Visible Networking

NET - WebWednesdays

Last Wednesday, I attended the latest event from Web Wednesdays, Television is dead.

I had a very good time. There was a list of "speakers" on their blog, but the idea was more to socialize than watch some formal presentations: Feel free to speak to anyone in the room!

I met Damien, one of the two founders. Well done for your initiative! And as discussed, I look forward to inteviewing you soon.

In two hours, I also met
* Nic, one of the speakers. He is a very interesting man with a fascinating background...
* James* a friendly web designer who attends various networking events on regular basis
* Amir, a Producer for the BBC who is planning to go online soon
* Claire, the "Business Blog Angel"
* Cathy, a dynamic South African and a specialist in Digital and Direct Marketing
* Warwick, International Director of Accura-Tech (specialit offshore software development)
* Gary and John from Folio Partners (John knows my new company, SWIFT, very well)
* Angel, a very nice, smart, entrepreneur from Manchester who plans to launch a new travel podcast service with her partners (I invited her to contact my friend Guillaume, Founder of Hotel-Blogs.com!)
* Huia and Matt

Other networking events in London
* a special thanks to James who kindly shared with me a list of other networks/events in London:
-> http://flag-and-bell.com/
-> http://webdesign.meetup.com/70/
-> http://www.claudieplen.com/creativealchemy.htm
-> http://www.geekdinner.co.uk/
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Technorati: businessnetworking, socialnetworking, webwednesdays

NET - "Television is Dead" from WebWednesdays

I was on openBC, browsing the list of next events in London, when I found out about Web Wednesdays!

I will try to attend the next event on Wednesday 8th November: Television is Dead. See you there!
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Technorati: businessnetworking, socialnetworking, openbc, london

NET - Business trip to Mumbai (July 2006)

A business trip to Mumbai a city of 16 million people in fascinating India, with so many dynamic and competitive IT/Technology firms, isn't it a kind of social/business networking event? ;)

We spent five busy days in Mumbai: we had organized an incredible number of meetings everyday, and on Tuesday 11/07 seven blasts occured in trains full of people during rush hour... Nevertheless, we managed to see a couple of famous and impressive monuments such as the Gateway of India or Victoria Terminus. I was also very pleased to meet with Naina Redhu... and interview her!

a few pictures         
 
     Please check all the pictures on flickr.

Videos
Please find below some videos taken in Mumbai, the week when the seven blasts occured. Just twelve hours after the blasts, you couldn't tell anything that terrible had happened: Indian people are great!

You live in Mubai? You go to India for business? Leave a comment and a link to your pictures/videos!
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Technorati: socialnetworking, businessnetworking, mumbai, india, event

BLG - BlogHer Conference '06

This weekend, I found out about that conference about blogging: it will take place in San Jose this week, and it is targeted to women. It is a great initiative, and it looks very successful if you check the long list of sponsors!

BlogHer Conference '06



About BlogHer's community
Welcome to the BlogHer community's beta site.
Join us! Together we're building a guide to women bloggers. In 20+ popular topics, you'll find lists of blogs by women and constantly updating guides to what's hot, written by our contributing editors.

You can also find out all about BlogHer Conference '06, from registration to sponsorships. Our 2005 inaugural conference sold out with 300+ attendees and national press attention, and was made possible by our amazing sponsors. BlogHer Con '06 will double in size.

I'm a guy. Can I be a BlogHer?
I really like their approach: one day I wish women and men will be equal at work, in terms of responsibilities and salary. To achieve that, women need men to better understand, and take part of the (r)evolution!

"Yes!
Thank you for asking, so that we can yell from the rooftops: Yes! Men already are an important part of the BlogHer community!
Nearly 20 percent of the people who attended BlogHer Conference '05 were men. Our first conference volunteers in 2005 were men. You'll even find some men listed on the BlogHer Blogrolls (read our requirements here).

Since there's been a lot of disinformation on this topic, we would like to repeat in no-longer-dulcet tones:






Now, may we ask a favor? Please copy this question and answer, and send it to ten humans who blog. Thanks."
I really like their approach: congratulations BlogHer!

BlogHer's blogrolls: a good list of blogs
You can also find a good list of blogs sorted by topic.
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Technorati: blogs, blogging, weblogs, event, conference, usa

NET - World Cup: France reaches the Final! (05/07/06)

The world cup gather billions of passionate people all over the world, isn't it a kind of social networking event? ;)

On Wednesday, some friends and me went to watch the France-Portugal game at the Phoenix, a pub in Bayswater: it wasn't too busy, and 70% of the crowd was supporting France. And what a result: we made it, we are now qualified for the Final!

a few pictures         

Please check all the pictures on flickr.

Videos
Please find below some videos taken in Picadilly Circus, one hour after France won the game. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I invite you to check the second video with the naked man on top of the fountain!

I have also shot some other videos after the game, when we were still at the Phoenix (pub in Bayswater).

You watched the semi final yesterday? You took part of the celebration in Picadilly Circus or another part of London? Leave a comment and a link to your pictures/videos!
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Technorati: socialnetworking, event, sport, football, soccer, worldcup, london

NET - Wimbledon 2006 (28/06/06)

A major tennis tournament such as Wimbledon with several thousands people, isn't it a kind of social networking event? ;)

On Wednesday, we went to Wimbledon: the weather was great, but we didn't have tickets and the queue was... impressive! We were able to see some games involving Santoro, Berdych, Philipoussis, Djokovic and Robredo...

a few pictures
        
Please check all the pictures on flickr.

Videos

I have also shot some other videos of the impressive queue to buy tickets at the end of the day.

You were at the festival yesterday? Leave a comment and a link to your pictures/videos!
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Technorati: socialnetworking, event, sport, tennis, wimbledon, london

NET - Conference, Social Skills through Social Software

On Headshift's blog, I found out about a conference in Austria about Social Skills through Social Software. Interesting topic.

a few presentations
You can download all the presentations here.
Most of the presentations are in German, but a couple are in English:
* Electronic Porfolios, by Dr. Helen Barrett
* Social skills through Social Softwares, by Lee Bryant
* The Secret Life of Virtual You, by Dr. Maja Pivec
* Social Knowledge Management, by C. Bothorel, V. Dubois, M. Van Coillie

Thanks for your post Lee!
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Technorati: socialnetworking, businessnetworking, visibility, linkedin, blogging, weblogs

NET - Depeche Mode at the O2 wireless festival (25/06/06)

A concert in Hyde Park with several thousands people, isn't it a kind of social networking event? ;)

Yesterday, we went to the O2 Wireless Festival 2006: the weather wasn't great, and the England game definitely had an impact on the number of people in the afternoon, but nonetheless Goldfrapp was good, and Depeche Mode was excellent!

a few pictures
   
 
Please check all the pictures on flickr.

Videos

More videos of the festival, before Depeche Mode: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=788958D6138DAECC

You were at the festival yesterday? Leave a comment and a link to your pictures/videos!
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Technorati: socialnetworking, event, music, depechemode, london

NET - EPWN workshop on negotiation (06/06/06)

Career Booster: workshop on negotiation
It was another excellent event/workshop organized offered by EPWN, and I am glad I could make it!

We were around 30 people, which was quite impressive considering the weather was exceptional on that day. The workshop was prepared and conducted by two speakers: Michelle Tucker and Francesca Biondi.

They have done a very good job in terms of preparation,
and all the participants received some materials found by
Francesca, mostly on businessballs (by Alan Chapman)

a few pictures
    

Please check all the pictures on my photo album or on flickr.

Videos
Please find below 5 videos I shot during the event. In those videos you will listen to the two excellent organizers/speakers, Michelle and Francesca: they introduce the theory of negotiation, how important it is to prepare, and answer a few questions from the dynamic audience.

a few notes
* Negotiation is often perceived as a loaded word: to the contrary, it is a neutral word!
* It is important to "test the water": make some research first
* You always need a backup plan: what you would do if you don't get it
* Work on your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement)!
* And remember: IF YOU DON'T ASK, YOU DON'T GET!

my remarks
I am quite experienced in negotiation, thanks to an extensive use within my company (my colleagues, my manager) or with my prospects and clients. I am always interested in learning new technics, sharing knowledge and experience, and I also want to better understand why women usually don't ask!
* It was a useful workshop, especially for people who have limited experienced in negotiating, who don't dare to do it, or who don't know how to prepare.
* It was neutral and most of the discussion, remarks and advices could apply to a woman or to a man.
* Michelle & Francesca covered the preparation and the key to a succssful negotiation, and that was excellent.

But I wish we had more time to insist on the meeting itself: the psychology during the conversation, the way to make the other party praise your work, the things that you musn't do...
I am sure, EPWN will organize another workshop and this time I would be pleased to be one of the organizers/speakers!

If you share an interest for networking or/and if you were attending the event, please leave a comment and send a trackback to link our blogs!

And please also check my post on the EPWN event on Networking with Carole Stone!
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Technorati: epwn, etheryl, socialnetworking, businessnetworking

NET - EPWN with Carole Stone (16/05/06)

The Power of Networking: Carole Stone
As I am traveling extensively, I usually miss most of the excellent events organized in London by the dynamic European Professional Women's Network-EPWN's team.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that event on EPWN's online platform (Netvestibule, provided by Etheryl): as I am passionate about social/business networking, I made sure to be in London to attend and meet Carole!

After the presentation, I was pleased to get a dedicated copy of Carole's latest book "The Ultimate Guide to Successful Networking" her top tips on how to make good friends and useful business contacts.

a few pictures


Please check all the pictures on my photo album or on flickr.

Videos
Please find below 5 videos I shot during the event yesterday evening. In the first two videos, Anne Bouverot and Michelle Taylor present the excellent EPWN network, and introduce "the queen of networking in the UK", Carole Stone.

Carole Stone
Carole is known as 'the Queen of networking' and runs her own media consultancy business. For chairmen and chief executives of some of Britain's biggest companies she brings together business people, journalists and politicians to discuss issues that concern them all. Her database of 26,000 names is still expanding, and includes a multitude of professional & business people, among them some of the most important & influential people in the land.

some networking advices from Carole
* Work the room, and stick to your goal (I am going to stay for 1 hour, and I spend 3/4mn max per person...)
* If needed, do some research prior to the event
* Don't hesitate to go to people, whatever their age or business rank they like people coming to them. You can start with people who are alone, or ask the host to introduce you...
* Carry 2 glass with you to have an excuse to leave! ;)
* Manage your contacts and the business cards you grabbed (cf: my advices on how to Manage your contacts more efficiently)

a few questions from the audience
* Do women network in a different way from men?
* How can you network with people from a different age/"generation"?
* How to recommend/help people you don't know directly and/or who are not very good?

If you share an interest for networking or/and if you were attending the event, please leave a comment and send a trackback to link our blogs!