Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

A little shift in direction

You might have noticed I changed roles over the last week (hence this little corner of cyberspace has been a little neglected!)  I have moved out of my role with HCM consulting after nearly eight years, three babies and loads of learning, to pursue a new challenge. I’m happy to say I have joined the IBM marketing team in Asia Pacific to help communicate the SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) message. It’s not a complete shift from the Learning space for me – I will still be helping with the growth of a community, there will be opportunities to educate people about social media, and I get to sharpen my communication skills and learn more about marketing! I’m thrilled to be joining such a great team, continuing in a part time role with great work/life balance benefits also (can you tell I am a little bit excited?!)

Obviously my focus will be a little different, but I will continue to share some of the common threads between marketing and learning here on Wonderwebby, sharing random ramblings about interesting we can communicate, create and connect! I look forward to some great conversations with you.

connect the dots 1

connect the dots 1by Dutchtl

connecting the dots 2

connecting the dots 2

connect the dots 3

connect the dots 3 by

Connect the dots 4 by SlipStream

Connect the dots 4 by SlipStream


(images taken from Wreck this Journal project by Keri Smith)

Initiative accelerates ideas into action

A little while ago I had a little notion for a blogging challenge and was waiting for the right time to launch it. Little did I know what form that would take – a challenge that raised over $1500 in just a few days for women in poverty! So how did this happen?

Thinking Ahead – Ideas for a rainy day
While I was arranging the last fundraising event and making mental notes of things that were working, and things that I would do differently, I came up with an idea. I wanted the next creative challenge to be really simple and the word ‘Tribute’ came to mind. I wanted to honour the women in the Philippines who were taking steps into working their way out of poverty.

Opportunity Arises -  social networking serendipity
One morning I friended the friend of a friend on Twitter. I never expected him to follow me back  with a direct message the next day, asking me to call their offices. When I rang, I never expected to be having a conversation about a potentially significant donation to my fundraising project for Women’s Opportunity.

Money changes everything – respect the community
I had a weekend to think about the ideas they suggested and think up a project. I read up about Incentive House. I had to consider what I wanted to achieve (awareness of the Philippines, fundraising) and how I could still respect and create something that my online community would appreciate. I wanted this to be as authentic as possible (at least, as authentic as corporate sponsorship can get). Suddenly my ‘Tribute’ idea sprung back to mind. By Monday I shared my idea for a paid blogging challenge ($100 per post donated to Opportunity International) and soon after the initiative was launched,  raising $1300 in just a few days through the generosity of bloggers around Australia.

Sharing Ideas – social media sanity check
Before launching the initaitive I vetted the idea with a social media friend Des Walsh to get his feedback, which was all positive and helpful! He even interviewed me later on for the Social Media Show to get some more information about microfinance and this project. Subsequently I received two more donations creating an additional US$200 donation.

Experience -  investing time where it matters
I didn’t just have an idea that was suddenly funded. There have been a number of good people in my social network who have been involved in creating some awareness about poverty in the Philippines, trust banks and microfinance.  Together some amazing people have been collaborating with me to create slideshows, blog posts, tweets and finding all kinds of ways to help create some publicity for the entrepreneurial poor, from the Women’s Investment Slides, to the Beyond challenge, SOS09 and this recent Tribute project . Not every project has had equal success in raising significant funds, but I feel it’s a collective contribution that helped get to this point.
I was thrilled to see that the ‘Tribute’ blogging challenge for donations worked, and that it was well received. Which leads me to wonder ‘what’s next?’  This project seems to have created a little buzz with other Australian corporate sponsors, and I’m talking to some more for another project I’ve had in mind for some time (hint…email wonderwebby at gmail.com if you want to be involved!) More details to come!
Intiative – the first step to great things
When you take the initiative to help make a difference, (no matter how big or small the effort) your contribution might end up accelerating other ideas and initiatives way beyond your imagination. I really value the energy that many people have taken to write blog posts, make donations, tweet, retweet and encourage me along the way.  What about you? Are you ready to leap into a project? Every jump counts!


Image originally uploaded by Ryan C Anderson

The gift of Creativity

The lovely Eileen Clegg, known for her wonderful murals and visual journalism, kindly created a Shout Out for Creativity mural and video for the Shout Out Social project. She shares some wonderful insights into the nature of creativity.

You will have to come along to the event in Melbourne if you want to see the rest of her message this weekend :) along with guest speaker Shahin Shafaei, and some great images submitted by people around the world! Althought it’s too late to include your own Shout Out  image for inclusion in the exhibition – it’s not too late to submit one to the Flickr Group (tag sos09) and/or to make a donation of $10 (today)! to the Opportunity International microfinance project (that’s what this Shout Out project has been all about – fundraising to help women to get out of poverty!)

Many thanks to the following wonderful people who have given their creative time to this Shout Out Social project, including (in no particular order):

Marigo Raftopolous, Luke Grange, Debbe Kennedy and Sally K. GreenMelissa Sader, Sagart, Karen Tipping, Amy Jussel, Bad Koala ,Bernie Michalik, August Boehm, David Armano, ePredator, Bettina Cutler, Jared Woods, Vasundharb, Janelle Amet, David Masters, Rucsb, Siddharth, Sean Lew, David Talamelli, Penni Russon, Gypsychk, Andy Piper, Aaron Julius Kim, Ric Hayman, Amy Palko and Michelle Zamora.

I look forward to seeing how this project all comes together on Saturday night! Hope to see you there!

Creative commons and family vacations

Over New Years we took a lovely family vacation to Adelaide. I  quickly took a snap on New Years Eve Day 2008 at Semaphore Beach. This morning I found an email from Schmap online travel guides asking permission to shortlist this photo – which I had saved as Creative Commons on Flickr – for their page on Semaphore.

Semaphore Beach – blue skies – soft sand

Now I can join my friends  Andy Piper and Amy Palko as someone who has been schmapped! Nice surprise :)

Do you save your content as Creative Commons? I really enjoyed this story by Jeremy Keith about his Flickr photo which became a background  image in the recent Iron Man movie!

Thinking Beyond

A brief update on my Women’s Opportunity fundraising. You may recall the  Women’s Investment slide project. It raised over AU$500, all web based donations from men and women all over the world! THANK YOU!

I have started a blog to keep track of my journey as an Ambassador with Women’s Opportunity and have launched a new creative challenge over there today.

The theme for this creative fundraising challenge is about thinking “Beyond”. It’s about changing your world. It’s about innovation, vision and hope. And it’s about making a difference.

Beyond yourself…towards the world.
Beyond the immediate…towards the possibilities.

Beyond having an idea…towards sharing it.

Beyond observing…towards participating.

Beyond poverty…towards empowerment and opportunity.


Image courtesy of Opportunity International Australia

You have until Sunday December 21st 2008(midnight AEST) to contribute. The winner (as selected by a random draw of all entries) will receive a prize. The prize pack includes 20 x postcards, 100 minicards and 90 stickers valued at around $50, which has been generously donated by the kind folks at MOO

AND the prize includes a copy of World Poverty for Dummies by Wiley Australia ($34.95)

In addition, any DONATIONS received before 21 December will also be in a random draw for a copy of World Poverty for Dummies.

I hope you will join in. I can’t wait to see some of the creative responses! Hop on over to the original blog post to get more details.

Connected in 25 words

Women around the world share their stories
Bringing hope and inspiration
Connecting with women living in poverty
In turn, they invest in changing their world

Image of Indian business owner originally uploaded by Iron Fillings
Small business owner in India, image originally uploaded by Iron Fillings

This is my submission to the 25 word challenge by Liz Strauss.

The 25 Words that Connect Us Project

You can join in too. Here’s how

  1. Think about connections, connectedness, being linked together, synchronicity, serendipity, community, oneness.
  2. Write a sentence about it.
  3. Count the words you have written.
  4. Edit the sentence until you have 25 words exactly. Notice how your idea changes as you edit and how your feelings change with each rewrite.
  5. Add a picture if you can.
  6. Post your 25 words on your blog by October 16th.
  7. Link back to her post or leave a link to your post in the comments section.

A Woman’s Investment

As you may have read in a recent post, I decided I wanted to make a difference. Well, I’m now a voluntary Ambassador at Women’s Opportunity (see the new page on my blog) and just sent this letter out to some friends about an exciting project. With your help I’m going to create some inspiring slides for a great cause. If you know anybody who might want to be involved, or if you would like to be involved – please let me know!

I’d like to invite you to be part of something important, extraordinarily wonderful, and so simple. You can change the lives of a group of women in the Philippines – just by writing a single sentence!

The reason I am asking you is because I believe you are a woman with an entrepreneurial spirit. Along the way, you made an investment. It may have been words you spoke, a course you undertook, a gift you gave, a smile, a risk or an adventure. Perhaps another woman made an investment in you.

This small group of women in the Philippines is ready to step out and be part of an entrepreneurial microcredit program with Women’s Opportunity. We have much in common, despite being born into different circumstances. And now you have the opportunity of helping 15 – 30 women born into poverty change the quality of their lives forever.

If you would like to be involved, all I require from you is a sentence about “a woman’s investment” and I will create a gorgeous looking set of slides (to be published on Slideshare.net) with stunning photographs in November.

As an example

http://www.slideshare.net/wonderwebby/a-womans-investment-presentation

“When she invests in others, she impacts generations” or
“My mother’s investment in taking huge risks gave me the opportunity of a better education”
{Name, Title (optional) Country}

Once the collated responses are published on slideshare.net I will be asking viewers to make a voluntary donation (for instance $10) towards my goal of raising $10,000 to create a Trust Bank for these women at http://wonderwebby.chipin.com. People will be able to add these slides to their blog, their Myspace page, Facebook etc, so your words will inspire and resonate with people all around the world. I’m really looking forward to reading your unique insights on what happens when a woman invests.

If you, or someone you know – would like to be part of this inspiring project, simply:
Post your responses on the theme of “A woman’s Investment” on LinkedIn by the end of October. (** or reply here of course! or Trackback!)
• Alternatively you can email me privately at jasmin at wonderwebby dot com with your response or intent to respond.
Please include your name, title/company (optional) and Country.
• If you have a blog or company website you can list that too, as I will compile a list of all contributors and links on my blog.

• Additionally you could submit one of your own illustrations or photographs. Please note, the content will be licensed under Creative Commons, which means people may reproduce your quote or image with attribution.

I hope you will join me on this inspiring journey to see the power of a woman’s investment around the world, to fight poverty.

Best Regards
Jasmin Tragas
Women’s Opportunity Ambassador (Opportunity International Australia)
About the project
About Women’s Opportunity
To donate: http://wonderwebby.chipin.com
Creative Commons

Oh, and hat tip to Gavin Heaton for a couple of great last minute pointers :)
And to Oliver Ding for inspiration with the Freesouls slideshare project, in response to Joi Ito’s book.

Please let your friends know about this special project!

When physical and virtual worlds collide

Have you considered the influence of virtual spaces, such as online communities, on your world?

It’s something I have been discussing with an informal learning working party recently, for instance the impact virtual spaces have on communities such as international students, working mothers, working students and alumni.

If I think back to any major virtual influence of my world, I begin to think about the arrival of our first child in 2002. I had so much to discuss, learn and share about this experience- a gazillion questions about every detail from childbirth, how to grow up a human being, to the fine art of mashing a banana- but I didn’t know many mums. For a good couple of years I shared details of my pregnancies, birth stories, first smiles and nappy (diaper) changing horror stories with my online friends on a popular online mothers forum. My friend Penni (who also happened to be a local, but discovered through our online community) wrote a wonderful and insightful post about the community, how it formed and how it morphed from a large, public, anonymous community, to a smaller, more personal (and possibly time absorbing) moderated community. I even found myself spending a period of time as one of the moderators of this community (on msn.) At times it was great – there are some lovely mums out there. But the homophilous nature of the community was a little stifling for me, in the end.

A couple of years later I moved suburbs and connected with a positive, supportive local community of women. They’re absolutely wonderful. I canceled my subscription to the online mothers community as it was becoming more distracting than helpful. I’m still friends with some of these mums on Facebook and have met some new friends through work who blog or tweet about the demands and joys of motherhood. As Penni wrote in her post, now that she is no longer part of an online community “…with no windows or doors, I now feel like I live across the breadth of the internet, I feel like an Internet gypsy, not homeless, but that I have many many homes, some temporary, some, like this one (Penni’s blog) more permanent. Through blogs, facebook, emails, and other means I’ve kept in contact with many of these people.”

My friend Jo summed it up nicely, in response to Penni’s post ” I don’t know if these friendships forged online that become addictive are so healthy, I teeter between them being a great source of company, information, creative thought, and also of being an horrific waste of time. I *know* that I have met some amazing people through these parenting sites and that they have opened my eyes to new ideas and thoughts, as they have equally frustrated and annoyed me. I think that the appeal can be that you have a constant audience.”

My “virtual experience” as a new mum provided me with a good source of information and connection when I needed it. Despite the support of a great husband, I wonder how I would have dealt with a terribly colicky baby, wakeful nights and the transition back to work and study without the advice of these mums around Australia. In addition to learning about motherhood and babies, the experience taught me a great deal about the workings of an online community, issues around trust, facilitation, purpose, friendship, integrity and values.

So now, here’s a question for you. The segmentation and integration working party is interested to hear your stories about the way wonderful webby things have changed your life. In particular, how has the web impacted you as an individual, or company, or school – in a community (or tribe.) I’d love to read your comments, or please write a post and link back here!

“How do you deal with the increasing virtual world (web based interaction) and the resulting influence on your physical world?” Please share your anecdotes!

image originally uploaded by Elo Vasquez

image originally uploaded by Elo Vasquez

When Enterprise 2.0 is just keeping up appearances

Have you heard about the official protest parks set up in Beijing? Not a single protest approved despite 77 applications. And a human rights group says there have been a few arrests, and two convictions of re-education through labour (there was something on TV the other night – they reported these two people were actually women in their seventies wanting to demonstrate about a residential relocation issue)

Now I certainly don’t mean to trivialise the issue in Beijing, but it was the first thing I thought of when somebody at work mentioned a company wanting to approve blog posts by employees. What does this mean for Enterprise 2.0 implementation and governance? Are you really letting people have their say, or are you just keeping up appearances of providing a platform to speak? Do you provide guidelines or do you provide a process? What message are you sending your employees about trust, tolerance and personal value – or even the values of the company? How can you sing out loud when you’re told to tiptoe?
making dust talk
image originally uploaded by TruShu on Flickr
From Reuters - The International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday it would have liked to see protesters actually use designated protest parks during the Beijing Games.

Not a single permit for the 77 protest applications has been issued by Chinese authorities.

“We would welcome that these areas are generally used,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters. “(Other) Games organizers have used designated areas of the city for protests in the past.”

Weeks before the start of the August 8-24 Olympics, China had said it had set up three demonstration zones to counter criticism Beijing is crushing human rights to prevent disruptions to the meticulously planned Olympics.

Would-be protesters though had to a apply for a protest permit five days in advance.

No permits have yet been issued and park managers have not even made plans for handling demonstrators, because they do not expect any.

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View Jasmin Tragas's profile on LinkedIn
Twitter: wonderwebby
Disclaimer: the postings on this site are my own and don’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.

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Help women to work their way out of poverty through an Opportunity Australia Trust Bank project in the Philippines

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