Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success. - Paul J. Meyer

I’m excited to be joining virtual events production company, Shift Worldwide, as their VP, Community Engagement. The opportunity had huge appeal – to work with a start-up founded by a visionary, creative friend who has surrounded himself with a “team” of smart, energetic professionals; to be given the chance to build/create from the ground-up; and to focus exclusively on two of my professional passions – engaging/expanding/enhancing networks and building communities.

I don’t know if I ever really considered making a connection with the audience. - Patrick Warburton

Geography, time zones, money, social media tools, enhance and detract from our ability to connect, in a meaningful way, with professional and personal communities. If we’re not in the same room, nor even the same city, how can we really get to know or understand someone? A voice, absent facial expression, is simply talking points, so how can we get a group to stop, listen, hear and interact? How can we create a close, interested community when the community is vast, working remotely, and diverse, in terms of value, time and focus? Yes, there are a few challenges for “community” builders in a noisy, busy world….and we haven’t even touched on resources.

What I needed was a connection to life that was real and lasting. - Claire Danes

I’m looking forward to working with Shift’s clients on ways to enhance “community” (alumni, women’s networks, business unit) engagement through on-line, real-time, in-person conversations and discussions.

http://www.shiftworldwide.com/dnn/