The preceding post changed from when I originally posted it early Saturday morning. I could’ve deleted it, but chose instead to edit it. I very rarely edit or touch my posts after I’ve published it, but chose to edit that one after hearing a sermon on TV this morning.
Warning - Religious context to follow. If religion scares you, don’t read the rest.
A few weeks ago, I commented about the continuous, tired debate of how to get women speaking at technology conference. I know a big part of the reason is because women lack the ability to self-promote. Alot of men have this difficulty, but alot more women suffer from this. I used to coach women on how to raise their self-esteem, so I got a ton of data to throw at you for anyone who wants to contest me on this issue.
I have no problems promoting myself or my work. None. I enjoy the marketing and business development portion of my business, preferring to leave the implementation and support to my very capable Production Manager.
Okay, so what happens when you do everything to let someone know you’re interested and you’re still passed over? But not just passed over, but given the lamest excuse ever as to why they passed women over?
As a person who uses social media to increase awareness of my brand, I find the actions that have been taken against one female blogger to be truly disturbing.
On my blog, I don’t expect everyone to agree with my views and opinions and that’s the price I pay for being visible. However, disagreements become disgusting when it involves death and rape threats and pictures that are meant to demean, silence and put fear in someone’s mind.
This has happened to a blogger by the name of Kathy Sierra who blogs over at Creating Passionate Users. Four weeks ago, she started getting death threats in her inbox. While scary, she didn’t think anything of it until someone started posting pictures of her with a noose around her neck and being muzzled with a thong.
God, this argument again? Geez, we keep harping on the same problems over and over. When does this end?
Yes, there aren’t alot of women invited to speak at technology events and conferences. So, we create our own associations and conferences where only women can join or speak. And it raises our profiles. To other women.
Then, we pitch lame topics to conference organizers, such as Where are the Women, or How to Hire Women in IT. So, the conference organizer succumbs, puts the sessions on the bill only to have 5 people show up and 4 of them are the panelist.
Quick question as I take a break from writing about podcasting just for a moment. When you see this avatar, do you think Leesa Barnes?
Tags: leesa barnes, avatar, iconizeme,
After getting a heads up from Rob Walch, I did some research on Mur Lafferty. I never met her, but with all that she’s accomplished in podcasting over the past 2-years, this list wouldn’t be complete without adding Mur.
I’m not usually wrong (I’m a Capricorn, what do you expect), but in this case, it’s wrong to exclude Mur and her accomplishments in podcasting from my definitive Top 10 list. I already updated the final Top 10 list with Mur’s profile, but I have to pay tribute to her successes with a quick summary.
A self-professed writing junkie, Mur Lafferty spends her days writing for magazines and producing several of her own podcasts.
Mur is one of the first women to author a book on podcasting. She co-authored Tricks of the Podcasting Masters which was the only podcasting book selected by Amazon as one of the Best Books of 2006 in the Reference category. Mur also produces presidential candidate John Edwards’ podcast called At the Table, a podcast that captures the informal dinner conversation between Edwards and his wife.
Mur also produces 2 of her own podcasts:
Mur is one of my picks as a Top 10 savvy woman in podcasting in 2006.
Technorati: mur lafferty, women in podcasting, women, women in technology, top 10, podcasting
Over the past 10-days, I introduced my selection of the Top 10 Savvy Women in Podcasting for 2006.
They’re not hot, nor are they brainless. Instead, these 10 women are smart, savvy and chose to use podcasting in an innovative way to educate others, increase sales, decrease costs, make money or raise their profile. They all contributed something unique to the field of podcasting and are blazing their own trail.
Here are the 10 women I covered over the past 10-days.
Penny Haynes is the producer behind the successful International Podcasting Expo (IPE).
Dr. Kathleen King launched 2 services this year to help bring together educators interested in podcasting, ILearnRadio.org and BX Radio Network.
Donna Papacosta teaches communicators how to use podcasting to compliment other communication tools.
Joanne Colan was handpicked to host the hugely successful video podcast, Rocketboom, at one of its most critical points.
Amber MacArthur is helping mainstream audiences learn more about podcasting and all things technology through her daily segment on a mainstream television station.
Colette Vogele co-authored the Podcasting Legal Guide to help podcast producers understand how to use content in their podcasts.
Amanda Congdon owns a 49% stake in one of the most popular video podcasts.
Gretchen Vogelzang & Paige Heninger, better known as the hosts of Mommycast.com, were the first female podcasters to ink a 6-figure sponsorship deal with a major coporation.
Audrey Reed-Granger launched one of the first consumer goods podcasts for a Fortune 500 and continues to produce it 18-months later.
Mur Lafferty’s book - Tricks of the Podcasting Masters - is the only podcasting book to make Amazon’s Top 10 Best Books of 2006 in the Reference category.
Technorati: mur lafferty, Audrey Reed-Granger, amanda congdon, penny haynes, dr. kathleen king, donna papacosta, joanne colan, amber mac, colette vogele, mommycast, women in podcasting, women, women in technology, top 10, podcasting
One night, the Director of Public Relations at Whirlpool saw her husband doing something odd. He was listening to a recording of a program that sounded like radio, only it wasn’t on radio. After Audrey Reed-Granger listened to her husband describe what a podcast is, she decided to produce one for Whirlpool.
Not only did Audrey make podcasting history by becoming one of the first consumer goods corporations to launch a podcast in 2005, but she silenced many of her critics who thought she’d fall flat on her face for focusing on issues rather than promoting products.
The success with The American Family Podcast (what the Whirlpool podcast is called) is all in the numbers. Audrey reported at a conference that the Whirlpool podcast went from 800 downloads to 70,000 in just 12-months. Her return on investment for all those ears? Just under $140 on podcasting equipment.
Audrey Reed-Granger is one of my picks as a top 10 savvy woman in podcasting.
Technorati: women in podcasting, women, women in technology, top 10, podcasting
Gretchen Vogelzang & Paige Heninger, better known as the hosts of Mommycast.com, are using their podcast to hold the world together, one child at a time. With a few hundred thousand listeners, Gretchen & Paige have become the conduit that companies can use to target moms in their promotional campaigns.
While others were still trying to figure out how to profit from podcasting, these 2 simple moms made podcasting history in November 2005 by becoming one of the first podcasters to ink a 6-figure sponsorship deal with a major corporation. This 12-month deal propelled Gretchen & Paige to stardom in the podcasting field and made them sought after speakers at many events, teaching businesses how to use podcasting as a profitable tool.
Recently, Mommycast parted ways with Podshow, a company that’s one of the largest distributors of new media content, due to reasons unknown. Although Mommycast left Podshow, their internet celebrity status continues to rise as they’re now represented by a Hollywood talent agency.
Gretchen Vogelzang & Paige Heninger are two of my picks as the top 10 savvy women in podcasting for 2006.
Technorati: mommycast, women in podcasting, women, women in technology, top 10, podcasting
Think Richard Hatch, the man who schemed his way to win the first season of the hit television show Survivor, is the ultimate survivor? Well, that title could very well go to Amanda Congdon, a video podcaster who will appear regularly on ABC’s online news channel, ABC News Now, and will host a weekly five-minute video blog appearing on ABC.com.
Amanda is best known for being the host of one of the most popular video podcasts called Rocketboom. In the spring of 2006, Amanda left (or was fired) from Rocketboom and although it was a messy “break-up,” the news surrounding her departure landed in the NY Times, Washington Post, PBS and MSNBC. After Amanda’s story hit the mainstream, she hosted a summer video podcast series called Amanda Across America, sponsored by Ford and blip.tv.
While some give Amanda flack for airing her grievances with Rocketboom’s producer on her blog (complete with 224 comments), she still holds a 49% stake in Rocketboom and stands to profit from its continued success, even while she thunders on to other creative opportunities.
For this reason, Amanda is one of my top 10 savvy women in podcasting for 2006.
Technorati: amanda congdon, women in podcasting, women, women in technology, top 10, podcasting