Archive for the business category
Connector supporting the NUI Maynooth Business Society
by Connector on October 23rd, 2011
Watch out soon for more from this enterprising bunch in the Bizz Soc in NUI Maynooth whom I met on Friday to discuss their social media.
Social Entrepreneurs Awards
by Connector on October 23rd, 2011
I had a great evening last week at the Social Entrepreneur Awards organised by SocialEntrepreneurs.ie. The Taoiseach was on hand to salute the best of Irish social entrepreneurs and it was great to see so many people I knew there. The merging of social media and social good is a real area of interest for me.
To see the award winners are click here >>
The Ireland Funds Annual Conference 2011
by Connector on June 25th, 2011
I was delighted to be invited by Caitlin Duffy to attend the annual conference for The Ireland Funds in the fabulous surroundings of Drumoland Castle on Friday last.
The Ireland Funds are a global fundraising network for people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland, dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland. The Funds exist in 12 countries around the world, the largest member of the network being The American Ireland Fund. The global chairman of The Ireland Funds is Tony O’Reilly. They have raised over $350 million for worthy causes in Ireland and around the world.
The conference included a great selection of Ireland Funds team management, team members, social entrepreneurs and supporters. I met so many new people I can’t list them here but it was also nice to bump into old connections Paddy Cosgrave and Senator Mark Daly. The guests of honour included the President Mary McAleese, Senator Martin McAleese and the Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore. The meetings for the Young Leaders were really interesting and you can see a video here >> with more soon to follow.
Congratulations to Kieran McLoughlin and Hugo McNeil and the team for the work and for making me feel so welcome at this event which felt a little like a big family re-union.
Social organisations, minus the bossy leaders!
by Connector on June 2nd, 2011
Great book on ideas how you can get rid of the boss and create leaderless organisations … Do you know other books like it?
Connector at ‘Getting Business Online’ training
by Connector on May 30th, 2011
At the Google HQ for train the trainer workshop for ‘Getting Business Online’ training with lots of people from the county enterprise boards! See some FREE web site templates below and click here to get started with a free domain name, web hosting and training - well done to sponsors Google, Blacknight and An Post and thanks to Google’s Michelle Beirne for her short video message!
Connector.ie is back in action
by Connector on May 28th, 2011
As you may have noticed connector.ie hblog as been very quiet lately – let me tell you why.
As we now have more specialist social media services for businesses we have moved this B2B activity over to SocialMedia.ie
Our Connector events and bloggers are now active over on a new B2C site called connector.TV
So now I am going to use connector.ie as a blog for our social business and everything else that does not fit onto those two new sites. What do you think?
Chat again soon.
Conor
How to build your own Personal Brand using social media
by Connector on December 12th, 2010
The following is the presentation Conor Lynch made to the ITAA Skillsnet & the Digital Marketing Institute on Friday at DIT, Cathal Brugha. Facebook‘s Maggie McPartlin & Julien Muller were the other speakers in an interesting and lively conversation about the role of social media in personal branding.
And if you want to get your name out there and new social media skills, remember you can get blogging experience from the new blogger network @ connector.TV
Personal Branding & Social Media – connector.ie
Idea generation for startups & freelancers @ Connector Brainstorm
by Connector on November 29th, 2010
On Thursday evening we had the first Connector Brainstorm event at the Science Gallery and here are some photos from Kyle Tunney and more here on Facebook.
The idea behind Connector brainstorm is to create a space for small ideas to collide and create BIG ideas. So we have created a mashup of classic Connector networking mixed with brainstorming! Each table has a moderator who guides the conversation and keeps the notes on paper or on our mind mapping software.
We have some generic topics for discussion but there are opportunities for startups to have their business brainstormed by 8 people for 30 minutes.
The launch of Connector Brainstorm event provided a fascinating insight into the world of Irish politics, economic and society. A diverse mix of people gathered in the Science Gallery in Trinity College to ask important questions politicians won’t never think to ask themselves.
Conor Lynch, organiser of the Connector Brainstorm said; “Einstein once said ‘We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.’ Age old policies need new age thinking and with this in mind our team of experts came up with some radical suggestions on how the future of Irish politics and economy should be ran.”
Saving Ireland Inc.
One of the first ideas to come to fruition was a way to deal with the thousands of empty properties across the country. There are an estimated 74 ‘Ghost estates’ in Ireland, due to the oversupply of housing during the boom. These Ghost estates are now on the verge of being demolished.
Instead of knocking the estates down the group proposed devising a lottery system whereby a lucky winner in the midst of our economic crisis could go on to win a property on one of these derelict estates. The rest of the lotteries proceeds could be put to good use by employing the skill sets of unemployed people on social welfare which will regenerate and finish development on these estates for the people that really need them.
A team of business strategists proposed a radical suggestion which might be considered futuristic to say the least. This approach applies the principles of computer gaming structures to the welfare and taxation system adding value back into society so that public moral is renewed to spend again. As users work hard to progress through the various levels of the game, engaging and gaining rewards they’ve spent time to earn, the same can be applied to real life.
Therefore, it was suggested that people on social welfare could use the skill sets they have to pay-it-forward, clocking up twenty hours per week adding value to a person or a business and this new currency could add credits to each individual through the welfare and taxation system.
Another contributor said; “Another suggestion which was one of topical debate discussed Ireland’s technologically starved politicians. Most of Ireland’s politicians are between the ages of forty to sixty, but a lot of people in our society are between the ages of fifteen to thirty. As we face an uncertain future it’s imperative that our government is up-to-speed on emerging markets rich in technology. At the next election we need a more balanced age profile in Irish politics in order to speak the language of the Irish population and other successful economies.”
In a quirky suggestion the majority also agreed that TD’S should be prohibited from drinking so that they’re heads are clear for tackling the biggest issues Ireland has had to face in political history.
Connector Startups
The Connector Brainstorm event also gave some of Ireland’s most exciting start-ups the opportunity to gain new ideas for their businesses including GoCar.ie, AM Works, Twitter TV, Smart Leads, Pet Photography, Happy Gardening Co. and EggFuel.ie where they were able to share and propose ideas to the different groups and get valuable feedback.
“The Connector brainstorm event was extremely beneficial to the businesses that were there. They all left with new ideas for their businesses from some of the top experts in a range of fields. For businesses to grow and succeed in the current economic climate they have to recognise that they need to think outside the box and gain input from a range of areas and this event will help anyone who is looking to get a new perspective on their business,” Lynch went on to say.
For more information on upcoming Connector Brainstorm and networking events then log on to connector.ie
WANTED : Your Topics for the Connector Brainstorm
by graeme on November 22nd, 2010
Connector.ie have proposed 6 exciting topics to kickstart the Connector Brainstorm in the Science Gallery @6pm Thursday 25th November.
1. Saving Ireland Inc : this topic speaks for itself !
2. Cash I$ King : making money
3. Me & We : inter-relationships between individuals & communities
4. 2020 Home & Office : a look at the future of working & living in the year 2020
5. Entertain Us : the future of entertainment
6. Reinventing U : begin again, new careers, the multi-functional professional, leveraging alternative life skills & hobbies
Have you a burning issue for debate or maybe you’re a start-up seeking new ideas and new connections for your business ? Whatever your topic, we would like to hear from you. Simply complete the form below to submit your topics for discussion.
Space at this event is limited so please REGISTER today to secure your place.
Part 3: The video review of the Long Debate – John Handelaar (Speaker)
by malte on November 14th, 2010
John Handelaar in action @ the Long Debate
