv_fctv_social