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March is Women’s History Month, the theme is empowerment through education. As I started to consider what I knew about the role of women leaders throughout history, I decided to come up with a list of 75 inspirational female leaders through time, some of these are for fun others are truly admirable women …. Some I knew of, others I got to know while researching this list – ALL are fascinating and brave who have contributed to our history.

Please share this list with your friends, sisters and daughters – and come up with one of your own, the more we know about women, the more we are empowered with “her-story”.

1. The women in my family who emigrated from Cuba with nothing, and managed our family in exile
2. Asmaa Mahfouz (1987 – ) Egyptian activist, founder of the April 6 Youth Movement
3. Sheryl Sandberg (1971 – )
4. Arianna Huffington (1950 – )
5. Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court (1954 – )
6. Zaha Hadid, First Woman to Win a Pritzker Prize (1950 – )
7. Michelle Bachelet (1951 – ) Ms. Michelle Bachelet Under-Secretary-General Executive Director of UN Women, former President of Chile  

1. Angela Merkel (1954 – ) Chancellor of Germany
2. Kazuyo Sejima (1956 – ) SANAA Japanese architect 
3. Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011) Founder of Green Belt Movement and 2004 Nobel Peace prize
4. Hillary Clinton (1947 – ) US Secretary of State, former First Lady
5. Madeleine Albright (1937 – ) Former US Secretary of State, first woman.
6. Isabel Ayende (1942 – )
7. Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007)
8. Mother Theresa (1910 – 1997)
9. Margarret Thatcher (1925 – )
10. Gloria Steinem (1934 – )
11. Sirivamo Bandaranaike (1916-2000) Sri-Lanka, First elected woman prime minister
12. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers (U.F.W.) (1930
13. Antonia Coello Novello first Latina Surgeon General of the United States.
14. Julia Child (1912 – 2004)
15. Princess Diana (1960 – 1997)
16. Margaret Mead (1901 – 1979)
17. Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005)
18. Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India (1917 – 1984)
19. Golda Meir (1898 -1978)
    
20. Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, USNR  (1906 – 1992) Computer pioneer
21. Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954)
22. Gertrude Stein (1874 – 1946)  
23. Valentina Tereshkova (1937 – ) Cosmonaut, first woman in space
24. Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937?) 
25. Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) 
26. Juliette Gordon Low (1860 – 19270 Founder of the Girl Scouts 
27. Marie LaVeau (1801 – 1881) Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and famous herbalist.
28. Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)
29. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 – 1896) 
30. Pocahontas (1594 0 1615) 
31. Joan of Arc  (1412 – 1431)
32. Madame Curie (1867 – 1934) The Nobel Prize in Physics 1903
33. Wilma Mankiller  (1945 – ) First woman to lead the Cherokee Nation
34. Susan B. Anthony (1820 – 1906)
35. Clara Barton (1821-1912) Founder of the Red Cross
36. Frances Perkins (1882-1965) First woman member of the presidential Cabinet 
37. Mary Lyon (1797-1849) Founder of Mt. Holyoke College, first college for women in the US
38. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651 – 1695) Mexican poet, writer
39. Anne Bonny (1698-1782) Female pirate 
40. Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793)
41. Isabella I of Castile Queen of Spain (1451 – 1504)
42. Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901)
43. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122 - 1204)
44. Elizabeth I Queen of England (1533 – 1603)
45. Queen Sukda of Mandara (Cameroon) (Around 1500)
46. Regent Dowager Empress Eleni of Ethiopia (1507-1516)
47. Governor Sayyida al-Hurra of Tetouán (Morocco) (1510-1552 )
48. Maria Theresa of Hapsburg (1717-1780) Empress of Austria
49. Queen Regnant Anacaona of the Maguana (early 1500) Taino Tribe Hispanola
50. Catherine the Great Empress of Russia (1729 – 1796)
51. Verónica I of Matamba ruler of Ndongoand Matamba (1681-1721)
52. Lady Isabel Xipaguazin Moctezuma of Tacuba (1525-1550) Mexico
53. Regent Dowager Duchess Chiara Giorgio of Athenai (1451- 1454) Greece
54. Female King Atotoztli of Tenochtitlán (1466-1472) Mexico
55. Princess Regnant Bigum Hatun of Qara Quyünlü (1435-67) Iran/Iraq 
56. Governor Lucrezia Borgia of Spoleto and Foligno (1480 – 1519) Italy
57. Queen Regnant Paccha of Quito (Cara) (1487-1488)  (Ecuador)
58. Empress Theodora  (500 – 548)
59. Wu Zetian (690 – 705)
60. Cleopatra (69 – 30 BC)
61. Makeda, Queen of Sheba (10th century B.C.)
62. Chieftainess Sharifa Fatima of the Zaydi (Yemen) (1450-1500)
63. Taoist Priest Empress Zhang in China (1493 – )
    
64. Empress Liu (Wu) (318–349)
65. Kubaba (only queen on the Sumerian King List) (2500-2330 BC)
66. Sapho (580 – 570)
67. Esther from the bible
68. Deborah was one of the Judges of Israel

Do you know another woman leader that I didn’t mention? please let me know in the comment section.

Parlodel

Related posts:

1. Inspiring Women Series – Female Internet Heros
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3. Can women entrepreneurs help save the US economy? YES!

In that weird time between Christmas and the start of the next year, I love reviewing the year. My 2011 has been quite remarkable, I accomplished many goals and ticked off a few things on my bucket list, including graduating from Thunderbird in Europe, attending Sundance, visiting India and Germany – and overall, just had a wonderful time of travel, friends, and family throughout. 

Now it’s time to read the Top and Best of lists for the year, and as 2011 winds to an end, and we start to get a peek at 2012, it’s time to review what 2011 brought us…. and some of the lists it has spawned.

Here is a list of some of the Best Of lists of 2011 that I have found… I would LOVE to hear some of yours!

1. 50 Economic Numbers From 2011 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe
2. 19 Biggest Social Media Moments of 2011
3. 2011 Top Ten Global Topics
4. Top Selling DVD’s
5. 2011 Best Companies to work for
6. The Best Movies of 2011
7. The Best Artists of 2011
8. Top 10 Songs of 2011
9. The Best Games Of 2011- Awards
10. The Best of Ted Digital
11. The Best Cocktails of 2011 and where to drink them
12. Top Cars of 2011
13. The Top 10 Marketing Infographics
14. Best Photos Of The Year 2011
15. The Best of 2011 by Discovery
16. 10 Best Commercials of 2011
17. 2011 Year in Review: Best in art
18. 50 Best iPhone Apps 2011
19. 2011 Top Ten TV Shows
20. The 50 Best Websites of 2011
21. Best Books Of 2011
22. 2011 Best Dressed Celebrity Women
23. Forbes Most Powerful People
24. Best Of 2011 Pop Culture’s Tastiest bits
25. Best of 2011 – The Superficial
26. Forbes Most Powerful Women
27. The World’s Best Hotels 2011
28. Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs
29. The Best Mixtapes of 2011
30. The Best of 2011: Job Search and Recruiting
31. The Best of 2011 – AOL
32. Best of 2011 Brands and Films
33. Most Admired list of 2011
34. Top 10 Wines of 2011
35. 2011 Best Places to live
36. The Most Viral Fortune 500 Brands

So the Myan calendar ends in 2012. So what? My calendar ends in December. I just buy a new one. ~ Mr. Youngblood Geography teacher

And in 2012, pending that the world won’t end, here are some interesting lists of things to look forward to.

1. Color of the year 2012 – Tangerine Tango
2. The Top 10 Franchises for 2012
3. Where to Invest 2012
4. 2012: Beginning of the End or Why the World Won’t End?
5. The List: 2012

Now as I am thinking ahead to 2012, making my resolutions, planning, strategizing and imagining what the year ahead may bring… I wish you all an amazing 2012.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Civility in America should be an inalienable right. Americans have a right to defend their names and explain their actions and opinions, but the increasing unruliness in the public square is worrisome and demands attention and new solutions.
~ Jack Leslie, Chairman of Weber Shandwick

This time of year tends to bring out the best and worst in all of us, we are constantly reminded to do good throughout the holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving and ending somewhere around New Year’s Day. These holidays remind us that we are ALL humans, sharing this little planet we call earth.  

However, lately I have noted a disturbing trend of incivility, at the workplace and everywhere. Sometimes, the consequences of these acts culminates in injury and the loss of life, as we have witnessed during Black Friday’s most popularized incidents of pepper-spray and blood in the shopping aisles. These type of incidents where not isolated, and in fact there are reports of this happening from coast to coast, one of the worst was in a mall parking lot near Atlanta, GA where two men got into a parking spot altercation and one shot the other dead. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Watching this video makes me think of how sharks react during a feeding frenzy.

In fact, according to the study “Civility in America 2011″ conducted by KRC Research, most Americans report they have been victims of incivility (86%). Their most common encounters with rude or disrespectful behavior come while driving (72%) or shopping (65%).

The study also reveals that Americans admit to perpetrating incivility — approximately six in 10 (59%) Americans acknowledge that they themselves have been uncivil.

It’s not only in the shopping mall, but also in professional exchanges that I have noticed ruder language and uncivil behaviors, on occasion leading to violence. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) defines incivility as “seemingly inconsequential inconsiderate words and deeds that violate conventional workplace conduct.” The study found that 86% of Americans report they have been victims of incivility. The same survey also found that over a third of the respondents believe incivility in the workplace is on the rise.

I have also heard from jobseekers who are experiencing a tremendous amount of incivility from recruiters and employers alike – and it’s not just the unanswered phone calls and questions, it’s just plain rude responses, with a total lack of compassion. Often times people mask their rude behavior by saying something like “it’s my honest opinion” “I’m going to give it to you straight” etc.

Incivility can come from co-workers or the public sector, in the 2009 Institute of Education Science (IES) School Principal Survey on Crime and Safety, approximately 11% of school principals reported that students were verbally abusive to their middle and high school teachers.

The cost of rudeness and incivility

In the 2009 book The Cost of Bad Behavior: How Incivility Is Damaging Your Business and What To Do About It, my former Thunderbird Professor Christine Pearson and Christine Porath say that the problem of incivility in the workplace has been compounded by our increasing tolerance of nasty behavior as a culture.

Surveys by researchers Porath and Erez, indicate that in the workforce, after experiencing rudeness most people lose time and focus, work less and slack off more, and think more about leaving the organization. In addition, 94% of people get even with the rude person or with their organization (88%). 

Does this have a deeper meaning?

The latest scientific research backs up with detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms what June Cleaver (and we) always knew intuitively, that through adolescence, the human brain is molded by the social environment in which a child is reared. A disrespectful, stressful social environment is a neurotoxin for the brain and psyche, and the scars are permanent.
~ Dr. Douglas Fields Neurobiologist; Author, The Other Brain

 

1. Are common courtesy civility, manners, and politeness a thing of the past?
2. Are Americans becoming ruder as the economy is spiraling downward?
3. What happened to our society?

According to Neurologist Dr. Douglas Fields – people (and animals) living together in large numbers must develop strict formalized behaviors governing interactions between all individuals in the group, or there will be strife and chaos. …. “The formal “Yes, Sir, Yes, Ma’am,” is not a showy embellishment in the military; strict respect and formal polite discourse are the hub of the wheel in any effective and cohesive social structure. Stress is a neurotoxin, especially during development of a child’s brain.

During the last 2 years I have traveled extensively, and I am always “shocked” when I encounter a polite culture – it would seem that even the French are far more civil and polite than we are. But it wasn’t always like this, when I was in school we where taught manners and etiquette at a young age, and respect for adults – this is unheard of today – so I hold little hope for the pendulum to swing back any time soon.

So what’s the answer?

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ~ Mark Twain

Even though our “society” is becoming ruder, I am trying to stay on track leading with kindness, consideration and respect in business – OK, I don’t always succeed. Not only does this feel right to me, and is in line with my core values, but I believe that people who demonstrate decency and kindness have better relationships. In the end, the kind person wins over the people who have a continual “attitude”. 

When people are consistently rude, it’s important to call them out on it. If it entails common courtesy, it’s usually best to deal with it one on one, but if it involves actions potentially perceived as bullying or harassment, it’s a good idea to get human resources, involved.

Take a moment, smile and be kind – it NEVER hurts. 

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3. 21st Century Superwoman – Fad, Fact or Fiction?

Gamification is the process of using game thinking and mechanics to engage audiences and solve problems.

Game dynamics are now entering every aspect of daily life. Good games take players (aka customers) on a journey. Early Gamification techniques only involved adding simple game mechanics like points, badges and leader boards to websites and apps. But, what I discovered at the Gamification Summit in NYC, an incredible 2 day event, is that it is not enough. The gamification journey should give the user something to learn and master, encourages people to stay engaged with your brand and have FUN in the process.

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivations: (what motivates people)

How do you figure out what “journey” to take your user on?  By understanding what motivates people.  There are two types of motivators:

• Extrinsic – monetary exchange for a product or service. 
  In game mechanics, these motivators would translate into rewards such as money, points, or schedules
• Intrinsic – exchange of an intangible for a product or service. In a game, these motivators would translate into things like friendship, commitments, & loyalty.

Extrinsic Motivators are very good for encouraging people to complete simple tasks. To achieve longer term engagement and have people exceed their own performance, you have to use intrinsic motivators ~ Amy Jo Kim

What Motivates People? (competition or satisfaction)

When designing game mechanics for a particular group of people, to effectively generate the appropriate user engagement, it is important to understand the underlying motivations and personality types that make up your community.  What some people find fun or motivating, others might not…competition and winning are important for some, for others, a simple feeling of recognition or making a difference may be more satisfying.

Michael Wu, one of the presenters at the Gamification Summit, wrote a great post on Psychology of Motivation where he breaks down the science behind motivation.

What Personality Type is your Customer?

Gabe Zichermann, the chair of the Gamification Summit and author of  “Gamification by Design”, says that we need to really understand each of our customer type motivations so you can unpack what your consumer will think is fun.

He classifies all users into 4 Bartles player types, each motivated by different things:

• Achievers are driven by in-game goals, usually some form of points gathering – whether experience points, levels, or money.
• Explorers are driven to find out as much as they can about the virtual construct – including mapping its geography and understanding the game mechanics.
• Socializers use the virtual construct to converse and role-play with their fellow gamers.
• Killers use the virtual construct to cause distress on other players, and gain satisfaction from inflicting anxiety and pain on others.

Can Gaming make a better world?

I was really inspired to hear the many case studies, examples, and conversations, of how gaming will transform the world and would really recommend that you watch Jane McGonigal TED talk on how gaming can make a better world.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Learn More:

If you were unable to attend the Gamification Summit, be sure to check out the live blog for a recap off all of the events and visit the conference SlideShare page for all of the presentations

NYC Webgrrls Gamification Seminar:

Are you going to be in NYC on November 9th? Then you have to attend the NYC Webgrrls Gamification Seminar.  We are extremely excited to have one of the top thought leaders in Gamification, Gabe Zichermann, lead the seminar! http://www.webgrrls.com/events/:396

See you there!

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“We’re looking at a different paradigm of leadership, and it plays naturally to the strengths of women…… The tide has turned. The leadership skills that come naturally to women are now absolutely necessary for companies to continue to thrive.” Regina Sacha, Vice President of Human Resources for FedEx Custom Critical.

What I have learned (and haven’t) about female leadership

As a recent MBA graduate, I can confirm that today – leadership is still taught (almost) exclusively from a male perspective, and most case studies presented in Business schools, are based on male leadership styles.

During our Leadership Development course at Thunderbird, our Professor, Christine Pearson, Ph.D.(a brilliant woman and renown authority), presented the following:

• Sun Tzu “The Art of War”
• Niccolò Machiavelli “The Prince” and
• Jack Welch.

Don’t get me wrong, I respect the insights and knowledge from each, and have a better understanding of male leadership from studying them. We were supposed to be reflecting upon leadership and what makes one a great leader, but to my surprise NOT ONE WOMAN was presented! I know the value of understanding male leadership BUT I aspire to be the BEST FEMALE leader possible. I don’t pee standing up and I don’t have testosterone coursing through my veins – I have breasts and I like to wear a skirt, so I don’t want to lead like a man, thank you very much!

When I questioned Professor Pearson, she challenged me to compile my own list of women leaders. I accepted and put together a list of exemplary women leaders who led like WOMEN, below are a few…. and there are many more. But, why don’t we study their leadership? Why should we study Sun Tzu over the leadership of Eleanor of Aquitaine?

• Eve, the first woman, and first leader, she DID lead Adam to that apple!
• Miriam (Old Testament), she was one of the leaders of the Exodus from Egypt.
• Queen Cleopatra VII, perhaps the world’s cleverest political strategist.
• Empress Wu Zetian, considered one of the most powerful women in Chinese history
• Eleanor of Aquitaine (the original cougar) the wealthiest and most powerful woman in the world during the High Middle Ages
• Isabella of Spain, sponsored Columbus and the discovery of the Americas.
• Coco Chanel, fashion revolutionary founded the Channel empire.
• Indira Ghandi, changed the history of modern Indian.
• Mother Teresa
• Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and UN Women Executive Director

There is a growing appreciation of… those traits that women use to keep families together and to organize volunteers to unite and make change in the shared life of communities. These newly admired leadership qualities of shared leadership; nurturance and doing good for others are today not only sought but also indeed needed to make a difference in the world…. A feminine way of leading includes helping the world understand and be principled about values that really matter. Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, The World YWCA Secretary General.

Unique qualities of female leadership

According to a study by Caliper, and Aurora (London-based organization that advances women), there are 4 major qualities that dominate female leadership, and that differ from the male qualities of leadership.

1. More persuasive than their male counterparts.
2. Learn from adversity and carry on with an “I’ll show you attitude”.
3. Demonstrate an inclusive, collaborative leadership style of problem solving and decision making.
4. A willingness to reinvent the rules, and are less risk averse.

“I believe this study shows that for a woman to become a leader today, she has to fight harder against the status quo, which requires her to be more focused and determined.” Mara Swan, Chief People Officer for Molson Coors

Why are women NOT making it to the top?

And the problem is this: women are not making it to the top of any profession anywhere in the world. The numbers tell the story quite clearly. 190 heads of state — nine are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, 13 percent are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top, C-level jobs, board seats — tops out at 15, 16 percent. The numbers have not moved since 2002 and are going in the wrong direction. Sheryl Sandberg COO of Facebook

Watch this amazing video where Sheryl shares why we have too few women leaders:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Why is this important?

Because our world is changing, and “domination” and “subjugation”, which are typically male leadership traits based on a military mindset, are no longer working. We live in a time, where we are much better served with collaborative, determined and empathetic leadership.

If we are looking forward, either as an individual or an organization, we must consider the value that women leaders bring, not just in the obvious, such as a naturally more evolved EI (Emotional Intelligence), but also how women contribute to the value of the bottom line.

In fact “Women in the Executive Suite, Correlate to High Profits” by Roy D. Adler, Ph.D. Pepperdine University, studied Fortune 500 firms, and found that those with a high number of women executives outperformed their industry median firms on three financial measures. Furthermore, the firms with the very best scores for promoting women were consistently more profitable than those whose scores were merely very good.

And in a McKinsey survey “Moving women to the top: McKinsey Global Survey”, seventy-two percent of respondents believe there is a direct connection between a company’s gender diversity and its financial success. McKinsey, looked at 89 listed companies in Europe with a very high proportion of women in senior management posts and compared their financial performance with the average for firms in the same industry. It found that these firms enjoyed a higher return on equity, fatter operating profits and a more buoyant share price.

I do believe it’s VERY important for women to learn to lead with our strengths, and also that men have a responsibility to learn about female leadership in order to mentor, grow and understand how to support the development of their daughters, subordinates and female colleagues alike.

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The business landscape has changed fundamentally; tomorrow’s environment will be different, but no less rich in possibilities for those who are prepared. McKinsey & Company, worldwide (former) Managing Director, Ian Davis

A lesson from the (original) Great Depression – opportunities always exist!

Many years ago, I heard a story of a man who became a millionaire during the (original) Great Depression. This banker had lost his fortune and had watched many of his friends capitulate to the circumstances. Faced with unemployment he learned a trade and became a tile layer, he eventually worked his way back up, and was hired to work on the the construction of the Holland Tunnel in New York and got the contract to supply the tiles for the inside of the tunnel….. in the process regaining his wealth.

The Great Depression was a terrible time for many, some would compare today’s economy and the Nation’s battered spirit to that time. I have thought about this story many times lately, and the lesson. In the US, there are always opportunities to make money in ANY economy, you just have to have a little vision and be prepared to grab them.

Your own “Reinvention plan”

The lesson of this story was one of the influences that propelled me to make one of the boldest moves in my life – going back to school to get my MBA in Global Management at Thunderbird. This was part of my “personal reinvention plan” which was spurned by the reality that the industry I had worked in had changed dramatically due to advances in technology, and a bad economy, and that the skills I had carefully honed and the network I had cultivated for over 20 years of my career had (almost) been rendered irrelevant. This was a scary and expensive move, but I am confident that it will pay off over time….

It’s wise to devise your own “personal reinvention plan”, even if you are currently employed and happily doing your job. In this era of the “new economy” you must NOT be complacent or tied to old thinking, and processes. This trap can become the “concrete shoes” that will weigh you down and may eventually sink your career.

As a job seeker, what I am finding more and more, are that the larger companies are:

• Full of “Scared Managers” – terrified that they may loose their jobs. This fear leads to ineffective second guessing every move, and sticking to old tried and true ways.
• “Confused” because they don’t know how to define themselves in this new economy – lot’s of “analysis paralysis” happening.
• Companies are giving lots of “lip service” to “entrepreneurial spirit” and innovation” within their organizations – but not fostering this behavior or hiring the right kinds of people to develop this kind of culture. 

These are MAJOR ISSUES in today’s business environment, that will deeply affect organizations ability to survive and thrive in the long run. Be careful if you are currently employed in one of these organizations. Ask yourself, is my company really poised to thrive in this “New Normal”?

Where are the opportunities?

Now Apple is like the rest of the US – they have no Jobs

With an alarming ZERO NEW JOBS in August and with 14 million people (reported) currently unemployed, and the President’s announcement of the $447b Job Plan…. Where are the good jobs???? The fact is that most lost jobs are being replaced with lower paying jobs.  Still there are some industry sectors that are making gains in good paying jobs. 

• Green collar Jobs: According to, “Sizing the Green Economy” – “The clean economy, which employs some 2.7 million workers, encompasses a significant number of jobs in establishments spread across a diverse group of industries.”

• Consulting - Management and technical consulting services reached a record high in August.
• Health Care – Elderly Services, Therapy, Home Health Care, Mental Health Services, Outpatient Care, Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories, Physician’s Offices and Administration, Optometric and Dental Services, Chiropractors.
• Internet Hosting and Publishing.
• IT - Hardware and software.
• Retail - Brick and mortar retail stores and e-commerce.
• Administrative and Customer Services.
• Software Publishing.
• Education Support Services.
• Passenger Transportation (air and land).
• Daycare (juvenile and adult).
• Writers and Artists. 

Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin. And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven’t. So for everyone who speaks so passionately about making life easier for “job creators”, this plan is for you.  ~ President Barack Obama, 9/8/11

The news today about jobs and employment picture is no doubt scary and daunting but there are some good stories to tell. Consider this - 28 million small businesses employ 57% of the country’s private workforce, and 60 to 80% of all new jobs come from small businesses. It is expected that job growth will continue to come from this healthy sector.

It’s a Brave New World

Business in the US and much of the world isn’t as “usual”, we will probably never go back to the pre-recession time and the reality is, we must adapt to the “new normal”. Today, we need more than ever to hone that good old fashioned American ingenuity, create new opportunities, because we can no longer rely on the comfort of the corporate giants.

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If you are interested in the opportunity to attend the conference, please enter to win now.  If you tweet about this event, we will enter you into the drawing twice!

We will randomly determine who receives the ticket for the conference.Please note that if you are selected, you will be responsible for your flight and hotel accommodations and other personal expenses.

ABOUT GAMIFICATION SUMMIT

Gamification Summit NYC is the leading, must-attend event that demonstrates how to leverage the power of games to create breakthrough engagement with your customers and employees.

Hear how successful companies like Gilt Groupe, Google, Microsoft, NBC/Universal, Scholastic, MTV, Recyclebank and Aetna have leveraged gamification to transform their businesses.

Mingle with experts and thought leaders as they share insights, case studies, statistics, and hands-on training workshops at GSummit NYC.

Join us and learn how gamification is rewriting the rules of marketing, product design, customer relationship management, and user behavior – and how you can get your business in the game.

Good Luck!
Nelly Yusupova
CTO, Webgrrls.com

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If you are interested in the opportunity to attend the conference, please enter to win now.  If you tweet about this event, we will enter you into the drawing twice!

We will randomly determine who receives the ticket for the conference. Please note that if you are selected, you will be responsible for your flight and hotel accommodations and other personal expenses.

About The Event:

For 13 years, OSCON, the O’Reilly Open Source Convention, has put open source to work building the future. OSCON’s program encompasses 20 tracks to explore all things open source. New tracks have been added to OSCON this year, including Citizen Science, Geek Lifestyle, Open Data, Programming, and Emerging Languages, while Healthcare returns for its second year.

OSCON Java and OSCON Data – two new distinct events co-located with OSCON, debuting on July 25-27. OSCON Java combines Java and open source to take on the tech world’s juiciest challenges—in cloud computing, big data, mobile, and more. OSCON Java tracks include Client, Cloud, Craftsmanship, JVM, and Trends. At OSCON Data, learn about the open source technologies for gathering, storing, and analyzing data that make it possible to use new data sources and do new things with existing data. OSCON Data tracks include Analytics and Visualization, Hadoop, NoSQL Databases, Real-Time and Streaming, Relational, and Roulette.

Don’t miss all the valuable tutorials, keynotes, hundreds of sessions and events. Webgrrls can also use discount code os11web to save 15% on your registration.

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The Velocity Conference provides you with real-world best practices for optimizing your web pages, specifically the performance of Ajax, CSS, JavaScript, and images. Even sites that had already been optimized can benefit, making for both a better customer experience and bottom line.

The conference sold out and if you did not buy your ticket don’t despair….you can watch a live stream of all the keynotes!

You can also follow the conference hastag #velocityconf on Twitter for real time update from conference attendees.

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Abby Fichtner aka @HackerChick created an excellent presentation on what development looks like at a start-up where learning (rather than code) is the most important measure of progress.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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