DC Capital Week: Innovation, Social Good, Charlene Li (Part 1 of 2)

Guest post by @terryeva, a solutions architect for AOL and a social media enthusiast.

Digital Capital Week took place June 11^th, 2010 to June 20^th, 2010. The event focused on technology, innovation, and all things digital. Organized by Peter Corbett, Frank Gruber, and Jen Consalvo I expected to learn about technology and entrepreneurship.  I was not disappointed; in fact, the event far exceeded my expectations.  The event offered over 100 sessions (many of them free), projects and parties. While I could not attend all the sessions offered, the event reminded me that innovation is alive in the nation’s capital and great people are behind all of it.

Activate Innovation through Leadership, a session facilitated by Kimberly Rattley, used Playback Theater to turn individuals into collaborative teams.  The 90-minute session challenged complete strangers to creatively adapt to unexpected scenarios using innovative strategies.  The session was physical, fun, and generated a lot of laughter. More importantly, it proved one does not need “more time” to be innovative; one can be innovative in any situation in a moment’s notice.

Social Media for Social Good, facilitated by Danielle Ricks and Shannon Mouton, explained how Social Media can be used by non-profits to further their causes. Some key points were:

• 75 % of online members use the Internet to interact with social causes
• The tools are not important. Non-profits, like businesses must have a social media strategy. This may simply be goals derived from the non-profits mission statement. Some examples shared included:
  • Community Growth
  • Awareness
  • Fundraising
  • A call to action

• Make the experience fun!
  • Drive traffic with foursquare games. Use marketing swag as prizes
  • Tell stories about the great things volunteers have done
  • Excite the audience with photos and video
  • Do not forget the volunteers that previously served.

• Use the 80/20 rule
  • Engage with others 80% of the time
  • Push informational materials 20% of the time

The key points suggested by Danielle and Shannon can help non-profits with a limited budget reach out to the community so they can continue to deliver programs and services for the public benefit.

Cammie Croft and Charlene Li Keynote: Cammie is the Director of New Media for the Department of Energy.  Cammie spoke of the challenges she saw as she tried to get the government agencies to embrace social media. The Open Government Initiative has more details on the state of government agencies as they move to becoming more open and transparent.  The US Government has come a long way in the last few years.  apps.gov is another example of how the US Government is embracing change and technology.

Charlene Li co-authored Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies and spoke briefly about her new book Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead.

Charlene said she is not advocating being totally open in her book Open Leadership.  It is possible for an organization to be too open.  Organizations concerned about the social media space should start by defining their sandbox and the rules of engagement within the sandbox. Over time maybe the sandbox becomes bigger.

Charlene reminded everyone that social media is all about relationships. Relationships can be created, maintained, and destroyed. Organizations must decide what kind of relationship they are seeking. The relationship may be long term, intimate or loyal. The relationship in social media is enabled by social technologies but the relationship should always be at the forefront.

These three sessions caught my eye because I see common themes from these sessions in today’s business world. For example, have you ever heard your developers say they do not have time to innovate? Have you ever seen an organization try to six-sigma its way into innovation? Have you ever wondered if there was more you can do for your community?  How can you use your social media skills to help the local community? These three sessions really opened my eyes to lessons I could take back to my place of employment. The next article will talk about “Hugs over Handshakes”, saving lives with Social Media  and Positive Psychology.

Photo Credit: Frank Gruber