I’m not sure I can tell you the exact date and time when I became keenly aware of the global problem of violence against women (far too often honor killings, bride abductions, rape as a weapon in war…the list goes on), poverty and lack of education. Over the last ten years, there have been stories that have moved me and broken my heart…for each woman, defining moments. I’ve written about some of the women here: Mukhtaran Mai, Rebecca Lolosoli but there have been so many more…many that I’ve met personally and had the opportunity to  sit and hear their powerful stories.

Several years ago, I spent time in Indonesia working on a micro-finance mission. During that trip, I experienced firsthand the dangers of being a women in a third world country….many of those experiences I’ve yet to share with family and friends. That trip culminated in a horrific act of violence, as our team was on Jimbaran Beach when the bombers struck.  During that trip, I worked on the business plans and financing for two brave magnificent women whom I will never forget, Murni and Rosa. And in fact, in spite of all the danger, I would go back in a minute to work with them again, they made an impression on me and in my heart that remains today. I also experienced the difference a small amount of money, marketing, mentoring and fellowship can make not only in the lives of individuals but their communities as well.

Then there’s Kenya….a  place I’d never visited but still felt like home.  Two women on that trip that made such an impression on me were, Phoebe and Lucy, their stories moving, their character and determination inspiring. Phoebe I remain close to and in touch with through social media. In Kenya, I was exposed to poverty that set me back and changed me forever. I met and held children who had been days without food, who played quietly while their classmates had their lunch, a tiny thermos of some kind mush. When was the last time you skipped lunch, not because it didn’t fit into your schedule, but because there were no resources?

A few weeks ago, I started reading Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, I’ve followed their writings for years. Additionally, I attended the Care event by the same name. It was during that event that my heart was broken for the mission, not just the people. For some time, I’ve had this strong pull inside to be a part of the solution to end violence against women globally, but after Half the Sky I needed to act thoughtfully and intentionally. For me writing letters and donating my money and time is no longer enough. I have the skills, training and the passion to join with other people around the world to end these horrors. I also learned during the  event that just a $2.00 micro loan for fertilizer could be the catalyst for change in a culture of violence. Who among us can’t give up $2.00? Certainly not me….

I passionately believe that EVERY life has value and that there are NO qualifiers. Statistics prove that when you educate the women and teach them a trade, violence in the village dissipates, poverty goes down, and the community as a whole reaps the benefits. So…as of  today Project Authenticity is no longer just a blog…but a mission. A mission to end violence and poverty, our desire is to work alongside country leaders to provide education and empower women to see their worth and get engaged in community. Joining me in this mission is Jaime Earl, you may know her incredible organic skincare line, but Jaime also has a passion to end violence and poverty as well. We are still finalizing the details, but things are coming together so quickly we are amazed and excited. Later this week we will launch our What If campaign and we will have some very exciting news. Out of violence and poverty a passion was born and now a mission begins So…bookmark our blog or check back later in the week to see what we have planned.

Please also join us on Facebook, and follow Project Authenticity and me on Twitter.

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Collaboration, Communicate, Community, Courageous, Customer Experience, Determination, Facebook, friend, give back, Gratitude, Kenya, Mobilize, Mukhtar Mai, Project Authenticity, Social Media, Transparent, Trust Agent, Trustworthy

For months I’ve been contemplating a post on social and relationship capital and how it’s built and then how it’s spent. And after a trip to Memphis earlier this week, to see my mom’s aunt (my great aunt) honored at a ceremony where she donated her honors and awards to the University of Memphis it all became so clear to me.

Elma Neal Roane has dedicated her entire life to education and her students, I’m planning to profile her here soon so I won’t go through all of her accomplishments. She is recognized as a pioneer and leader in physical education and sports in the state of Tennessee.  She was head of the Women’s Division for sports at the University of Memphis from 1946-1976. The fieldhouse at the University known as “the house that she built” is named for her and I’m told it’s the only fieldhouse in the country named for a woman.

On Tuesday, there was a reception at Brister Hall, and it was  the formal unveiling of her awards, honors and papers both academic and athletic. There were over 100 people who came to see my 91 year old aunt, not the honors and awards. Everyone who came had a very personal story of how she had touched their lives.  I was in awe to hear the stories from young and old, all of them spoke of the impact she has made on their life.  A life of building relationships, participating in the community, giving back, not just with her money but her time as well. I have to tell you, in my mind, she is the embodiment of what Chris Brogan calls a Trust Agent, person after person stood up and talked about her integrity, the goodness that she worked so tirelessly bring to all of those who knew her and many who never knew her but experienced the fruits of her labor.  At one point during the day, she turned to me and said “Everyone keeps talking about all I’ve done for women, but I worked for the men and human rights as well. I stood up for anyone who needed to be stood up for as long as I believed it was the right thing to do.”

As things were winding down, I had the privilege of sitting alone with my aunt and just chatting. At 91 years old, she’s still a leader and still wanting to mentor and educate the best she can. And while she was thankful for the honor on Tuesday, I’m confident that what she enjoyed the most was talking to the people. She was genuinely moved that so many people gave up part of their day to come and see her. While we were sitting there I said to her, “I’m in awe of all the goodness you have created how did you do it?”  She responded:

“Everything I did, I did because I had a passion for it, not just the education but the students as well. I’ve dedicated my life to promoting fellowship, honor and integrity, and we need more teachers who are pushing that as well. That’s my passion, keep on keeping on!” (her personal mantra)

What I’ve learned from a lifetime of knowing my aunt, is that social and relationship capital is acquired through service, fellowship, and a deep passion for people. And it’s how we build and spend that capital that defines you, I watched on Tuesday as many accomplished people, some celebrities, got up and thanked my aunt for her service, and more than one said she was their hero. They were powerful moments, but she accomplished all she did because she loved her work and wanted to make the world a better place. She never gave any thought to what was in it for her, she fought hard for what was right in her mind, and with honor and integrity, she made sacrifices, had discouraging times but she always stayed the course. She used her capital to build leaders, pave the way for the future and for improving human rights.

My question to you is: what are you doing with the social and relationship capital you are building? Are you leaving a legacy of goodness? Are you working for what really matters most?

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Today, in honor of International Women’s Day, I thought who better to highlight than one of the bravest women I know who has made a tremendous impact on me. Her courage, and entrepreneurial spirit is a testimony that all things are possible if you believe, work hard and never ever give up on your dream.

Mukhtaran Mai – I’ve mentioned Mukhtar Mai before, her story of triumph and determination always moves me. Her brother was falsely accused of fornication. She went to court to argue on his behalf and was sentenced to the most severe form of humiliation in her culture. In the eyes of  her family and village her destiny was suicide. However and most importantly not in her eyes, she stood up to her attackers and demanded prosecution. The Pakistani government gave her $8300 compensation and she used that along with money from other donors to build a primary school for girls. The story doesn’t end there, she’s also built a high school for girls, runs a school for boys, she bought a van for the schools that is also the village ambulance and she has a herd of dairy cows that generate an income and help her maintain the schools. And in March of 2009….she married. I’m really in awe of this woman as when she set out to start the primary school she was unable to read and write and enrolled herself. While I think  Mukhtaran Mai”s story is tragic, it’s my hope that in the years to come that she is known for her leadership, entrepreneurship, courage, and the sheer goodness she has brought to Meerwala.

Mukhtar Mai’s story has had a profound impact on me personally in ways that I still struggle to put into words. I am currently working on a plan to put action behind the impact and to thank Mukhtar Mai….stay tuned as I will share that here.

So now it is your turn….is there a woman in your life who has had an unexpected profound impact? What’s the cause and effect of that impact? I’d love to hear your story and hers!

photo credit: Ronda Churchill

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At first glance, Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya is a peaceful beautiful safari park. It’s best known for the thousands and sometimes millions of flamingos that make their home along the shore.  Recently, the park was enlarged so it could provide sanctuary for more than 25 black rhinos. Overlooking Lake Nakuru is a picnic area called Baboon Cliff. Aptly named because of the troops of baboons that live here.

During my visit to Lake Nakuru I had lunch at Baboon Cliff, prior to entering the picnic area my team was briefed to be “on guard” because the baboons could be very bold. (could be is an understatement) However, there was no amount of briefing that could have prepared us for what was about to happen.  It had been quite a morning seeing rhinos, hippos, vultures, lots of zebras and even hyenas up close and sometimes personal.  As we settled into the picnic area, within seconds, we were surrounded by about 25-30 baboons. Our guides had large sticks and were doing all they could to keep the baboons at bay. And that job quickly became increasingly more difficult.

Baboons are really crafty characters and work  together to distract tourists so the larger more aggressive ones can easily take whatever it is that they want. They gather together almost like a huddle, make disturbing sounds, as if they were formulating a plan. Then one or two come in close and do some kind of trick, or something entertaining while the aggressors watch carefully waiting for just the right time to make their move.  And it’s all fun and games until you are face to face with one of these scary characters.

From the minute we arrived the baboons were on their “A” game and some of their attempts to take our lunch were….well entertaining. There was lots of laughter and well admittedly some anxiety. Taking note of my anxiety one of the men on our team invited me to sit on a bench with him, promising to fend off any baboons that got close.  As we opened our box lunch and started to go through it, a huddle of baboons formed just about 25 yards away.  We had our eye on that huddle and then they dispersed. We all breathed a sigh of relief. After a couple of minutes, a baby baboon made its way over and began doing tricks, making sounds and before we knew it all of us were paying close attention to the baby. Then out of nowhere, the biggest baboon I’d ever seen was on top of Mike, wrestling him for his food and mine. In a matter of seconds, Mike was on his back, with the large creature on top of him. Everyone sprung into action even the other baboons. Needless to say, the big baboon got away with our lunch. And as quickly as he was able to spring into action, he was off and running with the bounty of his efforts. He took it over to where he had huddled up earlier and shared the spoils with the rest of his troop.

So what does this have to do with community and marketing? What’s the lesson here? It’s the power of collaboration and working together to accomplish a goal. It’s so amazing that the troop of baboons knew that unless they worked together, there was no way they would have been able to get a single morsel. It’s the same in our communities and organizations. As organizations find themselves running very lean collaboration is critical to overcome the challenges of today’s competitive landscape. The social web has made it easier than ever before to collaborate and overcome any barriers that previously existed. If the baboons can grasp the power of working together to achieve a common goal, how do we often miss that truth?

I think Margaret Mead said it best and interestingly enough after her time in Africa. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.” While she doesn’t mention it, the collaboration factor is is implied.  Even the animal kingdom recognizes they are more powerful when they work together. Are you harnessing the power of collaboration or do you think you can do it on your own?

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Baboon, Chris Brogan, Collaboration, Courageous, Determination, friend, Honest, Kenya, Project Authenticity, Transparent, Trust Agent, Trustworthy, Whisper

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Social Media Business Forum on behalf of Cliqset. The event was put on by #OurHashtag aka Wayne Sutton, Jeff Cohen and Ryan Boyles. It was really an incredible event. One of the things that struck me and has lingered is the attendee/sponsor experience that they created.

In my opinion, Wayne, Jeff and Ryan were really focused on the entire experience. And my experience really began the minute Cliqset signed on to be a sponsor. I had several conversations with Jeff Cohen — who was always focused on creating value for Cliqset. He had great ideas, beyond the traditional ways, to help create awareness and value for us as a sponsor. A couple of days before the event, Wayne, Jeff, Patrick O’Keefe and I had real-time discussion at Cliqset to talk about what attendees could expect and I noticed how focused they were on the entire experience.

Prior to the event, I received two newsletters laying out for me how the day would unfold. There were instructions about parking, info about breakfast and lunch and even info about how I could engage prior to the forum. And as a sponsor I was thrilled to see they listed the sponsors in the newsletter as well.

On the day of the Forum, I arrived early just as recommended and was lucky to score one of the premium parking spots. As I registered, I was greeted warmly again, and as I went to walk away from the table I approached by Gwen who informed me she was my personal liaison – she asked if I had any questions and if there was anything I needed throughout the day she would help me. And ya know what? She did answer my questions as well as touch base throughout the day. Right before the event began, Jeff Cohen checked in to make sure I knew when he was inviting me up to talk about Cliqset and all the details.

After that the Forum was off and running. There were 3 tracks (beginner, advanced and B2B), you see they  didn’t assume the attendees were all coming from the same place. We had choices as to what info we thought would be most beneficial to us.  For me, there were a couple of presentations that stood out:

Laura  @pistachio Fitton’s Twitter: It’s Not Just A Micro-Blog – I really appreciated her presentation style, I could have listened to her all day. She was very engaging and I absolutely loved the way she summarized her advice for microblogging – Listen, Learn, Care and Serve.  If you get the chance to hear her speak in person don’t miss it!

Chris Miller, Wayne Sutton and Jeremy Smith’s session on Social Media Listening and Monitoring Basics was extremely interactive and packed full of ways to listen, monitor and analyze your social media efforts today. I’m still checking out some of the options mentioned. This session was very interactive, lots of questions and a great exchange of information.

Geno Church’s session on Building Word of Mouth Movements gave me so much to think about. His content, stories and metaphors had me fully engaged from start to finish. He really got me to re-think campaigns vs. movements and how we can use that frame of mind as we continue to strive to make our community irresistible at Cliqset.

Finally and certainly not least….the people. I don’t know if I’ve ever attended a conference where all the people: staff and attendees were so very friendly and engaging. It was awesome…it would be next to impossible to list everyone that I met here. However I do want to all of you to know that I enjoyed every conversation and a big thank you for making this ATL girl feel right at home!  I’ve asked Wayne and Jeff to do a follow up conversation with me at Cliqset stay tuned, we’d love to have you join the conversation as well!

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Courageous, Determination, friend, Honest, Project Authenticity, Transparent, Trustworthy

Social media is a powerful communications channel it’s opens doors, starts dialogs, creates relationships and often inspires, motivates….and much much more.  It’s the much much more that I’m writing about today.  I’m a little concerned that people are forgetting that authenticity paired with social media is not a license to be divisive, or tear someone down. The fact is rude snarky remarks can hurt and as Chris Brogan said it earlier today “there are people on the other side of the glass with emotions.”

In a sense. all of us are authors and everyday we write another chapter or two in the story of our life. That story is what others will remember about us long after we are face to face with them. Snarky comments are often remembered by the person on the receiving end even if they are thrown out in fun. Our social networking accounts are just as much a reflection of our personal brand as our resumes, the stories we tell and the work we do.

I’m not suggesting that we will never have disagreements, that we turn a blind eye to problems or that we not stand up for the people, products, or issues we feel passionate about. I am suggesting that we take a minute and consider how we are communicating.  Consider the fact that contentious communications don’t build community they tear it down and destroy trust.  I’ve written frequently that for community to succeed there has to be a tie that binds. Collaboration may be the secret ingredient…there’s power in numbers.

I’m reminded of a quote from best selling author and speaker Barry Neil Kaufman: “a loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice…even if it’s a whisper.”

How would your community describe your voice?  Are you dividing or conquering?

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Chris Brogan, Determination, friend, Honest, Project Authenticity, Transparent, Trustworthy, Whisper

Project Authenticity is really important to me and I have a deep desire to connect you to people and brands that are uniquely and genuinely authentic. The kind of people, that when you meet them your interaction is like a drink of water. I was asked recently where did you get the idea  for this blog and the fact is it’s been brewing for about a year, but I think the seed was first planted after reading Chris Brogan’s post titled Passion Drives Personal Brand.  In that post he wrote: Authenticity matters. It matters a lot to me as well and after this week I can tell you that I know for sure, it matters to Chris.

I had the unique opportunity to connect 1:1 with Chris this week at New Media Atlanta. My first conversation was one I thought would be short and sweet. He and I were at the same dinner, but at different tables. As folks started to dwindle, I saw a seat open right next to him, so I walked over to introduce myself. I had no agenda I just wanted to connect.  I wanted him to know that he inspired the vision for this blog, that I’d read Trust Agents and many times I found myself saying: you are so right! I wanted him to somehow know that I’m not a fan, I’m a believer.

That’s not how the conversation unfolded. We talked about a couple things and then he casually mentioned that he was still thinking about what he might write on his blog Thursday night/Friday morning.  I actually said: I know what you should write about…uh oh did I just tell Chris what to write about? When I said that, he leaned in…looked me in the eye and said: what? Before I knew it I was asking him to write about community. And he did….Feeling the community.

Here’s what I want you to know about my friend Chris Brogan….he’s more than a social media rock star.  He’s authentic, gracious, sharp-witted, smart and deeply committed to inspiring people to stop broadcasting and start connecting. I can tell you he loves his family very much so he’s not spending all this time away from them to gain popularity. Chris knows that change begins within and social media is a powerful vehicle to exact change. It’s not social media that will change the world and build community it’s people and how they make use of it. Chris has said many times: people matter…and he means it.

The rest of the story….

I saw Chris the next day, across a crowded room and I smiled at him and nodded. He made his way over and sat down. The first words out of his mouth were: how are you today? Not: did you see my post?

So…if you’re thinking about getting Chris and Julien Smith’s book Trust Agents please go and purchase it. Get the book because you want to to know how to make trust moves consistently, you want to be inspired and inspire others to be authentic and transparent, you believe communities are important. Someone once said to me that in order for a community to be successful, there has to be a tie that binds….get the book because you want to be a part of a community where the tie that binds is people matter. I’m asking you to get the book because I want to know more people like Chris…there’s not enough of them.

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Chris Brogan, friend, Honest, Julien Smith, New Media Atlanta, People Matter, Project Authenticity, Transparent, Trust Agent, Trustworthy

In the fall of 2003,  I became acquainted with the story of Mukhtar Mai, a peasant girl from Meerwala Jatoi, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Her story in 2003 was tragic and yet hopeful at the same time.  After days of not being able to get her image,in the black shalwar qameez and veil, out of my mind, her deep sense of profound sadness was calling to me.  So one day I decided I needed to reach out to her. I searched high and low and finally found her email address. I remember it like it was yesterday, sitting down at my kitchen table with my computer and as the words flowed…so did the tears. I couldn’t get the profound sadness in her eyes out of my mind. When I hit send, I never expected a reply, but about a week or so later, there it was a tiny note in broken english that said: “thank you for yur note, my enklish is poor, yur words mean much too me.” And there our friendship begins…

Fast forward to 2009, the sadness that was once there has been replaced with sheer determination. She’s not the timid, sad, shy girl anymore, she’s a passionate, courageous Pakistanin woman with a deep desire to make things better in her tiny villiage…in spite of the constant death threats and the urging of many to move to a safer place. Take just six minutes and watch the video below.

If you want to know more about Mukhtar Mai or how you can help her you can get information at Mercy Corps, or you can read Nicholas Kristof’s book.

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Courageous, Determination, friend, Honest, Mukhtar Mai, Project Authenticity, Transparent, Trust Agent, Trustworthy

Several weeks ago, I was inspired by Chris Brogan’s book, Trust Agents, to seek out and highlight authentic trustworthy people and brands. After lots of thought and encouragement I’ve decided to launch a project for the next 365 days: Project Authenticity. I have no idea where this will lead but I am excited to embark on this journey. I’ll be seeking out people and brands who are doing it right. Stay tuned there will be lots more info coming.

To kick off this project, it was a very easy choice for me, but very personal. The last couple of days have been very tough for me, you see, it was my birthday on the 3rd of September. I’ve been dreading my birthday since February 10 to be exact. Every single birthday, I’ve celebrated with my grandfather, September 3rd was his birthday as well. For as long as I can remember, we have always had a giggle together on this day. I was his first grandchild and the fact that we shared a birthday created a special bond between us. I always have looked forward to our conversations on this day because there was something extra special about them. Even the way he pronounced my name was unique and I loved it…except for maybe when he was calling me out for something…okay even then. Sadly, he passed away in February and I miss him terribly.

For months, I’ve been racking my brain on how I could honor him. Believe me, he would not want me to write about him, yet somehow, it seems like the right thing to do. As I started thinking about this project seriously, I decided I would kick this project off by honoring him. He was about as authentic as they come. He was never afraid to speak his mind and you always knew where you stood with him. The preacher as his funeral said: “he had a certain expression and when he cast it your way you know you’d been looked at.”

Let me tell you, just a little bit about him…Landon B Roane (LB to family and friends) was raised in Memphis. He served in WWII with the 84th Infantry Division (the Railsplitters) and was a recipient of the Bronze Star. Shortly after his return to Memphis, he moved his family to Atlanta, Georgia. Anyone you ask, would say he was a man of his word, he was private, yet transparent. He was predictable, in that, you could always count on him to speak his mind. He was forward thinking, yet traditional. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather,great grandfather and friend. He loved all of us dearly – but my grandmother he truly loved first and most. They had a love affair that lasted until the very end…69 years. In his final days, I remember one day my grandmother just walked into the room and as she entered the room he lit up like a Christmas tree and was grinning ear to ear.

He absolutely loved to eat, and he could not understand why I was not a fan of sweets. I remember one year in particular, my grandmother had him on a diet. And the day before my birthday he called me, it stopped me in my tracks because he never called me at work, as a matter of fact this may be the one and only time. The call went like this:
Me: Hey there, is everything okay
Him: Hey Robyn, yes but I need to talk to you about something
Me: Sure, okay
Him: I look forward every year to our birthday
Me: Me too,
Him: That’s good, it’s a special day for us.
Me: Yep it is
Him: Good, so I need you to do me a favor
That question stopped me in my tracks, he’d never asked for a favor. I was a little nervous and worried that someone in our family might be sick. And his tone was growing more serious.
Him: Stop telling your mom and grandmother you don’t want a birthday cake this year.
Me: um what?
Him: Stop telling them you don’t want any cake, I look forward to two different cakes every year. Your grandmother has me on a diet and I’ve been looking forward to our cakes for a week now.
Me: Okay no problem. What kind of cake do you want me to request?
Him: That’s up to you….okay I have to go. Robyn?
Me: Yes sir?
Him: I love you
Me: Me too
Him: Don’t tell anyone about this call.

And I never did tell anyone, until now. I’m still not big on cake, it’s just not my thing, but he was and for that reason this year when I saw my cake it reminded me of him. He’s missed dearly this year, but the memories and legacy he left us are solid.

He was trustworthy, honest, unafraid to tell you the truth, funny, conservative and above all else, one of a kind, truly authentic. And I had the privilege calling him grandfather and friend!

Technorati Tags: Authentic, Authenticity, Honest, Project Authenticity, Transparent, Trust Agent, Trustworthy