Sponsored By

Current Occupation: Vice President / General Manager of Field Sales & Operations – Michigan/Indiana Region, T-Mobile USA

Favorite website: Pulse, C-Net, Wall Street Journal

Favorite read: #1: Good to Great; #2: What Customers Really Want

Recent read: The Help

2012′s ultimate goal: Get oldest Son off to college in the fall & celebrate 19happy years of marriage!

Quote Governing Your Mission or a Quote that Inspires You: Essential Piece: Isn’t it a wonderful thing that we’re all different? Each of us has strengths and skills to share. And when we link our individual strengths together, we’re invincible. Can’t imagine us without you.

Twitter handle: @tmobile

Brigette Jackson, an executive at T-Mobile, is the subject of this next installment of Behind The Click.  More specifically, she’s the Vice President and General Manager for the Michigan and Indiana Region of T-Mobile. I had an opportunity to connect with  this fellow digital power player to learn more about her position.  What follows will both inspire and encourage you, no matter what industry you currently work.  Fasten your seatbelts!

LdC:  So it seems that a lot of  your foundation is due in large part to your education. What was it like attending Michigan State?

BJ: My college career was an enjoyable experience. I grew up, learned a lot and met many people with diverse backgrounds.  A lot of the people I met are still my friends today.

LdC:  Are you an active alum?

BJ: Yes, I stay informed and attend homecoming.  I also participate in activities through the MSU chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, which I was a member of at MSU.

LdC:  Did you express an early interest in the convergence of tech and customer growth or did you “fall into” it?

BJ: I graduated with a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Management. I have always been in sales jobs throughout my career.  Working in sales management, I was introduced to technology and saw the rapid growth and innovation first hand.  That’s what led me to my current position at T-Mobile.

LdC: What is a typical day like for you?

BJ: I conduct sales meetings with my team, attend strategy meetings where we plan business strategies and tactics to retain customers and grow the business, review sales reports, visit stores and our business sales clients and meet customers.

LdC:  What is the biggest challenge of your day?

BJ: Continuing to grow sales and market share within the Region.

LdC:  What advice can you give to women looking to get into telecommunications at an executive level?

B: Be ready for this fast-paced, innovative business.  You need to make sure you are knowledgeable about all of the ever-changing technologies, stay ahead of the competitors and be able to make quick decisions.

LdC: What advice can you give to women with projects who are looking to create strategic alliances with T-Mobile?

BJ: Pull customer demographics, make sure the demographics mirror the area of the product you are targeting and do a business case to ensure the return on investment is healthy.  Take as many business partners that relate to or support the project as you can throughout the process.

LdC:  How do you balance work and family life?

BJ: Careful long & short-term planning to make sure I don’t miss any important engagements.  I absolutely live by my Outlook Calendar to stay organized and I plan far ahead.

LdC: What’s your biggest dream for your position/department at T-Mobile this year?

BJ: At the end of the year, I would like to have a profitable business that has achieved all targets and have grown our customer base and increased our market share.

Thanks for reading!  Keep up with tech events and more at my site www.ldcoleman.com while we prepare the next profile.  Get the latest in digital news and more by following me on Twitter @mediaempress

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by Liz Burr

If you haven’t heard about mobile social startup FourSquare, then you must not be paying attention to the news, your TV or your local Starbucks. A location-based application for your phone, FourSquare is seen as the frontrunner among the crop of location-based services vying for your attention. In charge of business development over at FourSquare is Queens-bred Tristan Walker, a recent graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and former Wall Street oil trader turned tech shot-caller. Walker leads FourSquare’s partnership development with media, brands and retailers such as MTV, Bravo, American Eagle, CNN, The New York Times, Louis Vuitton, and VH1.

Walker talked with The Atlanta Post about what it’s like juggling a full-time exec-level position at a hot startup while simultaneously finishing up his MBA at one of the leading business programs in the country. Find out how he landed this position, how he became interested in the Silicon Valley hustle, and what he thinks about diversity in technology.
________________________________________
Name:  Tristan Walker
Position:  Vice President of Business Development at FourSquare
Hometown: Queens, NY. (Born in Jamaica Queens, raised mostly in Flushing)
Located: Palo Alto, CA
Undergraduate School: Stony Brook University
Major: Economics
Marital Status: Married
Last Book Read: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Favorite movie: The Godfather
________________________________________

Tell us a little bit about FourSquare.
[At Foursquare], we’re trying to make things that make cities easier to use.  What I mean by that is that we’re trying to get people out exploring the cities in which they live or visit and incentivize them to do so. FourSquare is part friend finder, part social city guide and it uses game mechanics to tie it all together and encourage people to check in and share their location with their friends.

What does your position as VP of Business Development involve and tell us about your journey to this position.

Before business school, I was an oil trader on Wall Street. Hated it. I did that for a year and half, almost two years. I started out with this ambition to get as wealthy as possible [laughs]. I grew up with humble means and thought, I am never going to live like this again. How can I get rich? I felt that there were really three ways you can do it: 1) Be a professional athlete 2) Work on Wall Street 3) Start your own company.

At the time, I thought I didn’t have the money to start my own company, so I couldn’t do that. The professional athlete thing was just not working out for me [laughs]. So I really hustled to get on Wall Street. I had the fortune to do so, but then I realized that it just wasn’t for me. So I said, now that two of the three [options] are gone, I might as well try this entrepreneurship thing.

I applied to Stanford Business School. It was the only place I applied and fortunately I got in. I knew Stanford had this appeal toward entrepreneurship, so I wanted to dive in with both feet first. I got out here and started exploring. I didn’t know much about the Silicon Valley tech thing until I got out here. Once I learned about it, I just started getting really obsessed [with] it. I tried to read every blog and book I could about technology in general. Then I started to narrow it down to social media and particularly how brands are starting to use it in interesting ways.

I hustled and got my way into an internship with Twitter. I did that in January of last year until June of last year. I helped them with what is now Twitter 101 for Business. Essentially my internship [involved] talking with a bunch of brands on how they use the service, and helping give Twitter ideas around how they can potentially monetize the engagement brands are having with their consumers.

Last summer, I had some experience at a consulting firm with a consumer retailer. I helped them think through their operations and so on. Then I got this fascination with retail brick-and-mortar in general. Transactions are something that have always fascinated me. I wanted to blend what I learned at Twitter (how brands engage consumers online), with how they engage consumers offline with brick-and-mortar. And I wanted to do something at the intersection of that.

With starting my own company I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something, so I kept researching. Then one day I heard about this thing called FourSquare back in June 2009 and right away I got it. They work perfectly at that intersection. That night I emailed Dennis [Crowley] and Naveen [Selvadurai], it was only them at the time, and I didn’t get a reply back. I think I emailed Dennis about six or seven times before he got back to me. And when he got back to me, he said, “You know what I just may take you up on some of this. Are you ever in New York?” And I said, “Yeah, coincidentally I’m in New York tomorrow.” When I got home I booked my ticket and flew out the following morning and hung out with him for a week.

What did your email say?

The more Dennis was busy, [the more] he couldn’t think through the business and locations. I was more fascinated by the transactions and the point of sale when people swipe their cards. I wanted to get as close to the point of sale as possible. When I heard about this thing called “the check in,” I thought, you can’t get any closer to the point of sale than that, right?

So I told [Dennis] all the implications of what this could mean for business. [I said] give me a chance, and I’ll work for free, I’ll do whatever it is. I get it and I want it. I kept reiterating that over and over again. I was a big fan of his from Dodgeball, which he started like 10 years ago, so he’s been in the space for a while. Then he let me in, [I] hung out with him for a week and we just brainstormed together, and a month later I was doing biz dev for the company.

by Kweli Wright

Calling someone a ‘freak’ isn’t generally a compliment, but if you called Terance Thatch a ‘gadget freak’ he wouldn’t even be mad. “I’m a very creative person, but I’m a gadget freak,” Thatch confirms. “I joined the Air Force right out of high school and went to work in the technology field, but at night I was on the radio and ran a promotions company; when the Internet hit, I was hooked.” After the Air Force, Thatch returned to Atlanta and attended Morris Brown College and wrote his senior thesis on African-Americans & the Digital Divide.  “After doing that research, I knew I had to be in technology in some shape, form or fashion.”

These days, he works as a product manager and is best described as a social influencer, taste-maker, marketer, biz developer, and mobile entertainment and social media beast. You’ll have to read-on for an explanation of that moniker…

We recently caught up with Thatch to talk about why MySpace is still relevant and how the African Americans should recognize the power we possess in digital media.

Favorite website: That’s hard.  Mashable.com, Twitter.com and Bluefly.com (I’m a clothes & shoes junkie).

Favorite read: The Way of the Wild Heart : A Map for the Masculine Journey by John Eldredge

Recent read: “Mobile Media and Applications, From Concept to Cash: Successful Service Creation” and “Launch” by Andy Johnston & others.

2010′s ultimate goal: I’ve been toying with the idea of launching my own website and mobile & social engagement company. I’m determined to have both of them off the ground before year’s end.

Quote Governing Terance’s Mission:  “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying” – Michael Jordan.

Twitter: @TeranceThatch

Can you describe your job and the demands of your position?

In short, I manage and develop digital entertainment properties. I write product requirements, work with business development and senior management to define the product road map and I’m constantly looking for ways to increase the value of a product through consumer feedback or things going on in the mobile entertainment industry.  Demanding is putting it lightly.  Most of the products I manage are subscription-based and with P&L responsibility, everything I do must be carefully monitored because the slightest enhancement or change could affect thousands of subscribers and affect hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What is a typical day consist of for you?

I wish I knew what a typical day was like. I manage two branded entertainment properties so I usually start my day by checking out what happened the day before.  I’ll review properties billing numbers, etc.  That is usually followed by going into my task management system to see what issues have been assigned to me to review or to assign task or issues to IT, operations or marketing. Everyday there are multiple meetings; Monday usually involved writing

SMS copy, Tuesday’s is usually creating pivot tables, reports and graphs in advance for Wednesday’s product roundtable.  Depending on the day, I’m writing specs for new products or product enhancements, juggling calls from IT, marketing or business development or researching new prizes or contest for promotions. I’m always collaborating with other Product Managers The end of the day usually finds me dealing with vendors, updating the loyalty catalog for

contest winners, updating the website and creating mobile games for the next day.

What does social media mean to you?

To me, social media is the two way street of information. Media—newspaper, broadcast TV–feeds you information. It tends to tell you a story, supposedly unbiased.  Social media flips that completely by allowing you to interact with that information and communicate it back within your social circle, usually with some power of influence.

What attracted you to the digital world?

The digital world allows me to combine my strengths with passion. It allows me to be that technologist who is stuck in a marketer’s body.  I’ve always been into computers since the days of DOS but I’m “mechanically declined”.

You say your friends describe you as a “social media beast.” Why?

I’m on MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, Flavor.me and a few other sites. I use my laptop, iPad, Android and Blackberry to get the word out about anything I feel is relevant 24/7. More importantly though, I think I am labeled a “social media beast” by my friends because I understand how to leverage the power of social media.  Social media allows you the freedom to say something you might not normally say in person.  It allows you to reach out and connect to someone you might not otherwise come in contact with.

Why do you think you are the go-to guy when it comes to music and digital industries?

Passion!  Someone said to me “follow your heart, do what you love and the money will find you.”  This statement is so true and I didn’t understand what that meant until I was laid off from a job with a great salary and took an intern position at Hidden Beach Recordings.  I live and breathe this stuff.  I’m constantly reading up trends in social and emerging media. I speak on panels about it, tweet about it, I push my friends on it.

I have something of a daily ritual; I wake up every morning and check my email for my feeds from places like PaidContent.org, MocoNews.net, MobileMarketer.com as well as hitting up sites like DigitalMusicNews.com, Billboard.com, Variety.com, and Adweek to see what happened overnight.  Most mornings on the train headed into the office, you’ll find me surfing Mashable.com or similar sites on my iPad and tweeting digital media updates.  On weekends, I’m reading or in a bookstore perusing booking on media, music and technology on any giving day.  Music and technology soothes my soul.

Why is it important for African Americans to immerse themselves in new digital media?

Digital media is the future and as it evolves; our way of life will evolve.  I recently read an article that said African-Americans spend 31% of our discretionary income, $39 billion, on computers, cell phone and other electronics; higher than any other ethnicity.   We also spend more time online than in front of the  TV.  We’re consumers, tastemakers and influencers.  Not only should we understand it, but we should immerse ourselves in it, own it and be decision makers in our future.

From an economical standpoint, it is important for us to not only spend our money in this realm, but understand the power we yield in digital media.   By immersing ourselves–and therefore educating ourselves–we would eventually be able to gain more control over what and how things are marketed within our community. Consumer power and influence at its best.

You still have a MySpace page. Given the blazing popularity of Facebook and Twitter, why do you feel MySpace is important right now?

MySpace is just as importance now as it was two years ago. MySpace is more customizable than Facebook or Twitter and from a creative standpoint, there’s more room for play and originality.   I think musicians, comedians, and entertainers have more leverage on MySpace to showcase their talent. From a brand marketer’s standpoint, Facebook allows you to reach your target audience and connect with them.   With Facebook advertising, you can create your own ads, choose Pay Per Click or via impression to control your marketing budget and you get real time reporting, when you want it.

Twitter is a “micro-blogger,” great for short updates.  The more you update, the more you attract people and unless you have privacy setting in place, it is easier for someone to follow you.   From a marketing and publicity standpoint, Twitter is great promo tool.  In the end, each one has its advantages and disadvantages and serves a different purpose for different people. They are all communication tools.

What advice would you give to an entrepreneur on developing his or her brand using new digital media?

Everyone uses digital media. 194 million consumers are on the Internet. Digital media influences $500 billion in offline retail sales. Men 18-24 spend so much time online, gaming and using mobile phones that digital media is increasingly important to reach them. Understand your target audience, know where they go and what they like and use that information to develop a digital roadmap for your brand. Leverage the power of digital media.

Photo by Matthew Powell

Name: Nichelle Stephens
Hometown: Birmingham Alabama, currently in NYC
Favorite website: buzzfeed.com
Favorite read: The Living Is Easy by Dorothy West
Recent read: My Life in Three Acts by Pam Grier
Most inspired by: Mom
Favorite cupcake flavor: hazelnut or Nutella cupcakes and caramel sea-salt
Quote governing your mission: “My color is my joy and not my burden…” –Bebe Moore Campbell
Twitter handle: @niche

Read the rest of this entry »

by Kweli Wright

Name: Nichelle Stephens

Hometown: Birmingham Alabama, currently in NYC

Favorite website: buzzfeed.com

Favorite read: The Living Is Easy by Dorothy West

Recent read: My Life in Three Acts by Pam Grier

Most inspired by: Mom

Favorite cupcake flavor: Hazelnut or Nutella cupcakes and caramel sea-salt

Quote governing your mission: “My color is my joy and not my burden…” –Bebe Moore Campbell

Twitter handle: @niche

When it comes to making it in media these days, you have to be a Jack (or Jackie) of all trades. After her start as an accountant, Nichelle Stephens followed her passions to not only establish herself as a financial blogger, but as an editor, small business consultant, social media strategist and, of all things, a cupcake enthusiast. Her transition from money to cake was not always easy, but through her talents as a writer–Nichelle currently has four blogs–she has crafted a multi-layered career that allows her the freedom to create and inspire others.

“In the beginning, the blogging was an outlet,” says Stephens. “It wasn’t until three years ago that I really started making some money. Now [my blogging is] a profit-making entity.” Here, the blogger, editor and social media strategist, talks to us about juggling jobs and tasting cupcakes.

Have you always wanted a career in media?

I can’t say that I focused on media, but I love to write. In high school, I wrote poetry and always loved being creative.

So accounting was your job and blogging…?

I started blogging about six years ago with Keeping Nickels. It was an outlet from doing accounting bookkeeping, where I could write financial tips for start-ups and businesses, write small business information, give advice about personal finance. I have a degree in accounting and worked at a management consultant firm, so I had the experience. I also have my personal blog– Nichelle Stephens–which is my fun side. I have another blog about women and money,  I Can Bring Home The Bacon.

You’re also a founding co-editor at Cupcakes Take the Cake, the most popular cupcake blog. Tell us how that came about.

Back in 2004, my friend Rachel [Kramer Bussel] and I would buy cupcakes and take them to events–birthday parties, press events, book parties–anywhere we knew a crowd who be, and it seemed like cupcakes were everywhere, so we decided to start this blog. It’s not about recipes and baking, but the wonderful varieties out there and how popular cupcakes are not only in the United States, but around the world. We have a list of cupcake shops from Sao Paulo. Brazil to Singapore. We even host cupcake business classes teaching bakers how to promote themselves.

It’s amazing that you have time for another gig. How did you connect with Pepsi to become the Community Editor for the Pepsi We Inspire blog?

They actually found me. I built my online presence six years ago and from day one I’ve been prolific with my writing, I guess they recognized that. They liked my voice from my personal site, my Twitter feed. That’s one great thing about Twitter, you can use it to discuss off-the-cuff things that you are thinking about and relate to other people.

Were you concerned that Pepsi We Inspire was going to be more about pushing the brand than inspiring African-American women?

Before I got the job, I met with the marketing firm working with Pepsi. I was so on-board [with their ideas]. This site was something that was so needed, not just as a site for women, but as a site for the African-American community specifically. The only concern about doing something when it is connected to such a popular brand is that you don’t want to hit the audience over the head and that’s why I liked the approach. The site is interconnected to Facebook-connect, so real interaction is there. The site is beautifully designed, very informative and it gives women a way to contribute to communities by volunteering or donating, or just sharing stories about what inspires them the most.  It’s just a great thing.

With all of the jobs that you manage, do you find you like the path your career has taken?

Only until recently have I felt in control. The first couple of years I struggled to make ends meet and now I’m definitely more comfortable. One thing about the freedom is that when you work a 9-5 there are things that you can never take part in. I can now go to conferences and presentations, I can do things like that now because of my flexible schedule.

Where can we look for you next?

I’ll be attending and presenting at the Blogging While Brown conference in Washington, D.C. June 18-19. My presentation topic is The Business of Blogging.

by De’Juan Galloway

Atlanta-based, media entrepreneur Neko Cheri jump started her brand-building efforts by adopting technology as a vehicle for her business strategies. This proved to be the winning formula.

She holds the titles of: writer, publisher, radio personality and activist and individualizes each one well. Her successful online publication, Neko Cheri Magazine illustrates her entrepreneurial skill and emphasis on women empowerment. Ms. Cheri’s following of listeners, readers and fans on social networks are evidence that this brand will not fade anytime soon.  Discover a distinguished brand builder as TAP goes Behind The Click with Atlanta’s Neko Cheri.

Favorite website: Facebook.com
Favorite read: 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Recent read: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
2010′s ultimate goal: To Broadcast Neko Cheri Live in FM format
Quote Governing Neko’s Mission: “What you think you are, you are.”
Twitter handle: @nekocheri

How did you begin developing your business online?

I began the branding process by writing my book entitled, “It’s Not Him, Its You,” based around life experiences. I have always had a desire to help women because when I was younger I had a low self-esteem. Everything my brand offers is to uplift, encourage and inspire women. I began with the e-book, so if people wanted a quick read it was readily available. It is now available as a hardcopy as well.

Developing my brand using the digital space in a tough economy was the most practical way to brand myself.  It doesn’t cost much to create a brand online. It does require you to be very specific about where you want to be and who you want to be.

How has the reception been for “It’s Not Him, It’s You?”

It has been very good. I finished the book in thirty days and self published it. The odd thing is I haven’t marketed my book much; it was more of an introduction to Neko Cheri. Often times, when one authors a book, people consider them an expert–that is how people look at me. Writing the book and becoming an expert was the strategy I used to create my brand.

Are there any challenges your brand has faced online?

Yes, there is sometimes a challenge between who you are and who people want to see. I am a very fun, outgoing person and sometimes people want to see a very serious business woman. I am very serious about my business. However, my personality is very outgoing. It is difficult to find a balance between people’s perception of you and who you are. Online you must cultivate the two very carefully.

What advice would you give to an entrepreneur on developing his or her brand using new digital media?

I would suggest seeking advice from an expert. Find consultants who specialize in the digital realm. Professional advice will assist with your brand’s image online and give it life. Finding these professionals can be challenging but it will save a lot of time.

Your digital product Neko Cheri Magazine is extremely innovative–what is the purpose of your online magazine?

The purpose of Neko Cheri Magazine is to motivate, uplift and motivate women. It is a publication for women by women.

What content do you provide to fulfill those purposes?

I focus on all women owned businesses. If a woman has a business or is attempting to build a successful entity–I will promote her. My job is to motivate and uplift these women. If she is willing to put herself out there, I am here to assist through my free online magazine.

Instead of focusing on African-American women solely, women of all shades are featured in your publication. Why did you choose an all inclusive approach to empowering women through your magazine?

All inclusive is my personality. I am an African-American woman but I was raised in a white community and I have friends of all different races. My choice to include all women is an extension of who I am. I consider myself to be a well-rounded women. I can go from Ya’ll Street to Wall Street.

by Rahwa Asmerom

In the landscape of new media and web 2.0 news, there is one site that stands out when it comes to highlighting African-American media players and companies: Black Web 2.0. The young site, only launched about two and a half years ago, has become the go-to resource for reading up on news relating to everything from the online brand relaunch of Vibe magazine to the behind-the-scenes decision makers at BET.com. Content is king and founder Angela Benton has carved out her niche by addressing the dearth of information about African-American media.

“I saw there was a need for that kind of information out there, ” said Benton, CEO of Black Web Media. “I was interviewing for a job and I was really interested in another IAC [Interactive Corporation] company specifically in the African-American market so I started researching and going through the typical tech blogs to see what was going on in the African-American space and to my surprise, nobody had anything about it at all.”

Although her media news mainstays of TechCrunch, paidContent and ReadWriteWeb certainly covered the intricacies of major media conglomerates and Silicon Valley startups, they didn’t have the lens to hone in on the movers, shakers, and trends stirring in the African-American web community.

“Even when you search those sites for large media companies, you’re not finding a lot of information – not even on an entrepreneurial level,” she said. “When you seach BET, which is owned by Viacom, [you can see that] nobody is talking about what they’re doing on the web.”

After having worked with companies like UPS, Lendingtree.com and while working at Rushmore Drive, the now-defunct search engine geared towards African-Americans, Benton started the Black Web 2.0 blog as a creative outlet for her to discuss web design and review the online approach of black media companies.  One of her initial posts in October 2007 focused on the Ebonyjet.com design. “I must say I love EbonyJet.com,” she wrote. “The design is so clean and the approach to publish the publications content in a blog format versus the typical online magazine format is refreshing.” Her natural love for design and her professional media background are key to fueling Benton’s project.

“I really love typography, she said. “And I’m always drawn to sites that have really nice imagery but also display information really well. There is so much information out there and I like to see how information is displayed and organized.”

The North Carolina resident honed her design chops at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she received her MFA. It was in an art theory class in which Benton really came to uncover her specific passion for the pivotal relationship between design and information.  She recalls receiving a C on an assignment, which called for her to analyze commercial art and for which she thought she would have gotten an A. Instead of dissecting the technical execution of the advertisements, her teacher told her, she went off path and analyzed the overall advertising scheme instead. The grade may have been dissappointing but the revelation that came from it was not. “That was an eye opener because i was really passionate about [my paper] and the words and ideas just came to me naturally.”

Benton certainly brings her nuanced perspective and appreciation for presentation to her reviews on all things happening with new web design, gadgets and evolving industry trends. The demand for this supply of information was made evident immediately after her blog launch. “I started getting positive feedback immediately,” she said. “People started emailing me saying oh my gosh, I can’t believe you started this site, this is so needed. The site immediately started to develop it’s own kind of community and from there, it continued to grow and expand as we expanded in content.”

With twelve freelancers and staffers supporting the 2.0 blog and the parent company’s stream of web consulting gigs, Black Web Media is preparing to extend its reach in the media space “We’re looking to build partnerships with different firm brands and work on announcing some acquisitions in the future ,” she said. “I feel that we’re in a really good place right now in terms of the type of content we’re providing so we’re going to keep moving full steam ahead.”