As someone who helped get the Women Grow Business community off the ground over a year ago (with the great team of social media swami Shashi Bellamkonda), this particular day made such an impact on my thinking.
It was irreplaceable.
Apart of the DC region’s Digital Capital Week events, it was beyond educational and motivating with over 100 women business owners arriving early on a recent Saturday morning to learn and engage. All this equated to fantastic introductions, new friends, great resources and potential partnerships – thus the first Women Grow Business Bootcamp that wonderful editor Shonali Burke organized. There’s more here on coverage with video excerpts by the great folks at Yayastream.
What would you like to see at the next Women Grow Business Bootcamp?
What an energizing day, with 5 minutes of my closing remarks here.
It was fantastic meeting New Orleans resident Sloane Berrent last night about a huge fundraising effort she helped organize that’s benefitting the Gulf Coast.
Her energy and determination are contagious. We met during my blogging experience this week with the CitizenEffect Gulf Mission.
On Thursday, July 1st
The “Gulf Coast Benefit” is set to take place with music venues across the country hosting performances with the sole purpose to help the Gulf. People can attend these music events and donate onsite or can contribute in many other ways using social media.
In this video (2.5 minutes), we talk about many things — her inspiration, the community building used with social tech, and her respect for New Orleans and preserving the Gulf in light of the oil spill disaster.
And to learn more about tomorrow’s big music event helping the Gulf Coast
…feel free visiting Gulf Coast Benefit.
There’s a raw thrill of growing a big idea…and in this case, our great big idea is TEDxPotomac.
It’s energizing to see volunteers themselves become a community — investing their drive, strengths, energy into a day of performance, an intended gift for our city DC.
And a lot more will follow soon in a blog series about the thrills and pure tactics of preparing TEDx story arcs (…after our TEDxPotomac event that’s May 20th, W00t!).
I’m organizing the volunteer speech coaching team for our tremendous presenters. Through in-person sessions, Skype, phone, WebEx – we offer support and practice with our speakers on their local TED talk.
And the #1 favorite part of the TEDx experience? Meeting creative, wonderful folks like Chris Keener and Melissa Krodman – our TEDxPotomac emcees!
Meet them too above … as they cut-up and talk shop after this weekend’s planning session.
The Aunt Harriet ‘rule’ and the Flip cam dynamic:
There was ample background noise and conversation at the restaurant where this video chat took place.
To ensure her audio came through, I asked if she’d talk louder than normal – as if she was talking to her ‘older Aunt Harriet.’
She admitted at first that made her uneasy – understandable! But audio is king. And especially with the small Flip mics, I’m grateful Narissa was up for speaking in a more robust tone.
It was a sunny SxSW Saturday last week where people came together for Zoetica Media’s brunch and brainstorm session — with one nonprofit in mind: Safe Place.
Community and a Strategic Starting Point The goal was to look at Safe Place’s community, internally and externally, and offer a strategic starting point for this nonprofit’s social media plan.
They are doing vital work in the Austin area. Their team provides shelter, a 24 hour hotline, and educational services to those impacted by sexual violence and domestic abuse.
I haven’t discussed this topic very much, especially in a brainstorm setting like this. Despite that discomfort, I was motivated by just how compelling a discussion group can be in the face of greater community impact.
Key Questions: A Social Media Plan Takes Shape
Who really is a community partner?
How do they engage with eachother?
These questions were at the heart of discussion. And Narissa Johnson, Safe Place’s communications director, observed some interesting results from the conversations.
In this onsite video interview, we talk about what most stood out strategically for taking her social media plan to the next level.
What do you think about these ideas? What would you add for moving her social media plan forward?
We talk here (…her humor shines through) on what she did with her first start-up funding i.e. $1,000. And she shares how Twitter helped reinvent her network and community.
