Make it Happen Monday: Blog Post Reflection

Two semi-major developments that recently occurred deserve a little atención (that's "attention in Spanish).

I made the jump and changed my Twitter handle. I did a few key searches for "how to pick a Twitter name". You laugh, but I did! I knew the answer; not to say there is an A+ answer. I more so wanted to see what responses I would find on the interwebs. I went from Lucky_IJ which corresponds with my blog, for the time being, to.... my name.

Earth shattering. Not. You can now find me on Twitter via my new handle, @ijeomasnwatu.You will see more tweets about user experience (UX), social media, startups, photos from New York City, #learntodo tweets via SINY and so much more. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Last week, I found some time to finally write a post for the Startup Institute blog. Long overdue but I was able to pitch two ideas into one post. I reviewed highlights of the second and third weeks to ensure a heartier post and bit more reflection. Here is the link - http://blog.startupinstitute.com/post/54127168413/weeks-2-3-at-siny

Honestly, I cannot believe it's July. The year is  half way done. I cannot imagine how I will feel at the end of 2013. Let's hope all of this work - networking, studying, building things - comes to a beautiful conclusion, or perhaps a new beginning.

Until next Monday, make IT happen!

- Ijeoma

Make it Happen Monday: In New York City....Again

I'm going, going, back back to   New.   York.   City!

Well, actually I just left The Big Apple a la the Megabus. I took an Amtrak train to Penn Station and headed Uptown to attend Brandcamp U this afternoon. Check out their hashtag #iwnybcu13 for the play-by-play. The all-day branding event is part of Internet Week in the city and featured big names in digital media. I missed the crew from Startup Institute New York by a little bit.  I caught Lynne's (@lynneluvah) digital storytelling presentation; complete with simple tips and samples of brands who successfully managed and communicated their digital stories. Her five takeaways were as follows:

1. Understand your audience. 
2. Know the meaning of your brand.
3. Create a story that connects. 
4. Listen and engage (my personal favorite).
5. Learn!

I came at the tail end but I had the opportunity to connect with folks afterwards, including one of my Startup Institute classmates. Shoutout to Damone; and kudos to Kristina of Villarini Maclean for asking a really good question during the last session about when to say "No".

Your read that right. Yours truly got accepted to Startup Institute. I know what you're thinking - "What about Boston?" Well, what had happened was...

I got accepted but the SI team thought I would be a better fit in NYC. Truth be told, they are right. I always said I would NEVER EVER live in the concrete jungle but I plan to do just that this summer. I am really excited and ready to eat, sleep and live my SI experience.

Like I mentioned before, I was prepared regardless of the outcome. I am really glad everything worked out though. I remember finishing my application literally minutes prior to the midnight deadline. I actually had to coach myself to click on the send button. I have no idea why I was terrified of applying in the first place. I never intended to procrastinate instead I kind of ignored the application entirely, thinking of dumb reasons as to why I would not earn acceptance into the program.

Lame. Not doing that again. Go big or go home. Looks like I'm going to New York City!!!!

This has been another awesome edition of Make it Happen Monday. :)

- IJ

Want more? Follow me on Twitter, @Lucky_IJ and on Pinterest.

Sunday Roundup, Heads Up: Motherly Advice

Happy Mother's Day to you and yours!

Don't you just love that everyone and their mother (pun intended) is posting pictures on Facebook and tweeting about their loved one. It's cute to see the warm fuzzies all over the Internet but you may want to watch the Mother's Day PSA from Twitter, in case you missed the memo.

Happy Mother's Day from my kindergarten self.

Festivities and appreciation aside, this week will be major! Before I get a head of myself, I have to give a shoutout to my giving circles project, courtesy of Capital Cause, Team Spread Light, Spread Literacy. Later in the week, I will share more information and feedback out the sixty day fundraising project I've been involved with since early March. My team has already raised over, $1,000 in about a two weeks. See for yourself and donate while you are at it. I came up with the team name and am responsible for managing our social media presence, including our Facebook page and tweets. Follow our hashtag, #SLSL2013 and support us! 

For my internship, I've initiated the social media strategy which culminated in a Twitter chat this past Tuesday. I have participated in many Twitter chats but never conducted one until last week. I had a guest panelist and promoted the event over the course of a few days, which included direct tweets to influential people and education based organizations. The Twitter chat was thirty minutes but easily could have lasted an hour. We had a handful of followers tweeting along with out hashtag and gained several new followers. Thanks to the data collection and analysis via SproutSocial, I can say that it was a good first chat and look forward to more. I used Storify to aggregate the chat discussion and to highlight the different followers. I think Storify is really useful in keeping Twitter chats organized and cataloged for future reference.

Last week was busy but I had good developments. I am hoping for the same positive outcomes for the final decision on my Startup Institute application. I first mentioned I was applying in March and now I'm in the last rounds. There was a Google Hangout with one of the founders, Aaron O' Hearn, on Friday. I like Google Hangouts a lot and find them really convenient to host meetings or just to "hangout" online. Aaron's insight and feedback was just what I needed to understand the program a bit more while meeting my potential colleagues. I'm nervous but ready no matter what the decision. 

My photoshop class ends this week as well. Sad face. I had no idea how complex Photoshop is but am thankful that I can at least navigate my way. I don't have Photoshop on my laptop or desktop but Adobe Creative Cloud is apparently the way to go for professionals. My instructor recommended Sumopaint, which has been fun to use. My design skills and knowledge will only get better and better. 

Before I end this post, I have to offer some of my mother's advice to the world. 

1. Family is the most important thing.
2. When you wash the dishes, clean the entire sink and the stovetop.
3. Take care of your health. <--- This is really important, as my mom is a nurse and attests to a good diet, exercise and sleep. 

Cheers to motherly advice - past, present, future.

- IJ

Want more of Lucky IJ? Check me out on Pinterest and Twitter.  

Make IT Happen Monday: Application Time

A few months ago, I a met young woman interested in entrepreneurship and startups at a pitch competition at Georgetown University. In a serendipitous way, we met via Twitter while tweeting at this event. Score for hashtags.

What is great about our encounter is that she ended up being the first women of color running her own startup that I've met. I was impressed with her idea - layway plans for plane tickets. Since we've met she has been making it happen, including winning a hackathon in Atlanta at the end of 2012. Ama is the founder of Airfordable and is charging ahead. I'm really excited for her. Yay Ama!

Thanks to Ama, I learned one of her friends got accepted to a startup program in Boston. I was on Twitter and reading different tweets and came across their conversation. I was immediately intrigued about this intensive incubator-esque opportunity in a very techie city like Boston, Massachusetts. The program is now called StartupInstitute and has an additional site in New York City.

Every few months,  StartupInstitute reviews applications from college graduates and young professionals from all over the world. Their mission is to equip candidates with skills such as business development and product design to immediately impact a startup. I love the concept of the program and I have officially decided to apply. Lol, I haven't even told my family or friends so if I happen to get selected, then I will need to conjure up an epic story to weasel my way to Beantown.

I don't have a tech background but I won't let that deter me. My passion, imagination and work ethic are major bonus points. I really want to build the ideas I see in my head. Besides, if I want to meet like-minded folks, I have to go where they are, right? I know there are numerous startups and top-notch schools to surround myself. Moreover, if I want to see more diversity, I must choose to be part of the solution.

If I get accepted, that would be an amazing way to celebrate my upcoming birthday. It doesn't hurt to try, better yet, it doesn't hurt to try to make IT happen.

Happy Monday!