Tag: Cindy Gallop

(Almost) Everything you Missed at SMW NYC

Posted on by Sara Adam

Social Media Week New York was a whirlwind of excitement with all Official Events under one roof for the first time. Though it would be impossible to dive into every single incredible event from the week, we will try to outline some of our more memorable moments (for our short list, check out our CULTURALIST Top 10 here).

We kicked things off at our VIP Opening Night Party nomming on Chipotle chips and locally grown appetizers from Wholefoods. This party certainly helped get things started on the right foot, showcasing some of the awesome installations on the ground floor at Campus at Highline Stages.

Campus buzzed with excitement on Tuesday morning about hearing BuzzFeed’s Jonah Peretti interviewed by Social Media Week’s Executive Director, Toby Daniels. Percolate packed the house, sharing seven useful tools for content marketers and Refinery29 dished on how to make money through digital publishing platforms. For attendees in regulated industries, Pzifer and Liveworld discussed the nuances of connecting to customers within the restraints of their industry. Tuesday evening ended with a panel on Startups To Watch, where 10 companies showcased their value propositions.

betaworks CEO, John Bothwork, discussed the betaworks approach to product creation on Wednesday morning, and Eli Pariser of Upworthy made an announcement (you won’t believe what happened next!). Next, leaders in the non-profit tech world inspired us with the ways that technology can be leveraged for the good of society. Steve Case, founder and CEO of venture firm Revolution, was interviewed about the industries most ready for disruption, and Merck tackled innovation in health. Tech in Motion hosted a fashion show of wearable tech. Though we might be biased, one of our favorite Wednesday events was the launch of our book, “On! The Future of Now,” whose profits will go toward the amazing work happening through charity: water to increase global access to clean drinking water.

Halfway through the week on Thursday morning, Lisa Gansky, Robin Chase, and Seth Godin shared with us the value the can be created simply by connecting people and their resources to one another. In a three-hour track they brought together some of the leading minds creating value through collaboration. Unmetric quizzed everyone on their brand knowledge, while Cindy Gallop hosted a three-hour panel about Changing the World Through Sex. MKG led a discussion on mobile innovation, and our evening ended with a screening of the documentary, WEB.

Nokia announced Friday that they would be powering the live camera-feed broadcasting Fabien Cousteau’s record-breaking expedition, Mission 31, in real time. Planet Earth always fascinated us, so we can’t wait be a part of this ocean adventure! Then, Spotify brought together an incredible lineup from the music industry to discuss the future of music, and The Huffington Post explored new definitions of success at The Third Metric. MRPR looked at the ways millennials are changing the landscape of the Internet.

And throughout all week, we were in and out of Nokia’s NOWStudio, making awesome short-form videos, visiting 140 Proof to get our social portraits, getting glammed up for Leica’s close-up, and checking out the other installations throughout Campus.

Our Closing Party hosted by Nokia MixRadio did not disappoint with a great acoustic performance by husband-wife duo, JOHNNYSWIM, DJ Sean Glass, followed by a performance from The White Panda. Between booze sponsors keeping us in the proper spirits and music to dance to, the closing party really was the only proper way to end another epic Social Media Week. And if you missed out on anything, be sure to check out the sessions on Livestream and make sure it doesn’t happen again! See you in 2015!

Durex at Social Media Week: Connecting Couples With ‘Real Sex’ Conversations

Posted on by Nicky Yates

Does your partner really know you? Do you tell each other what really turns you on, or what bedroom maneuvers you’ve always wanted to try? Chances are, you haven’t, and you’re not alone. As a nation, we shy away from real pillow-talk with our closest companion, preventing us from going further in the bedroom. Even with constant exposure to sexual content in pop culture and 24/7 access to porn, sex remains one of the most taboo topics of conversation amongst couples. Durex®, a global sexual wellbeing brand, believes everyone should have a healthy and emotionally fulfilling sex life and knows regular communication is key to having great sex. This year, the brand wants to rid the taboos around ‘sex talk’ by encouraging couples to initiate the conversation in the bedroom.

In line with this mission, Durex has created a hub of online tips and videos to help couples talk about sex and their relationships in a healthy way; from sharing what you want in bed to an online fantasy finder for couples to ‘sexplore’ with one another. Durex has also explored the role technology plays in communicating with our loved ones. Given social media has revolutionized how we access everything in our lives, it comes as no surprise that it has impacted and intruded upon our relationships. A recent survey by Durex found that while technology has us using our hands more than ever, all that smartphone tapping has overtaken real touch between couples . When asked what methods they most frequently use to talk to their partner, 77 percent answered using their smartphone, with only 19 percent regularly communicating through touch. Based on these findings, Durex challenged couples to turn off their phones and focus on turning on their partner over the Valentine’s Day Weekend by discovering the Language of Touch.

Building on this, Durex is partnering with Cindy Gallop, founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn.com, to trigger this much-needed conversation at New York Social Media Week, on February 20, 2014. The afternoon session will explore topics including the future of the sex world and what it means for innovators and marketers. The session will also look at the ways that media and entertainment are propagating unrealistic portrayals of sex and how this negatively impacts society, and could be a barrier to real-sex conversations between couples. Representatives from these industries, including Aurore Trepo, Marketing Director for Durex, will discuss how everyone has a part to play in inspiring healthier representation of real sex in the media.

There is a lot to learn from the event itself, but also from our sponsor. Durex has repeatedly created sharable content with viral tendencies to trigger and inspire that all important conversation. To be part of the conversation with Durex and Cindy Gallop at SMW, register here and follow us @Durex_USA and www.facebook.com/durexUSA.

Registration NOW Open & Last Call on Early Bird Discount

Posted on by Nicky Yates

Social Media Week is just over a month away. And, as the saying goes, never put off until tomorrow what you can do today—which is register for the events you’d like to attend! That’s right, as of today, attendee registration is open.

Powered globally by Nokia and MKG, this year’s event explores our always on, always connected world through the theme, The Future of Now.

New York will host hundreds of events led by more than 200 unique speakers (including Eli Pariser, Robin Chase, Cindy Gallop, Harper Reed, and Jeffrey Colen), all under one roof at our new Campus at Highline Stages in the Meatpacking District.

We hope you’ll join us. Simply check out the schedule, filter according to your interests and goals, register for the events that pique your curiosity, then share with your friends.

Don’t want to have to choose? (We know, we hate decisions too.) Purchase a pass! Holders of this golden ticket, so to speak, enjoy exclusive benefits, unlimited access to all official events throughout the week, and are sure to deepen their SMW experience. Plus, today is our LAST day to grab our 20% Early Bird Discount.

Sign up soon! Like a 7AM SoulCycle class, spots won’t be open for long.

Your First Look: The Initial Official SMW NYC Schedule

Posted on by Nicky Yates

SMW NYC is just around the corner, and we want to give you the first look at what’s to come! Today we unveil our initial Official Schedule.

We told you Cindy was blowing shit up this year, and we weren’t lying. Leading a special series on Changing the World through Sex, she will explore what the marketing and advertising industry is missing by not acknowledging, targeting and leveraging consumer behavior around sex and porn, from pioneering brands who are. And she’s just the beginning.

SMW14 will also feature social media heads from MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central highlighting how social media is ushering in new rules for developing fan bases and keeping them engaged. The Dachis Group and socialdeviant will gaze into the future to explore what our daily lives will look like in 2020, where wearable tech is heading, and what we can expect from dating.

And staying on the trend of the future, Joe Marchese leads a look at where advertising is heading and how we can break the cycle of greed and manipulation in it.

We’ll also explore how millennials are shaping it all, from the discovery of new talent (eg, Vine stars) to the creation of content expressly designed to be shared (eg, listicles).

See our full preview here, grab your pass, and start saving your Favorites.

Blow Shit Up: Cindy Gallop Taking SMW NYC By Storm

Posted on by Nicky Yates

Cindy Gallop, Porn

Cindy Gallop has been a long time friend to Social Media Week. An active member of our Advisory Board and a frequent speaker, we’re honored to have her on our team. She’s a woman of action. The founder of two powerful organizations, IfWeRanTheWorld and Make Love, Not Porn, Cindy stays busy. IfWeRanTheWorld helps create microactions to turn human and corporate good intentions into action.

IfWeRanTheWorld works with businesses to create specifically tailored and unique Action Programs that integrate social action and their business objectives. Her goal is merge business and social responsibility. Cindy’s vision is that this creates Action Branding, communication through demonstration. Cindy acts like a business innovator for these brands, selecting only brands that want to change the game. What we love is Cindy is straightforward and not afraid to shake things up. Her motto sums it up best: “I like to blow shit up. I am the Michael Bay of business.”

In addition to IfWeRanTheWorld, Cindy launched Make Love, Not Porn. Stemming from a realization that hardcore pornography is distorting the way a generation of young men think about sex, she launched a site to counteract it. Make Love, Not Porn expanded into a series of talks and even a TED Book.

Cindy is known as a staunch advocate for women, but as with all of her activities, she’s not your standard feminist. Not shying away from the word, she wants to see women be more self-confident, aggressive, and a general shift for more gender parity. Something we love here at SMW (check out our Gender 50/50 initiative).

“Because it is uncomfortable to work with women, because we are different from you. Women ask tough questions, they ask them in life and they ask them in business. Greatness comes out of discomfort. Hire women, champion women, promote women, spend time with women. It is not as comfortable as hanging out with the guys, but it’s going to be more productive.”

We think you’ll love her disruptive views. Challenge yourself and join us at SMW NYC this February.

Get your pass here.

Inventors: Blow Shit Up

Posted on by Lindsey Taylor Wood

As I began writing this blog, Part 2 of 3 in the Architects, Inventors, and Collaborators blog series, the name Cindy Gallop was top of mind.

You could say she’s notorious (befitting, as her apartment was once the set of a late Christopher Wallace music video) for her radical approaches to marketing, technology and advertising.

A household name in the UK, she was central to advertising firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region and the US, where she served as the Chair. In 2003, Advertising Women of New York named her Advertising Woman of the Year, and in 2006 she started her own consultancy, Cindy Gallop LLC. It is Cindy’s work in the last three years, however, which appears to fuel her now cultish following.

During a 2009 TED talk, Gallop launched the website MakeLoveNotPorn.com, a forum for discussion on sex. Just four months ago she launched MakeLoveNotPorn.tv, a site aimed at redefining the myths that pornography perpetuates by featuring “real people” engaging in sexual activities. As she explained in an interview with the New York Times this September, “The issue I’m tackling is not porn. It’s the complete lack of open, healthy dialogue around porn and sex.”

The following year, Cindy launched IfWeRanTheWorld.com, which the site describes as “a real-world experiment in tapping good intentions and turning them into tangible, do-able microactions that anyone and everyone can help you to do.” Participants include fashion behemoth Levi’s Jeans who partnered for a campaign aimed at revitalizing the manufacturing town of Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Social Media Week believes that technology can empower individuals to direct their own future through sparking change and pursuing creative endeavors. And for that to happen, we need disruptive, audacious inventors like Cindy Gallop to keep inventing transformational tools, blazing new trails and inspiring the masses.

(Or in her words: “I like to blow shit up. I am the Michael Bay of business.”)

Join Cindy and our other inventors on Wednesday, February 20th, when we discuss new tools for taking the future into our own hands, and ask “what will your role will be in this changing world and how can we help you can get there?”