Tag: women

The Millennial Ideology: Keynote with Refinery29’s CEO at #SMWNYC

Posted on by Tyler Becker

Through the rise of social networks and smartphones, the Millennial ideology has transformed communication, making instantaneous, raw, and constant contact the norm. The ability to connect with anyone, anywhere has created a global information network and universal ideology that hasn’t existed until now and provided a unique opportunity for media companies to scale and reach a global audience at an extreme pace.

Philippe von Borries, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of lifestyle media company Refinery29, will discuss the advantages and challenges that this new landscape presents. He’ll lay out concrete examples of how Refinery29 is capitalizing on this moment through its recent global expansion plans, and how the Millennial ideology has powered Refinery29’s strategy of creating relevant, timely content that fosters deep connections with audiences around the globe.

Click here to get your pass and attend Philippe’s session. Join us at SMW New York on Friday, February 26th at 9:30AM on the FWD Stage at The TimesCenter for “The Millennial Ideology, With Co-Founder And Co-CEO of Refinery29, Philippe von Borries”.

About Philippe von Borries

Philippe von Borries is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Refinery29, the leading digital media company for millennial-minded women with a loyal following of over 25 million. The company has grown to over 300 employees and expanded beyond its style roots to speak to a broad range of topics from pop culture to health to politics across multiple platforms around the world.

At Refinery29, Philippe leads the content, product and marketing teams, and drives the company’s strategic vision including global expansion and video strategy. Click here to read his full bio, and learn more about Philippe.

Want to attend SMW New York this February 22-26, and join thousands of industry leaders across marketing, media and technology?

Register Your Pass Today

Image Credit: Digiday

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.

Women in Social Media Answer: “Why Go Social?” & “What’s the Right Way to Do It?”

Posted on by RebeccaWeiser

About this Social Media Week Guest Blogger: Though Rebecca recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin’s Advertising program, she has been a social media enthusiast for years, and is honored to guest blog at #smwnyc. To learn more, visit her blog and follow her on Twitter @rebeccaweiser.

Women in Social Media
Panel at the JP Morgan Chase Building, NYC

Panelists: Alexa Hirschfeld, Meghan Muntean, Casey Carter, Joran Reid.

The panel of strong, successful women featured those who, after spending time with traditional and realizing that digital is the future, have found their niche in the digital space. Their entrepreneurial spirits and experience provided insight into the two biggest issues addressed:  “Why go social?” and “What is the right way to do it?”

Why: “Bloggers just get it.”

  • One issue addressed was that of the FCC’s new restrictions on bloggers, essentially mandating that they issue full disclosure whenever gifted or paid to create content. The panel agreed that this is completely in line with the informal blogging code: be honest.  Bloggers should give full disclosure regardless of the FCC, as they owe it to their readers.
  • Have fun: Blogging should be a safe, fun space in which like-minded individuals can express themselves.
  • Whenever a blogger posts about an item, readers can immediately click through and potentially be moved to purchase. This immediate response truly separates traditional from digital, allowing for faster and much more effective ROI.

    • How : “What is the right way to do it?”

    • Before starting anything, either business, blog, or any other type of venture, it’s important to make sure you talk to others. If you have friends who have done this before, ask them for guidance, or “learn the expensive way.”
    • In order to gain traffic to your blog, try getting your name out there. Try guest-posting on a blog that you like. If readers like your style and content, they’ll want to read more.
    • Take calculated risks, and go exploring in the digital realm. “Buying domain names is like a 21st century landgrab.”