BlogHer DC Conf.

I had the pleasure of attending my first BlogHer Conference (blogher.com) in DC which was amazing!

The women I met are unbelievable — they were transmitting their passions to the world via their blogs.   I had no idea how many mommy bloggers there were until I met a fair number of them.

Take aways & best practices:

1. For the latest info. from the Geek Lab, go to DoppJuice.com
2. Continue to expand your horizons.  I test drove my first convertible — courtesy of Saturn.  I encourage everyone to step outside of their comfort zone at least once a day.
3. The transfer of ideas face-to-face was great.  There are lots of tools out there & BlogHer has a lot of them listed.  Incidentally, anyone can blog at BlogHer.

Looking forward to the future.  Especially with regards to news since a large part of the national conversation is crafted by those who report it.  BlogHer is helping to foster & grow more voices so the information sources can be more nuanced & varied.

Department of Innovation?

One of the best books I read recently was John Kao’s “Innovation Nation”.  I agree with him that the countries that promote Innovation as a national value by creating mission statements and federal departments aimed at promoting innovation will reap the benefits of implementing new ideas.  In the United States, we are very close to voting into office a new President.  I propose that the new Pres. start a Dept. of Innovation.   I would like to help with his Innovation Task Force.  I think the best is yet to come & that innovation can be promoted in social entrepreneurship, green energy and green jobs.

Social Networking: How does it affect elections?

I attended Cornell Entrepreneur Network (CEN) presentation, http://cen.cornell.edu/, on ”Social Networking: How does it affect elections?” on Thursday, September 25, 2008, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.

The speakers were Cornell UniversityComputer Science Professor Jon Kleinberg ‘93 and Garrett Graff, friend of Cornell, editor at the Washingtonian, and the first blogger admitted to cover a White House press briefing.

Per Jennifer Cunningham, CEN Director, these are some links to sites and videos that the two speakers mentioned:
·         George Allen becomes one of the first presidential “no-gos” because of a racial slur caught on video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI
·         Howard Dean screams : www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5FzCeV0ZFc
·         John Edwards feels pretty : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AE847UXu3Q
·         The 5 cent email tax hoax : http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blemtax2.htm
·         Pew Research release Tuesday about cell phones and election polling : http://pewresearch.org/pubs/964/
·         Snopes piece about Vonnegut commencement speech hoax : http://www.snopes.com/quotes/vonnegut.asp
 Jon Kleinberg’s Presentation
http://www.4shared.com/file/64513407/85af8573/JonKleinbergCENPresentation.html

Highlights of the presentation were:

1. Garrett’s description of what happens when a campaign goes MOTHER.  As in, your mother calls 
               you to tell you about something she just watched on YouTube.
2. Garrett’s description of what happens a MIRANDA campaign.  As in anything  that you do or say can
              be used against you on the internet & once it is there; it lives on forever.
3. Prof. Kleinberg discussed how chain letters flare-up every couple of years even though they may
              contain incorrect info.  This is one example of how social networking messages can go viral
              or act like viruses & spread (social contagion).
4. Prof. Kleinberg mapped out how chain letters spreadout one person at a time (& did a visual
              representation of the path) even though there are six degrees of separation.

It was a great evening, full of wonderful people & interesting conversations.

The question I have is, how will social interactions be in the future given the always increasing speed of (mis)information?  I am sure our society will auto-correct somehow, the question is can it do it fast enough if misinformation spreads?  What is the best way to combat false information?

(EVENT) 10/2 Bethesda, MD Happy Hour for Singles interested in making a difference.

    Hi!   Here is an event I am co-organizing that I think everyone will enjoy.  I believe being a social entrepreneur is about bringing people together — in work & social situations.  We are trying to have a good time & inviting singles from all walks who are interested in making a difference.  Please feel free to forward the event to interested people.
 
Event: Singles in the Sector: Happy Hour & VP Debate Watch Party
      “for civic minded professionals in nonprofits, government, etc. who care about making a difference in the world”
What: Mixer
Host: Rosetta Thurman & Gabriela Cadena
Start Time: Thursday, October 2 at 7:00pm
End Time: Thursday, October 2 at 10:00pm
Where: BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon
 4901 Fairmont Ave. • Bethesda, MD 20814
Conveniently located 2 blocks from the Bethesda Metro Station in the heart of downtown.

IKE in Texas

I was speaking with a current MBA student about the news/happenings in the world & Innovation & she reminded me of the Butterfly Effect & how interconnected we all are.  Whatever happens, affects others even a butterfly flapping its wings.   

This observation made me reflect on seeing the balance between progress & sustainibility.  I believe Innovations (harnessing best practices from various disciplines & thus implementing a sustainable, long-term solution) can be better for humanity than progress at all costs at the fastest rate possible.

I am concerned about the after-effects of Hurricane IKE in Texas as I have several friends living in Houston.   To help the people affected by IKE, go to:
http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/Gustav2008.aspx?source=YAHOO&cmpgn=NEWS

There is so much brainpower in the world but that is only potential energy.  The question I grapple with is how to harness that energy for the good of all concerned.  What is the best structure/social organization that will encourage everyone to contribute the best of themselves to provide the best solution for all concerned???

Living a silo-like life is not getting us very far.

Social Media Definitions

    I found this great posting on the definition of social media at http://www.techipedia.com/2008/social-media-marketers/What Traits Define a Social Media Marketer? Posted by Tamar Weinberg on July 8th, 2008
Thought it may provide some food for thought.  

I love how social media can accomplish so many things … get new clients, staff & partnerships (to name a few).  It is another marketing channel and because it is more interactive than others, the possibilities are that much more incrementally exciting.

Can’t wait for social media to help solve cancer, hunger and other such challenges.
What about you?  What do you think social media can do?

Worldwide Embassy Summitt

From the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, they are announcing a global day of meeting:

SEPTEMBER 25 – JOIN THE LARGEST GATHERING OF EMBASSY OFFICIALS OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC AND NEW YORK AT THE 20TH ANNUAL EMBASSY DAY, SPONSORED BY THE WORLD TRADE CENTER INSTITUTE

Revolutions and/or innovations start with conversations.  Can’t wait to see what innovations are sparked as a result of this meeting.

How would the world be different if people from diff. cultures talked about creating things together rather than how “I am different than you”.

TCM session on “Growing Your Business via Social Media” Recap

The TCM session on “Growing Your Business via Social Media” was great because diff. industries & levels of social media integration were showcased.  Best practices for how to use Facebook, Blogs, LinkedIn & Twitter to attract clients, staff & deal flow were discussed.  The networking & dynimic people made it an event worth attending. 
 
  There were many panels including the keynote speaker, Jeremy Epstein,  who used to work with Microsoft & know counts them as his client discusssing 8 Survival Strategie stategies:
1. Be Remarkable
2. Listen
3. Advocacy as Practice
4. Utilize Your Raving Fans
5. Be the Connector
6. Don’t Abuse Permission
7. Be open & don’t hide
8. Participate & don’t control

Hig blog is Igniting a Revolution: http://jer979.blogspot.com/

For other reports of the event go to http://www.shashi.name/ and

http://capitalcommunicatorsgroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/panel-5-social-networking-superstar.html

So many people are connectiving via Twitter, that the site was down (not sure if it was a direct correlation between the TCM session’s call to action or not) and alas it is so.

Questions I am left with:
I think the best is yet to come, thus this Blog on Innovation …

1.What services are yet to be born out of people embracing social media?  Will this help change time to market for new services? 

2. Since social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & so on) is making it easier to people to connect, will this change the way companies are formed & grow?

3. Will social media help to make Maryland a bigger leader in tech & biotech?

I can’t wait to see the marketplace be transformed.

Innovations In Montgomery County, MD Event

The MD Tech Council will be hosting a sold-out event on “Growing Your Business Through Social Media” on Sept. 10 (https://techcouncilmd.com/events/detail.php?list=Events&laction=detail.php&evt_id=129).  This event promises to be very interesting as they will discuss using social media/networks to find new customers, reach out to the customers & connect with customers.   Representatitives from private industry, PR, tech and educational organizations will be present. 

I was so happy that a Tech Organization in Maryland was hosting this event because this the power of social networks is being recognized more and more not only by businesses but also by organizations that promote the creation and growth of business. 

I expected business to embrace social networks and was a little suprised that the Intelligence Community was also embracing them.

Yesterday, the Potomac Tech Wire (http://www.potomactechwire.com) announced–
o Intelligence Community Set to Launch Online Social Network
Washington, DC — Members of the national intelligence community soon will have access to a Facebook-like online social network aimed at helping them better share classified information, according to Federal Computer Week. The site, known as A-Space, is scheduled to go live on Sept. 22. Prime contractor ManTech International reportedly has been working on the platform for the past year, with the help of such social networking pioneers as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to a report in InformationWeek. Analysts from all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies will be able to create personal profiles, send notes to one another, access each others’ workspaces and search for classified information.
http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153673-1.html 
http://www.socialtimes.com/2008/09/cia-facebook/ 

Another sign that Maryland is helping to lead Innovation and technology.  I saw that The University of Maryland’s Certificate in Innovation Management Program begins Oct. 9.  The University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering and Robert H. Smith School of Business partner to deliver a groundbreaking executive eight-day education series. eight-day series http://www.innovation.umd.edu

What Innovations are you witnessing?