"All about Blogging" Webinar sparks multinational interest
by Debbe Kennedy
Sometimes timing, topic, technology, and talent all come together in a perfect combination. So it was at the "All About Blogging" event on January 24, 2008 when forty Greater IBMers, representing eleven countries — Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Ireland, Mexico, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States — met up in a virtual conference room at the Global Dialogue Center via Web presentation, VOIP and phone. The purpose: involve more Greater IBMers in the life of our online community through blogging.
There were a number of firsts. It was the first time any of us had the opportunity to meet one another. It was also the first time for me, a former IBMer (1970-1991) from San Francisco to team up with current IBMer, Vasundhar Boddapati, Systems Engineer, IBM India, to co-host a Greater IBM event. And it was the first use of our community tools to generate focus on blogging for Greater IBM. We had great fun together. We met through Xing and worked across the distance to create an interactive experience hoping "if we built it, they would come." It was such a thrill to see the interest this topic generated.
Beginning about 9:00 a.m. EST, one by one, we came together. Technology tools helped us make almost an instant connection. We started by showing where we were in the world on a map. A poll helped us discover that well over half of us came with a keen interest, as well as recognizing that blogs are revolutionizing how we communicate in business and society across the globe.
Three seasoned bloggers from our Greater IBM Community seeded the conversation by telling us why they blog, telling how they got started, and insights to encourage all of us. They were:
Mark Cathcart, IBM Distinguished Engineer, IBM Academy of Technology; Chief Solution architect, IBM Power Systems
Jane Scandurra (former IBMer), director, consulting, Iconoculture, Inc. and owner, Go Pictures and Films LLC
Ethan McCarty, Program Manager, IBM Alumni Relations
Others joined the conversation, like Andy Piper from the UK, who told his pioneering story of blogging before it even had a name.
In just one hour, we covered a lot of ground. At the end, a bunch of us stayed for a "virtual coffee break". After most virtual meetings, people speed away. This group stayed around to continue the conversation. We wrote ideas, shared tips and left our reflections on the session on a "whiteboard." In the informal conversation, you could feel a sense of community. It felt good!
Based on that interest and involvement, we're expecting to see more Greater IBMers sharing their viewpoints and experience through the Greater IBM blog.
About the author: This special report was submitted by Greater IBMer Debbe Kennedy, CEO and president, Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies.