Anita Who? Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

as part of a 1900+ person pledge to blog about a woman in technology honoring ada lovelace day, i have to put out the name of one, anita brown. it was a toss up as we could only pledge to blog about one person or i would certainly have included red burns in the mix (red, if you are reading this:  i am very excited about working under your guidance at ITP. you’ll get my post next year!).

brown founded one of the earliest (if not first) online resources, the now defunct black geeks online, to address digital divide issues, particularly  for african americans. she was an avid advocate to close the digital divide in the u.s.- before it was popular and after the topic seemed to fall to the wayside in the u.s. i met ms. brown at columbia university several years ago. i was inspired by her knowledge and passion for the subject. i am still surprised  at how little i hear of her in conversations about early web pioneers who didn’t limit their aspirations to financial gain. i could hardly find news of her passing (she was 63) , save for an obituary in the washington post nearly three years ago.

like too many civic-minded entrepreneurs, brown seemed to run out of steam just as digital divide concerns were beginning to become of interest to the mainstream again. i am constantly reminded of lesser known talented people who could truly stand to benefit from the kind of support that will provide lasting energy to overcome fatigue. entrepreneurship can be a lonely experience. being focused on more than the bottom line can take a toll on more than the psyche. i often wonder what it might have been like if ms. brown were alive to experience the wave of socially-focused entrepreneurs and initiatives that support them including echoing green, ashoka and the school for social entrepreneurs. 

it’s easy to mistake her name for others: anita baker, anita bryant, anita hill (yes, i went there)-  but her legacy remains. there are those who know and value her work, endeavoring to carry the torch for digital literacy and information for all. i count myself as one. three cheers for passion, ideas and inspiring people.

 

learn more about the pledge here:

* http://findingada.com
* http://www.pledgebank.com/AdaLovelaceDay
* http://twitter.com/FindingAda
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/findingada
* http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47550446005

Artists + Party + Student Debt= AfterSputnik: The Art Project

aftersputnik, an organization dedicated to extenuating u.s. student loans, is hosting a three-day event in nyc (queens) that showcases artists and their work reflecting how student debt has impacted them. art work will be for sale and a panel will award cash prizes to top selections. my money is on any piece on display incorporating top ramen noodles.

Watch The Speech, Watch History (Inauguration Speech)

watch president barack obama’s speech and swearing in here.

The 30 Minute MBA

well, not exactly. i came across a lecture by carie davis, global design manager at coca cola and georgia tech mid grad. she also chairs the atlanta idsa chapter and gave a pretty insightful talk at her alma mater on design leadership. i recommend checking it out whether you are an aspiring or current mba, recent graduate, engineering, designer or other professional.

What Will The Next eBiz Leaders Look Like?

i was reading about meg whitman’s impending retirement as ebay ceo. besides marveling at the fact that some folks can still actually think about retiring (i am in my early 30’s and have never really thought about it as an option) i wondered what the future faces of web business will look like. the dld conference main page shows a slide of pics with all sorts of industry leaders i recognize- some i have actually worked with- and they all look… young. i mean so in a geek-chic sort of way. so i do wonder quite literally what the next faces of corporate leadership will look like. let’s hope it’s a diverse picture and with a few wrinkles as they age (please let the botox revolution go down in fiery flames!).

Chit Chat On Human-Powered Search Engines

i‘m still weighing my interests in the area, but i figured i would post since i read about another guy i used to work for and his latest venture. better yet, i’ll just link to the transcript and share my thoughts later.  the conference seems like something i should try next year.

Women Who Tech…

in addition to socon ’08, i am looking forward to checking out women who tech, a “tele-summit” for women in technology this spring. women who tech plans to bring women involved in technology, the nonprofit and political arenas together for virtual workshops, dialog and a good time.

the tracks are pretty wide and i am hoping they will include serious gaming and persuasive technology in there. i would also like to see something on public diplomacy, ephilanthropy/social venture capital and engineering and technology as social enterprise.

while scanning the resources page, i discovered an interesting site covering mobile technology for activists. in a previous post, i noted that i am not focused strictly on mobile phones as i see mobile technology and applications moving away from what we currently experience. i also mentioned rising interest in mobile application and network development overseas, pondering potential impact on america’s ability to be a leader in the area. i think the race for leadership from an industrial perspective is wide open.