Tech Forward:

Well, I arrived safely here in Los Angeles to speak at the Executing Social Media conference tomorrow. I could have done without the toddler who screamed all the way from Kansas to Los Angeles, though. Someone should have told her that’s not the kind of social media we mean.

I read on Peter Shankman’s Twitter feed that he’s arrived here, as well. If you don’t know who Peter Shankman is, find out by subscribing to his Help A Reporter Out (HARO) service. It’s real, legitimate, free leads for media coverage. My company has received some great coverage by responding to some of the queries that come through his mailing list–and no, it’s not just tech stuff.

I took a nice walk around Old Town Pasadena today and I really like it. I can live here, but lately I’ve been saying that a lot about everyplace but New York. Hmmm . . . maybe there’s a small change brewing?

Pasadena is great, relaxed and the peeps are really friendly. You can wear flip-flops in just about every fancy restaurant. I collect art and I try to pick up pieces from my travels, so I asked a few local Pasadenans what Pasadena is famous for and they all said the Rose Parade. Soooooo . . . since I missed that, I’ll take a few pictures of the gorgeous architecture and leave it at that. Maybe I’ll have a fewshots framed.

Anyway . . . the conference starts tomorrow. I’ll try to do some live blogging, but I have a session to lead and a roundtable to orchestrate, so I’ll do what I can to keep you informed of what’s going on here.

Stay tuned…

My pals over at WME Books are thinking about creating a conference called Publishing 3.0: Books, Blogs and Beyond, but they want to make sure they develop a conference that people really want to attend.

If you’ve ever wanted to write a book, publish a book you’ve already written, write a blog or use a blog to market your book, then this is the conference for you.

To weigh in on exactly what you want to see, whom you want to speak and when you think the conference should be held, take two minutes and let them know.

Question: How many other conferences ask the participants before they schedule one single session?

Answer: Not many.

So, hop to it.

You know your events are popular when people don’t want to leave the room. That was the scene yesterday as we wrapped up the CfWBR Research to Roadmap symposium.

The facilities crew was literally taking the room down around us as we continued to share ideas and network.

Check out the Center’s live blog site (yes, CfWBR had its own freelance blogger!), which is sponsored by Verizon (had to plug the sponsors!)

I made a comment at the event that I’ll share with you here:

I thank the center for putting money, time and energy toward this research. No other organization had the gumption to nail down sponsors and commit to this process. And because of that, for the first time in 10 years as a business owner and as a woman of color, I feel heard. Thank you, CfWBR.

If you’re not involved with the center in some way, you should be. Reach out to the organization: 202-638-3060, tell  how you can help, ask for the help you need . . . just start talking.  Visit the website. Feel free to use my name or the name of this blog as an introductory point. Just do something . . .

Good grief, I’m tired! But in a good way…

I spent the entire day yesterday in Washington, D.C., attending the Center for Women’s Business Research’s Research to Roadmap event, and I must say it was first class all the way. There’s something about CfWBR events . . . you’re networking, learning about your business, planning for change. You leave physically exhausted, but your cup runneth over with ideas! Amazing. (And I’m not just saying that because I’m on the advisory board!)

Speaking of amazing, the research results are out and I’m absolutely floored. Check it out:

• There are 1.9 million businesses owned by women of color (gosh, I hope they counted my company!).
• Women-of-color-owned companies employ 1.2 million people and;
• Collectively generate $165 billon dollars in revenue (hello, Oprah!)

And, here are some more stats for your noggin:

In the six years between 2002 and 2008, the number of firms owned by women of color increased by 32 percent, the number of employees increased by 27 percent and revenues increased by a whopping 48 percent.

• Women of color-owned businesses make up 26.5 percent of all women businesses.
• Out of all the employees working at women-owned businesses, 15.8 percent of them work at a company owned by a woman of color.
• 15.6 percent of all revenue generated by women-owned businesses come from a business owned by a woman of color.

These numbers finally tell the rich story that I knew all along. Women of color are making money and, more important, we’re making a difference.

I might be able to squeeze in one more blog later, but right now I need to get mic’d up to go on stage and talk about “Indicators of Progress,” Boy did they pick the right person to address that See ya in a few . . .

I promised to get back to some of the answers from the group from Part 2 of this live blogging series from the Center for Women’s Business Research’s symposium, Research to Roadmap here in Washington, D.C.

So here’s what some of the women had to say in answer to the question of what needs to happen to accelerate the growth of businesses owned by women of color:

• Continuing research on women of color who are entrepreneurs;
• Providing educational opportunities on strategic planning;
• Winning government contracts;
• Preparing and understanding financial statement analysis;
• Entrepreneurship itself;
• Changing our perception of ourselves from the inside out;
• Creating lending circles for women; and
• Providing more opportunities for women to interact, engage and get to know each other, as we’re doing at this symposium.

Amen to that.

I’ll get back to the answers to the question from Part 2 in a moment.

Right now, Greg Spragg, executive vice president of merchandise for Sam’s Club is addressing the women. I kinda’ like his style . . . right away he poked fun at the fact that he’s one of the only men in the room.

He just shared a story about Martha’s Place, a restaurant in Montgomery, Alabama. Turns out some of the people who started Sam’s Club gave Martha a two-story building to use–for free as long as she needed it–as the location for her restaurant. Today, Martha’s Place is nationally known and is a “must-do” for anyone who visits the Mongomery area. Hey, if it’s good enough for Angela Bassett, Whoopie Goldberg and Walter Matthau . . . I might want to check that out.

I never thought I’d say it, but “Good on ya, Sam’s Club!”

So we’re in mini-breakout sessions before lunch, and the question we’re answering is:

What needs to happen to create fundamental change and accelerate the growth of businesses owned by women of color?

That’s a big question that I’m sure will have no small answers . . . I’ll share the group answers with you a little later, but I will tell you my answer:

The first thing that needs to change is getting rid of the word “minority” that’s used to describe people of color. I believe that how you address someone says a lot about how you feel about them as a person. Think about the last time someone repeatedly said or spelled your name incorrectly. How did that make you feel? Got it, right?

It used to be that using the word “minority” to describe people of color was reasoned away by hard numbers–you know, demographics–people of color comprised the minority of the population, ergo they were a “minority.” My question is, now that the demographics have changed–at least in the U.S.–why are people of color still referred to as a “minority”?

What do you think needs to change?

I’m here at the Center for Women’s Business Research 2008 symposium, Research to Roadmap, and you would think Oprah is here: the multimedia displays, the live blogging video, the townhall “meeting”/living room stage setting.

We’re live at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C.

Right now, Michele Norris–yes, the Michele Norris of NPR’s All Things Considered–is talking with Josefina Aguilar of Expresso Mi Cultura, Dr. Faye E. Coleman of Westover Consultants (no relation), Margaret Henningsen of Legacy Bank and Joyce Takiguchi of ComStar International.

They’re all part of a session called, “Putting a Face on the Facts” and they’re sharing their experiences as entrepreneurs - running, building and sustaining a growing company as women of color.

I’ll be back later with some of the research results that will be revealed here today.

Stay tuned…

This year, I’m leading the Social Media Hot Seat Lab at the Marketing Profs’ Business-to-Business Forum in Boston on June 9and 10.

If you want to go and need a discount–and want to see my smiling face–here’s your code to save $350 on registration before May 19 and $250 after that date: ESPK08

Dillydally not.

I almost NEVER attend networking meetings. Let’s just say I’ve got my reasons.

But last Thursday did find me using my two complimentary drink tickets at the TechCrunch NYC CrunchNetwork event at RedSky on East 29th.

How could I not? Email Center Pro was one of the sponsors. I rarely get to see the folks from Palo Alto Software (the makers of Email Center Pro), so I made my way down to NYC– in the rain, mind you–to support the effort.

The place was packed–as in about 300 people packed. The kind folks at TechCrunch had reserved the second and third floors for the “May Day” festivities.

At one point, there was a band playing on the third floor. Yes, a live band.

And it’s no surprise: Tickets went like hot cakes, and there was a pseudo hint of Senor Arrington himself being there.  I heard they were selling tickets on eBay.

Anyway, I shocked myself and actually had a blast. Who knew?

If you couldn’t make it out to the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs & Excecutives’ Business Applications of Social Networking event in California, the videos and presentations from the event are available online.

Here’s some of what you’ll see:

• Wendy Beecham’s “Intro to Business Applications of Social Networking”;
• Ross Mayfield on “Leveraging Social Software for Business Value”;
• Jeremiah Owyang’s “Best Practices for Online Communities as a Marketing Tool”;
• The panel discussion, “Strategic & Tactical Implementation of Social Networks in Business,” featuring moderator Erika Brown and panelists Karen Appleton, Katie Jacobs Stanton, and Teresa Valdez Klein;
• Robin Wolaner on “Purposeful Networking”;
• Gina Bianchini’s “Launching and Growing Your Online Community.”

Happy watching! Enjoy!