If you happen to be one of the lucky ones in Austin for SXSW Interactive, please visit the Women Techies United booth, (#219) where we are represented along with the following great women’s organizations:

• Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology enables technical women in industry and academia to advance in their careers through its resources and programs.
• Astia is committed to building women leaders and accelerating the funding and growth of high-potential, high-growth, women-led startups.
• DevChix is an organization for women software developers currently we have 300+ members across 15 countries.
• Digital Sistas provides technology education and enrichment for young girls and women who are traditionally underserved.
• Girls in Tech (you know…us!) is an organization focused on women’s entrepreneurial and innovative achievements in technology.
• LinuxChix is a community for women who like Linux and Free Software, and for women and men who want to support women in computing.
• NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology is a coalition of 200 corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase women’s participation in information technology (IT).
• She’s Geeky organizes Unconferences around North America connecting women in tech & STEM fields.
• Women 2.0’s vision is to be a catalyst for innovation, mobilizing a global community of women entrepreneurs seeking to advance the world through technology.
• Women Who Tech champions women in technology and social media who use their tech savvy skills to transform the world and inspire change.

and…

• Women Techies United brings together 10 different women in tech organizations & events.  Their booth will run panels, events and other happenings at SXSW & beyond.

So all ya’ll head over and say “hi” if you are at the conference or will be there! 

About two weeks ago, I had reached the end of the road with my cable company – Time Warner Cable. For the past four months, my service had been spotty at best, non-existent at worst. And believe me, I wasn’t just upset that American Idol wasn’t being DVR’d…my Internet service, which is also provided by TWC, was experiencing the same spotty service. And being that I run a business out of my home, spotty Internet service is 100% unacceptable.

I had called TWC customer service many times over the months – demanding a pro-rated fee for the service I wasn’t receiving, asking for help, a solution – and the feedback I would always get was, “restart your cable box.” I began restarting my cable box at least once a day – and it never solved the problem I was having. My picture was still pixilated and frozen – my Internet service down.

Over the phone, TWC customer service told me there must be an issue with the signal getting into my house…and, basically, “oh well.”

Oh well? OH WELL??

I did not take this lightly. If I pay for something, in a timely and consistent manner, then I expect to get functional service in a timely and consistent manner. I would have dropped TWC altogether except that they have a monopoly on cable service providers in my area. I was stuck (no thanks to you Fios and Uverse-why haven’t you rescued me yet?).

Until, that is, I decided to take to Twitter and vent my frustrations there. At the very least, I could make myself feel better by telling my 6,300 Twitter followers how frustrated I was.

So, in my frustrated rampage I created the hashtag, #dietimewarnercable and began pummeling out Tweets about my “dislike” for TWC. Harsh? Yes. Did it feel GOOD? Oh yes…

In my rampage, I did a search for Time Warner Cable and could not find any Twitter handles associated with the cable giant. I believe I even wrote a snarky Tweet about corporations who don’t have a social media presence, and how people like me can help contribute to a negative online image.

About 20-30 minutes went by of me Tweeting, my followers responding, asking questions about what had set me off, etc. And then it happened. TWC reached out to me via DM. I quickly learned that Time Warner Cable actually has several active Twitter accounts including their PR person, tech support, a social media expert, among others…all of whom personally reached out to me:

@TWCablePhil @twcablebrienh @twcablehelp @alextwc

They apologized, asked what my service issues were, and how they could help. I don’t say this often, but I was wrong.

I. Was. Wrong.

Not only does Time Warner Cable have a social media and Twitter presence, but they monitor it late at night, and actually responded – in a timely, caring way to my disgruntled Tweets. They scheduled a service call for technician to come to my home and solve my service issues. The technician showed up a day later, fixed the problems, and sure enough, everything has been working perfectly since his visit.

What could not be accomplished on the phone with customer service was quickly and effectively taken care of via social media. To me, this is a wonderful example of how an age-old practice – customer service call centers – can take major notes from a new-age practice, social media.

What the call center could not solve, social media did. And that is precisely why it’s here to STAY.

Christine Kirk is founder and principal at Social Muse Communications, a PR and social media marketing consultancy firm for food/beverage, travel, luxury, technology, and lifestyle brands in Los Angeles. She also holds the position of PR Manager for the Los Angeles chapter of Girls in Tech. She can be reached via e-mail at christine@socialmuse.com or on Twitter @luxuryprgal.

Since many of us are aware of just how often women’s contributions to the tech world go unnoticed, we wanted to give all of you a chance to help change that.  Here’s how:  March 24 is Ada Lovelace Day. — This is an international day of blogging (videologging, podcasting, comic drawing, etc.) to celebrate our unsung heroines, whatever they do.  It doesn’t matter how new or old your blog is, what gender you are, what language you blog in, or what you normally blog about – everyone is invited to join in this effort.

Just sign the pledge at: http://findingada.com/ and publish your blog post any time on Wednesday March 24th,  2010. From our past blogs on Dr. Grace Hopper and others, we know that there are many of these women in tech out there that are worthy of and due our tributes for the accolades they have received and accomplishments they have achieved.  Local and current figures in the tech world who you know, we would also love to hear about!  You are invited to tell the world about these unsung heroines, whatever they do!

Who was Ada?

Ada Lovelace was one of the world’s first computer programmers, and one of the first people to see computers as more than just a machine for doing sums. She wrote programs for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a general-purpose computing machine, despite the fact that it was never built.  She also wrote the very first description of a computer and of software.

Join the movement & post your blog!

Below is part II of Girls in Tech’s celebration of Women’s History Month. This week we offer another exclusive interview. This time we’ll check in with an innovator in the technology field – Danielle D. Duplin, Vice President and Executive Program Director for the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology.

Cheers,
The Boston GIT Team

1. Name, title and your current job and/or mission in life?
My mission is to catalyze innovation. My goals are to educate employees worldwide on emerging trends in business and technology and create the conditions that inspire them to experiment, collaborate, and create new economic and social value.

2. What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made and what did you learn from it that’s worth passing along to others?
My biggest mistake was to spend too many years early in my career heads-down instead of taking the time to build a professional network. Don’t get me wrong, focused devotion is important for building domain expertise and strong relationships with close colleagues. It’s just that now I realize how critical it is to also cultivate a broad network of peers, advisors and experts. My advice is to pro-actively connect with colleagues within your profession (not just within your company), and even more importantly across disciplines. The strength and diversity of your network provides a wealth of inspiration that can amplify your options and accelerate your dreams into reality.

3. What’s your biggest success in the workplace?
I am most proud of creating a Global Seminar series that has produced nearly 300 seminars featuring over 750 internal and external speakers that have been enjoyed by over 100,000 attendees. I love creating a culture of continuous learning and generating that spark of enthusiasm within our communities that could one day lead to a breakthrough idea. Every day is renewing and it’s a privilege to do it.

4. What’s your life or work motto?
Strive to wake-up in the morning with something to look forward to, and put your head on the pillow at night with something new to be proud of.

5. What woman in history inspires you most and why?
The 18th century founding families of this country are my heroes . . . the everyday women and men who banded together for a higher purpose to create a system of government that honors individual freedom. They put their fortunes and their lives on the line to create a better future despite the danger and uncertain outcomes. Their grit, resourcefulness and irrepressible spirit are a true inspiration for today’s innovators and entrepreneurs.

6. What piece of technology can you not live without?
My iPhone! If I left my wallet at home I might not go back for it, but if I left my phone I would race back!

7. What tech trend are you following for 2010?
Open Government has the potential to radically alter the ecosystem of public policy development and citizen engagement — having public access to this treasure trove of data will yield tremendous insights, valuable opportunities and revolutionary applications.

8. What one piece of advice would you give the Girls in Tech of tomorrow?
Smart is sexy and passion is attractive. Do something you love and pursue it with unbridled enthusiasm and determination. You’ll soon find that others will want to join you and wealth (the kind that matters) will come naturally.

9. What three items do you always carry on you?
Lipstick, credit card, and iPhone . . . you can go anywhere and do anything!

We’re excited to feature Go Tribal Beta, a site that helps you see “who’s down” to go out. The free web-based service is immediately available to the first 10,000 registrants. To start using Go Tribal, visit http://gotribal.com

Go Tribal helps members coordinate with friends by identifying who is willing, able and interested to hang out. It eliminates the time and frustration spent on gathering a group of friends by allowing members to easily see when their friends are available – whether it is your best girlfriend, or even an old college roommate. As a Go Tribal member you can broadcast when you are down, easily see who else is free and use the simple collaboration tool to finally decide what to do or where to go. From this, Go Tribal is able to grant members broad visibility into what their larger network is planning on doing.

“We feel that technology is moving further and further away from facilitating meaningful physical interaction. Our driving vision is to create simple technology that enables friends to get together in the real world. Go Tribal is the first step in fulfilling that larger vision,” said Shruti Challa, CEO and founder of Go Tribal.

You better believe that Girls in Tech will be using Go Tribal for corporate gatherings, meetings and all-hands calls.  Great job ladies!

Do you have a killer product concept and are ready to finally make it a reality? 2010 might be your year to build it out, launch a company, and change the world.

Betaspring – a mentorship-driven startup accelerator for technology and design entrepreneurs – is opening up applications for it’s 2010 summer program. They bring the best entrepreneurial teams from around the world to Providence, RI, for an intensive twelve week program. During that time they get your company up and running, provide mentorship, legal assistance, office space and a small amount of seed funding. At the end of the program they line up investors who want to fund you and strategic partners who want to work with you.

As Co-Founder of Olive Interactive, LLC. (DandyID and Claim.io), headquartered in Providence – and a Rhode Island native – I can personally attest for our vibrant community of technologists, artists, business leaders and innovators. Not only will you spend the summer working with stellar Betaspring mentors and members – you’ll also bump heads with The Creative Capital’s top scholars (think RISD and Brown students/grads), energetic young professionals, and enjoy plentiful access to a thriving nightlife and live music, great eats, and ocean/summer activities. Watch the I Heart Providence People’s Confessions videos for more takes on what makes this city shine: http://www.betaspring.com/2010/02/21/why-providence/

The deadline for applications is March 22nd, but early applicants will have the benefit of allowing the partners more time to get to know you and your company. The application process is quick, easy and painless, and will ask nothing you don’t already know. Head to http://betaspring.com for more information about the program and to access the application form. Questions about the program? Email Program Director, TJ Sondermann at tsondermann@betaspring.com

During this high-level event, top Publishers, Agency Executives and Brand Marketers will come together to discuss how Social Media is everywhere and is changing everything.

–>DIGIDAY gives media and marketing leaders a chance to converge and reveal high-level success strategies as well as offer insights on how the future of Social Media Marketing will play out for all.

–>Leading Women Include: Cynthia Neiman, Vice President of Mattel Digital Network, Mattel, Marty Collins, Group Marketing Manager, Windows Digital Marketing, Microsoft, Tameka Kee, editorial director, DIGIDAY, Sarah Hofstetter, Senior Vice President, Emerging Media & Client Strategy, 360i, and many more!

–> We’re partnering with digiday: Social on this event, so Girls in Tech LA Members Save $100 off the registration price. Use this code for your discount: GITDS. Register at https://registration.dm2events.com/event/socialla/.

Today is International Women’s Day and to celebrate, Girls in Tech would like to invite you to share in he International Museum of Women (IMOW) project “Women on the Map!”  IMOW will spend this month compiling tributes to women who have made an impact in our lives.   They are recognizing the countless women who are changing the world for the better on a daily basis.  You can help by submitting your own “dedication” to someone who has made a difference in your life:  your mother, a colleague, mentor, or friend…

It’s an easy, free way to celebrate them and give them special recognition.  When you add your chosen inspiring woman her name and a message from you will appear alongside the names of hundreds of women across the globe. Their map will connect women across continents, creating a powerful visual representation of the vast, change-making impact women have on our world.  The result will be a powerful visual representation of the vast, change-making impact women have on our world.   To get started on your entry, click on their website, here.

You can also check out the inspiring stories of women around the world featured intheir current online exhibition, Economica: Women and the Global Economy. With topics like ‘Giving Women Credit’ and ‘Women’s Wealth’ it is a great way to find out how women are impacting our global economy.

See the globe when you visit their page at www.imow.org/economica/stories/map. (image and links courtesy imow.org)

JB

J. Briganti

Thanks to advanced technology, you know longer need to be a professional photographer to capture a unique moment in time.  Although it is true that photography is an art, even those of us just snapping away as a hobby can achieve exceptional photographs with the right camera in hand.

The Olympus SP-59OUZ will provide you with photographic pleasure.  It is an affordable camera appropriate for someone taking up photography as a hobby and can also be easily enjoyed by all members of the family.  It comes complete with lots of valuable shooting features such as optical zoom, shadow ADJ for brightening the subject against backlight, exposure compensation for adjusting the brightness and macro shooting for taking great close ups.   And let’s not forget the self timer so that all of your family or friends can be in the picture.

Taking a good photo is not really as difficult as you may think.  You don’t need years of experience or the most expensive camera.  What you do need is inspiration.  Where to find it?  It’s all around.  Take time out to notice your natural surroundings including your own garden, local parks or distant landscapes.  Family pets or small animals like birds, squirrels and rabbits make wonderful photos too.   Zoom in on your own family members when they’re not looking for photos with a natural complexion.

Here are some simple steps that you can follow and you’ll be on your way to photographic bliss.

• Get up close and personal to your subject, when possible.
• When shooting animals get down low on their level.
• Hold your camera in a vertical position for a change.
• Look for a simple, uncluttered background.
• Shoot with the sun behind you.
• If your outdoor subject is in the shade, turn on the flash.
• Use a tripod for extra steadiness.
• Make use of macro shooting for great close ups.

In addition to these simple tips, take the time to read your camera’s manual; by doing so you will learn how to operate the different camera modes available.

Have fun and enjoy your photographic journey!

After starting at Xerox as a summer intern at age 19, July 2009, brought Ursula M. Burns, through her prowess and performance, to a headline-grabbing milestone: Burns was installed as Xerox’s chief executive officer, becoming the first African American woman to take the helm of one of the nation’s largest publicly traded companies.  Recently, she was interviewed by Black Enterprise Business Report.  Says Burns: “It’s really is surprising to me just how impactful on the outside this [appointment] is, just how much responsibility therefore I have to represent well.”

To see the full interview, follow the link, here.

More women, changing history!

(Quote & video link courtesy of www.blackenterprise.com)