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 >>

Social Entrepreneurs Awards is a post from: Connector

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

View more presentations from CONNECTOR.

How to build your own Personal Brand using social media is a post from: Connector

]]> http://www.connector.ie/2010/12/how-to-create-your-personal-brand-using-social-media/feed/ 0 http://www.connector.ie/2010/11/brainstorm-for-irish-startups-and-freelancers/ http://www.connector.ie/2010/11/brainstorm-for-irish-startups-and-freelancers/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:42:56 +0000 Connector http://www.connector.ie/?p=6175 Idea generation for startups & freelancers @ Connector Brainstorm is a post from: Connector

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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

Idea generation for startups & freelancers @ Connector Brainstorm is a post from: Connector

Connector @ Bar Camp Cork 2010 is a post from: Connector

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.

WANTED : Your Topics for the Connector Brainstorm is a post from: Connector

John Handelaar in action @ the Long Debate

Part 3: The video review of the Long Debate – John Handelaar (Speaker) is a post from: Connector

WHO : www.connector.ie – organising “social networking social events” where we bring together diverse on-line & off-line communities to make new social, commercial & business connections.

WHAT : the 2^nd Annual Connector Awards and Christmas Party 2010

Check out our Christmas slide-show …

WHY :  to acknowledge and reward our 2010 Connector and Tribal success stories in the following categories :

Connector of the Year ( Male )

Connector of the Year ( Female )

Tribe of the Year  ( Social)

Tribe of the Year  ( Business )

Tribe of the Year  ( Arts / Cultural )

WHEN : Thursday 9^th December at 7pm (as part of the annual Christmas Connector event.)

WHERE : Krystle Night Club, 21-25 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 ( strictly over 21’s only & neat dress essential ).

HOW :  This Connector Event is FREE including a complimentary welcome drink, finger-food and late night entry to the Krystle Nightclub. We will, however, be supporting the Irish children’s charity, Barnardos, throughout the evening so all donations will be greatly appreciated.

REGISTER TODAY and keep a look out for updates on the Christmas Connector event such as the guest speakers and the short-list nominations for the Connector Awards.

Connector Awards & Christmas Party 2010 is a post from: Connector

WHO : www.connector.ie – organising “social networking social events” where we bring together diverse on-line & off-line communities to make new social, commercial & business connections.

WHAT : Four great opportunities for you to participate in our NEW event format called Connector Brainstorm :

1. BRAINSTORM : REGISTER TODAY to join in the Connector Brainstorm which is for members of Connector.

6 tables, 6 topics, 8 to 10 participants per table
3 brainstorming sessions lasting 40 minutes per session
With each table chaired by a moderator, using different brainstorming techniques
Awards for each moderator’s  selected “Most Valuable Ideas” and for the Brainstorm’s “Most Valued Players” of the evening

2. CONNECT : Meet & make new business & social contacts across a diverse range of businesses and services in Dublin.

3. LEARN : We have draft outline of 6 topics for discussion but you have the opportunity to sponsor  your own topic of discussion. Use the Connector Brainstorm event to make new connections & generate new ideas for your chosen topic.

4. SHOWCASE : Promote, advertise, market and sell your new business idea, product or service by sponsoring one of our 6 tables and brainstorm a topic specific to your business.

WHY : an excellent, cost-effective opportunity to promote & leverage your brand, product or service during & after the Connector Brainstorm event. It’s not always what you know, but rather who you know that will open new doors of opportunity.

WHEN : Thursday 25th November at 6pm

WHERE : Science Gallery, The Naughton Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin 2

HOW :  To participate in the Connector Brainstorm event, REGISTER NOW to secure your place.

For more information on sponsoring a topic or table at this event, please contact Conor Lynch at 86 8118833 or via email at conor@connector.ie

Connector Brainstorm @ Science Gallery, 6pm, Thurs 25th Nov is a post from: Connector

We invite you to this very special discussion The Long Debate which will take place as part of the Inventorium project, during Dublin Innovation Festival. Register, here!

Jean Byrne

An entrepreneur with an Economics Degree from Trinity College, Dublin,Jean ran her own fashion business for ten years designing, manufacturing and exporting clothing all over the world. After the sale of the business she became involved in the strategic planning and development of An Cosan (formerly the Shanty Educational Project) whose mission statement was and is ‘use education to eradicate poverty’. An Cosan is now regarded as one of the best models of Community Education in Ireland. During this period Jean mentored on the MSc in Marketing Practice in The Michael Smurfit School of Business and Enterprise Ireland. Jean also served on the Government Small Business Task Force Forum and was also appointed by the Government to the Board of The Crafts Council of Ireland where she is currently a non-executive director.

The combination of her entrepreneurial and her involvement with these models of learning radically changed Jean’s view of education and how people learn to learn. Her passion is to facilitate the delivery of a new model of learning for entrepreneurs – ‘Learning to Learn’. This model would provide the tools required to learn Design, Thinking, communication skills, team work and conflict resolution. Jean believes all these skills can be learnt through project based learning using the needs of the city of Dublin to provide the learning laboratory.

In 2008 Jean established Design Twentyfirst Century with Jim Dunne – a fellow Craft Council Director.

Jean Byrne

Kevin Thompstone

Kevin Thompstone is an experienced economic development practitioner and consultant (www.thompstonegroup.com) and has successfully conducted assignments in countries such as Armenia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Jordan, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Uganda and the UAE. He served as CEO of Shannon Development, the regional economic development company for Ireland’s Shannon Region, from 2000 to 2008, where he worked for 23 years and served in key senior management roles.

He has been responsible for developing and realising strategies that have delivered a regional network of technology parks, business incubators, economic zones and broadband infrastructure. He has also led initiatives designed to promote economic activity in less developed areas – e.g. live-work solutions for rural towns/villages, tourism initiatives built on local comparative advantage, supports for SME’s.

His experience in corporate leadership, planning and delivery of a complex range of projects and investment transactions provides a unique mix of policy and practice in the economic development field.

He has recently been advising government, investment agency and commercial clients on business park, technocity and special economic zone projects in Armenia, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.

Kevin Thompstone

Cairín O’Connor

Cairin O’Connor is the Development Director of the Bolton Trust & Docklands Innovation Park. She is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and an entrepreneur who advises start-ups on the areas of attracting investment & sources of finance. Cairin is a founding board member of Eurocloud Ireland and a consultant with the European Bank for Recovery & Development.

Cairin O'Connor

A unique format and networking opportunity

As part of the Inventorium project, The Long Debate will take place on the 11 Nov during the festival, at NDRC. An evening of lively discussion and networking, Inventorium have devised a special debate format, 18 of Ireland’s key contributors and commentators have been invited to give their views and opinions. Each speaker will present his or her viewpoint for five minutes, the emerging conversations will be documented and presented on the Inventorium website.

Make The Long Debate your key event in Dublin Innovation Festival

When?

The Long Debate, Inventorium,

part of Dublin Innovation Festival

11 Nov

Doors open 18.00

Debate: 19.00-22.00

NDRC, Crane St, Digital Hub, Dublin 8

Registration for this event is essential, click here!

The Long Debate: Speakers (16-18) out now – expertise at hand! – Jean Byrne, Kevin Thompstone & Cairín O’Connor is a post from: Connector

The Long Debate is at hand:

Check out now the next three scholars, that will bring their expertise to the exciting debate on 11. Nov. We strongly recommend to register now, click here

Did you know: The “Long Debate” is an evening full of lively discussion and networking. Inventorium has devised a special debate format, 18 of Ireland’s key contributors and commentators have been invited to give their views and opinions. Each speaker will present his or her viewpoint for five minutes, the emerging conversations will be documented and presented on the Inventorium website.

Ron Immink

Ron is a serial entrepreneur and author of a number of best selling business books. He has started several, grown a few and sold one company. Ron has worked in entrepreneurship, training, consultancy, publishing, education, innovation and tech transfer.

In 2007, following his passion for books, new learning and entrepreneurship he started Bookbuzz™, a company that has developed an innovative, proven and highly effective learning and consultancy methodology that harnesses the collective wisdom of the organisation, using inspiring business books to stimulate ideas, design innovative strategies, improve decision making and boost fresh thinking. Clients of Bookbuzz include some leading multinationals in Europe and the USA.

At the same time he co-founded www.smallbusinesscan.com in partnership with Ulster Bank. A free and open platform where owner managers can create and share the business knowledge, the insights, the experience and the contact networks needed to generate new growth for their own business and create a new beginning for the economy. Smallbusinesscan is now the fastes growing business support website in the UK and Ireland.

His expertise is around entrepreneurship, story telling, narrative, dialogue learning, social learning, social media and collective wisdom.

Ron Immink

John Collins

John Collins is assistant business editor with The Irish Times. A journalist for 16 years he specialises in technology, business and internet issues. He has been contributing to the paper’s popular technology pages since 2005 and has been on staff since early 2007.
He was the Irish Internet Association’s Net Visionary Technology Journalist of the Year in 2006. Prior to joining The Irish Times he was a freelance journalist contributing to publications including The Sunday Business Post, Computerscope, Business Plus, Ireland.com and Smart Company.

John was editor of PC Live! Ireland’s best selling computer and Internet magazine for five years. He has been online since 1995, and has written for a range of Irish and international publications including The Irish Independent, Silicon Republic, Business & Finance, TVB Europe, The Web Magazine, i-D, Hot Press and Apple Report.
John has commented on technology and business issues for a range of radio and TV programmes for both RTÉ and independent stations, as well as co-presenting the RTÉ2 series, TechTV.

John Collins

Theo Lynn

Theo Lynn is a lecturer in Management in the Dublin City University Business School where he teaches at postgraduate level on Strategic Management. Theo holds a Ph.D. in Law from University College Dublin and the title of his thesis was “The Irish Corporate Governance System and the Role of Irish Occupational Pension Funds as Institutional Monitors”. He is the Programme Chairperson for the MSc in Business Management, is Deputy Director (Technology) of the Learning, Innovation and Knowledge Research Centre (www.link.dcu.ie) and is Principal Investigator on the Global Grid for Learning project (www.globalgridforlearning.org).

Theo Lynn

A unique format and networking opportunity: We invite you to this very special discussion The Long Debate which will take place as part of the Inventorium project, during Dublin Innovation Festival. Make The Long Debate your key event in Dublin Innovation Festival

When?

The Long Debate, Inventorium,

part of Dublin Innovation Festival

11 Nov

Doors open 18.00

Debate: 19.00-22.00

NDRC, Crane St, Digital Hub, Dublin 8

Registration for this event is essential

The Long Debate: Speakers (13-15) out now – expertise at hand! – Ron Immink, Theo Lynn & John Collins is a post from: Connector