Category Archives: events

Levi’s, CrowdFlower and Quickoffice SOCAP Panel

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It’s possible you’ve never heard of SOCAP. It’s essentially an underworld where brands share info, network and party with each other. Pretty cool! My first SOCAP event I met people from Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation and Abercrombie & Fitch. I didn’t realize that brands actually got out of the office. They do!

Recently I joined the board of SOCAP as the go to person for events in the Bay Area. Fast forward a few months and we threw our first panel “Out of the Call Center into the Command Center, Serving the Social Customer” sponsored by Get Satisfaction.

blake socap

From left to right: Me, Nic Miranda, Manager, Customer Care & Advocacy, Quickoffice, Brian Reavey, Senior Manager, Community Development, CrowdFlower, Paul Osborne, Director Consumer Affairs, Levi Strauss & Co.

Social technologies are here to empower us in our businesses. They’ve made it easier to work from anywhere, when we want, the way we want. It’s also allowed our customers to talk to us in their preferred channel, on their preferred device, whenever they want. In the panel we addressed how companies are leveraging emerging channels—we heard counter-intuitive ideas around social and much more.

The panelists talked ownership, scalability and super users.

We learned from Levi’s that the more you try and script the way your agents reach out to consumers on social–the more difficult it becomes for the company. It’s also unfavorable for the customer.

We also learned that the call center agents shouldn’t have information that isn’t available on the website–with fees for calls as much as five dollars per call that comes into the contact center, social media and self-service is a welcome approach.

“Typically, if your customers are over 40 they call, if they’re over 30 they email and if they’re under 30 they use social media” said Paul Osborne, Director of Consumer Affairs for Levi’s.

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Brian Reavey of CrowdFlower encourages you to engage your super users in the community who will advocate on your behalf. Nic Miranda of Quickoffice added that if you make those super users feel like VIPs the super users will feel more inclined to advocate.

If you’re in the “customer” space in the Bay Area I encourage you to consider joining SOCAP. We will be hosting more events this year including another social customer event in early 2013 and a Technology Summit in May 2013. If you are a vendor and you would like to sponsor please contact me Blake @ ArtemisStrategies.com. Learn more on our slowly growing Facebook page.

 


We Got Our Groove Back, A Workshop Wrap-Up

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As a younger version of myself I was consistently frustrated with the lack opportunities to sit around with like-minded women doing the life-work that I so badly needed.

The lack of resources and support I felt I had fuels the process of creating just that; environments, content and resources for women that I always wanted but never had access to.

Life can be very busy, and when we don’t make time for ourselves the days disappear in a blur of work commutes, deadlines and errands.

When we finally do make the time for our spirits we realize  how incredibly restorative and healing this time can be.

Usually we hide this “stuff” at the bottom of our closet. When we finally start digging around in there we discover gems we forgot existed.

In the launch Get Your Groove Back workshop this weekend we had a lot of aha moments. Throughout our mix of guided discussion, activities and even meditative exercises participants said, “wow I didn’t even realize I felt that way–not until I said it outloud…”

The Opportunity To Emote In A Safe Space

We read about the poor numbers of women in leadership positions–especially in sectors like technology.

It is my personal belief that we need to stop focusing on this external conversation, and on an individual basis look inward and ask ourselves what is stopping us. By teaching women to love themselves–to feel enough–and provide women with the tools to get through the everyday challenges, the glass ceiling in any aspect of women’s lives will disappear.

The truth is as CEO of GetSatisfaction Wendy Lea said in a video interview once women don’t need to act like men in the workplace. She says “the female part of you is a good part, don’t mask that, be that, respect that, honor it. When you mask it you lose yourself.” And she’s right.

Much to notoriously tough corporate executive Martha Stewart’s chagrin, there is crying in baseball. Women shouldn’t feel like they have to stuff all their feelings down–because if you’ve ever done that before you know that eventually your repressed feelings blow the lid.

While crying at work isn’t the way to get yourself a raise, having a safe space to emote can be incredibly helpful–especially if you’re in the room with like-minded women who are going through the same thing.


Here are some of our participants making vision boards in the GYGB workshop.

***

“The world will be saved by the western woman.” -Dalai Lama

The above quote was volunteered at the closing of the workshop. The participant said in 2012 women can have anything they want–but we choose not to. We live our lives for other people, never feeling enough by their standards. The thing is we need to change the dialogue–and teach women how to live for themselves.

Empowered

It was wonderful to see people sharing a part of themselves with us, and additionally share tools they use in their own lives to overcome challenges–many that stem from the challenges of being a woman–feeling enough for others and for herself.

It was exciting to launch our first Get Your Groove Back workshop and see why they came.

Here’s what the participants had to say about their motivation for attending:

  • I want to speak from a place of passion.
  • I want to figure out what empowers me.
  • I want to learn how to stay focused in my life.
  • I want to work on expressing myself on a daily basis.
  • I want to learn better tools to take care of myself.
  • I want to rediscover and connect with my passions.
  • I want to work on a concrete plan I can develop and take away with me.
  • I want to develop more self awareness around my identity as a woman and as a professional.
  • I need to develop a new career personae and the confidence that supplements that.
  • I’m a CEO in a new job and I need ways to overcome my fear of stepping out.
  • I want to reconnect with my passion for life and start writing again.

Co-teacher Dr. Barbara Mark and I were delighted by the group that joined us for the session, and we felt blessed and honored to be in the presence of such great women. Here is what they said about their workshop experience with us:

  • It was clearly thought out, very well ran and extremely informative while being relaxing, warm, and inviting. All in less than 3 hours is quite an accomplishment.
  • I liked the openness of the participants–because it was a smaller group everyone got to participate and we felt comfortable doing so.
  • The activity on “triggers” helped me identify challenges and solutions within myself.
  • The sharing session was candid and made me realize that I’m not the only person facing the problems I face. I gained problem-solving skills that will help me moving forward.
  • The exercise that built insight connecting mind and body—the visualization and the vision board work were rewarding.
  • I enjoyed the small group and opportunity to share—I also enjoyed the hands on activity—getting to be creative and learning from the experience of others.

I am so grateful to these women who attended, and opened themselves up to us.

Closing Thoughts

There are days where I forget that people actually read my blog. I put some very personal things on the internet at the hope that you are reading out there. I also hope that the hard lessons learned that I’ve gleaned will help you in your personal lives. Because it’s the internet, I don’t always know if the messages resonate with you.

One woman showed up to the workshop and said she had read my blog Promises I Make to Myself. She said the blog resonated with her.

It’s moments like this that I know I am on this journey for a reason. I know the world needs this healing work–and I’m very pulled toward it.

*Dr. Barbara Mark and I will be announcing our second workshop shortly. The workshop will focus around female empowerment. The workshop will take place August 11th, 2012 from 1:00-4:30PM in San Francisco at the Full Circle Institute at 2325 Third Street | Suite 337 | San Francisco, CA 94107. There are only ten spots. The cost is $95. Feel free to email me if you would like to reserve your spot.

The Story You Haven’t Heard About Oakland

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I have a secret for you. There’s a lot going on in Oakland. And I’m not talking about protests or a Brad Pitt sighting from the Moneyball premier. As I publish this blog post I can hear the choppers above, attracted to our local town because of the political and social unrest of #occupyoakland. While this is an important story, I want to talk about another Oakland story–one of job creation, innovation and economic growth.

I’ve had the opportunity to attend two events over the last few weeks promoted by InOak founded by local networking extraordinaire Deborah Acosta. The businesses promoted in these local events are uplifting the Oakland economy and enjoying all the benefits of the Bay Area’s best kept secret.


Lake Merritt where I live. Image source

The October 20th panel was produced and sponsored by investors DBL –the only woman-owned VC firm in the United States. The panel sat on a dimly lit stage at the Fox Theater Den as a packed house of entrepreneurs, influencers, and techies took notes, asked questions and enjoyed the local networking opp. Managing Partner Nancy Pfund did an elegant job of moderating the panel with five of the Oakland-based companies in their portfolio.

The panel included:

Below are just a few of the many highlights from the evening’s program.

Revolution Foods

I think we can agree that there is an obesity epidemic in the U.S., and it’s being exacerbated by our schools. Kristin Richmond took notice of this problem and did something about it with her idea Revolution Foods. Revolution Foods feeds children all over the country and to say the company has experienced explosive growth could be the understatement of the year.

It’s not new news that healthy kids do better in school. The food they put in their mouths affects their focus at school, the way the feel about their bodies, and what goes on at home. As a fellow food lover, food blogger and health nut I was pleased to learn about this exciting movement.

I think we are all ready for this food revolution!


Kristin Richmond

Ecologic

Ecologic was started by Julie Corbett, a working mom who wanted to make a change regarding the sheer amount of waste we create as a society. Did you know only 25% of plastic jugs are recycled in the U.S.? Julie decided to do something about the waste problem. Check out this video that tells the story of Ecologic.

On a personal note waste is something I think about every day. I hate trash. My generation didn’t only inherit a rough hand of cards when it comes to the state of the environment, but we’re also inundated with media that make us feel guilty about it. Being raised with Ricky the Raindrop I feel the pollution and trash problem facing our world as a personal challenge.

When I worked for a media and events company in New York it drove me nuts that the company didn’t recycle. It’s refreshing to see someone taking action. I will be purchasing Ecologic bottles whenever possible.

Pandora

Another highlight of the panel was Joe Kennedy, CEO of free internet radio provider Pandora. Kennedy said he would like to see Oakland become more like Brooklyn (or as Brooklyn is to New York City). What struck me about Joe’s portion of the panel was the way he fielded a question about the competition. Someone in the audience asked about Spotify–and Joe said he didn’t set out to make Pandora everything to everyone, but rather do one thing very very well.


image source

To me that’s Oakland.

We don’t expect Oakland to be everything to everyone. We have some beautiful space here. We also have great entrepreneurial raw urban energy.

We aren’t for everyone, but we might be for you.

Transactional Versus Transformational Business Networking

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Historically in business we do things we are told to do. We make power point presentations, we wear suits, we make business cards, we shake hands, we try and make business happen, but a lot of this stuff we all actually hate. Like really hate. So why do we keep doing it?

What I wish the business world would learn, more than anything, is that sometimes the best way to attract business, is to NOT TALK ABOUT BUSINESS.

If a person finds themselves around others they want to do business with, or meet, don’t fall back into legacy communication and information sharing techniques.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/business-communications-icebreaker-5.jpg
For example, if you are at an event, and networking, rather than leading with a business question or comment, take a minute to find out something different about the person you are talking to. Lead with something less….business…ey.

Find out if this person next to you has kids, find out what they love to do for fun, find out their favorite music, their favorite food. I promise you this is a better way to socialize than to have transactional and pushy discussions with people.

This goes for vendors and practitioners. Be human, engage, tell stories, make your audience laugh! If you are speaking involve them in the presentation–make them raise their hands, make them stand up, maybe even get them up and dancing.

People want to have fun, they want to be heard, the want to be educated, they want to be engaged–somehow in the business world we forget these human needs, and we make transactions.

I am so excited about business today–because finally we are living in a time where a lot of cool companies and leaders are not doing this anymore. They are taking chances. They are stepping outside “the box.”

Let’s do something different–like really different. You will be pleasantly surprised by the reactions of your audience–whether that’s a room full of conference goers, a networking dinner or a neighbor at the internet cafe.

Enough Stage to Go Around–Even at Sales Conferences

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Lately I’ve noticed a lot of behavior that can be attributed to what one might call the “not enough theory.”

What does that mean?

That means I’ve noticed a lot of cryptic tweets aimed at other people–in a negative way. It feels like someone (more than one) is trying to collapse the stage from under someone else.

Instead of tweeting whatever seemingly “in-context”140 character witty quip that was tweeted, the tweet translates as “don’t listen to him, listen to me!”

Why else would public lashings take place (especially in a hashtag of a conference the hater is not present at)?

My point is we need to get away from this “not enough to go around” mentality. Because, well it’s just not true.

There is absolutely enough to go around. There is enough of a stage for all of us. You don’t have to try and take mine out from under me.

There is enough for me, there is enough for you, and everyone in between.

http://www.madagnes.com/imgs/WmsbgStage.JPG

People who feel emotionally and intellectually wealthy do not try and polarize attitudes toward other people. People who hoard, whether that’s objects, attention or friends, exude a different energy and attitude from those who feel emotionally and intellectually wealthy.

It’s dangerous to hate people–firstly because it’s bad for your health, but secondly–others are always watching you. And whether you are right in your hatred, or wrong, publicly lashing others makes you look emotionally and intellectually poor. Emotionally and intellectually poor people do not light up a room. They are not business magnets.

I am not trying to create any kind of “West Side Story-like social CRM” twitter war. So please don’t ping me later warning me of publicly vocalizing my thoughts.

I am only trying to live in a world that is transparent, honest and good. Those of you who know me–like really know me–know this is the way I live my life, and the people I surround myself with.

I’ve lived in Bed-Stuy, I’ve lived in Manhattan.

In my experience, wealth has nothing to do with money. And everything to do with spirit.

Join me for the Social Media Week Panel on Epic Wins (yes that’s a gamer term!)

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Dear Readers

I wanted to post a panel I will be participating in tomorrow….please join me!

“Reaching for the Epic Win in Relationship Management”

Discussion Panel: ” Reaching for the Epic Win in Relationship Management ”

Panelists:

Moderator: Rich Reader, Chief Engagement Officer, VineBuzz

Going beyond (while still embracing) customer relations, it is increasingly necessary that enterprises of every scale do more to improve social relationships with employees, suppliers, contractors, utilities, financial markets, stockholders, competitors, government, educators, and non-governmental organizations.

We will dive into thorny issues, build a deeper rapport and reach for epic wins from mission critical gaming/collaborative approaches.  When we become comfortable with our socialized business relations, we can begin to expect our customers to more fully engage with us.  So let’s get busy.

A few questions have emerged in early discussions with the panelists:

  1. How do smart enterprises identify and pursue the best directions from which to improve their overall engagement practices?
  2. Why are we falling behind in growing/delivering the value that we need to provide to our customers?
  3. What strategic goals/concepts need to be achieved?
  4. Which organizational behaviors are due for modification?
  5. Whose ox shall be sheltered in consideration for facilitating necessary changes?

Spoiler Alert:  This meeting is about strategic goals and objectives, as well as the core practices that facilitate those goals and objectives.  It is not a hawkfest for tactical brands, tools, packages, software-as-a-service, retainers, or any other manner of picks and shovels.  Based upon what we already know about the agenda of #SMWSF, you should have already had more than ample opportunity to sell everything under the sun to each other.

Please sign up here!!!

Will Watson the Computer Win Jeapordy? Interview with IBM Systems CTO Jai Menon

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This week IBM is celebrating its 100th year. In light of this centennial at the #IBM100 event last night I interviewed Jai Menon, CTO of the IBM Systems and Technology Group about the upcoming Jeapordy episode featuring the IBM computer Watson taking place February 14-16, 2011.

It has taken IBM three years to build Watson–will the computer beat champ Ken Jennings? You won’t want to miss this mental boxing match.

Thank you to Josh Morgan who made this video! For video services he can be reached at [email protected]

“History Will Be Kind To Me For I Intend To Write It”-WC #IBM100

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Sometimes I think we take history for granted. Makes me think of a famous Winston Churchill quote:

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it”

It’s no secret the world today needs visionaries.

The world needs leaders.

The world needs business to take a leadership role.

I believe the technology industry can save the American economy–it can also uplift the developing world.

This video demonstrating the arc of technological advances made by IBM reminds me how lucky we are to live in such a technologically advanced society.

Here is more on the #IBM100 (hashtag) event I am attending tonight.

IBM at 100: Making the World Work Better

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On the heels of an intense week of global news, tomorrow I will be attending an IBM event on “Making the World Work Better.”

I wanted to share the agenda with you because it’s really different than anything I’ve attended for IBM before.

If you have any specific questions or curiosities about this panel that you would like me to ask–please feel free to comment and I will make sure to ask them.

http://blake.artemisstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/cutehunterquestionsglobe2bcopy.jpg?w=239
*image source

IBM at 100: Making the World Work Better

Over the past century, IBM has led distinctive historical contributions to
society: from inventing the UPC barcode, to LASIK surgery and online
banking, to creating the most precise map of the moon’s orbit, and now to
developing a computer that can answer questions and riddles like a human
being. IBM and its deep bench of scientific and industry experts have
transformed and touched just about every aspect of our daily lives.

We invite you to join us as we take a look back at IBM milestones and set
our sights on future IBM technology and global growth in the areas of
cloud computing, security, green IT, transportation, analytics and more.

Please join IBM inventors and experts as we celebrate IBM’s first 100 years
of innovation and chart our path for the next century.

Our host is IBM Fellow Kerrie Holley, who will be joined by cloud guru and Vice President Willy Chiu, global rail lead Keith Dierkx, information management Vice President and CTO Anant Jhingran and other IBM executives as well as local academics, businesses and influencers.