Smart Savvy

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We interview a lot of people and fortunately none have been as ‘protracted’ as this one –although some have come close. This is a team favourite and we debated whether or not to post it. In the end, humor won out over political correctness. Thoughts?

This made me laugh. Maybe you’ve met this guy? Maybe you work with him?

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After all the dust has settled, only six candidates remain. Interviews for Smart Savvy’s Top Grads program kicked off this past week and students from across the lower mainland vied for their chance to interview with some of Vancouver’s hottest companies. Selected students sat down to do individual interviews with our team (think dark room, single light-bulb waving, etc). We were amazed at the talent level that was showcased, proving once again that BC is producing some of the brightest marketing minds. However much like your favorite reality TV show, some tough choices had to be made, and we had to cut down the group to six.

Without further adieu,  I present to you the Top 6 Wunderkinds of 2009.

The Record Holder - Callum Ng, a UBC Early Career Masters grad, is not only a Canadian record holder in swimming, he is also an entrepreneur, volunteer, and blogger. Callum captained the UBC Men’s swim team last year while finishing off his Masters degree, and ended up having to utilize his management and marketing skills to recruit 10 athletes to the team. Callum’s blend of enthusiasm and real world experience is top notch and we are excited to see him in the next round.

The Prodigy - Not everyone starts university at age 14, but Brian Wong has been an exception his entire life. Graduating this past semester from UBC  was just one of the many things that fills Brian’s day. He is founder of Aer Marketing, a full service marketing company that he and his partners founded in his 4th year of university. He is an experienced Tuk Tuk rider, speaks Cantonese, and loves hockey. How does he find time to fit it all in? Well, he practices the art of polyphasic sleeping.

The World Traveler - Tyrone Lingley is someone who experiences life to the fullest. This Royal Roads BComm graduate has been a university instructor in South Korea, traveled across the world, and started his own  internet marketing company. All of this experience enabled him to be an honor roll student at Royal Roads, while also serving as the Advancing Canadian Entrepreneur’s VP of consulting and the Student Representative for the RRUSA.

The Volunteer - Having an “insatiable appetite for involvements” has led Charles Voon from a tough life situation to one of Sauder’s best students. Encouraged by his mother to begin volunteering at age 7, Charles has never stopped going the extra mile. After winning the Millennium Excellence Award of Canada in 2004, Charles chose to attend UBC and has excelled throughout his time there. His significant volunteer contributions to YOUCAN and Enterprize Canada, are balanced by his impressive Co-op resume, having worked with both Procter & Gamble and Electronic Arts.

The “Make it So” - Adina Dragasanu gets things done. Just take a quick scan of her experience prior to graduating from UBC. Kraft Canada, Telus, Unilever. Besides working with some of the biggest brands in Canada, Adina also served as the UBC Marketing President in 2007 and is the Director of the Commerce Society Alumni Relations program. We have no doubt that Adina’s impressive resume will continue to build in the future.

Mr. President - Krishna Raisinghani describes himself as “not your average marketer”,  referring to his extensive finance and accounting background. The current UBC Marketing Association President has plenty of diverse experiences, including starting his own media company, winning the Gold Level Service Award for volunteerism, and interning twice with Deloitte. This mix of marketing, volunteering and business acumen enables Krishna to excel both in the classroom and in the real world.

Shouts out to UBC for having such a strong presence at this year’s Top Grads competition. Consider this a challenge to the rest of the post secondary institutions in BC.

I read a very interesting article this morning on about Twitter  and its effects on spreading information. In this case however, it was a negative example. The author points to the fact that Twitter includes people tweeting and retweeting information on the Swine Flu epidemic (currently trending 2 terms: Swine Flu and #Swineflu) and are doing more harm than good.

“Unlike basic Internet search—which has already been nicely used by Google to track emerging flu epidemics—Twitter seems to have introduced too much noise into the process: as opposed to search requests, which are generally motivated only by a desire to learn more about a given subject, too many Twitter conversations about swine flu seem to be motivated by desires to fit in, do what one’s friends do (i.e. tweet about it) or simply gain more popularity.”

I think it would be difficult to argue that Twitter doesn’t add noise to our daily lives, but simply another layer that has been added to our lives, and one that enables us to expand our informational flow to unprecedented levels. This over-stimulation can have detrimental effects.

Twitter’s biggest weakness is also its biggest strength, however.

Think of the tweets from the Hudson River plane crash, or the earthquakes in China. These examples weren’t just noise, they were real time news providing valuable insight into the calamities.

The information on the Swine Flu might be “motivated by desires to fit in and to do what one’s friends do” right now, when hard facts about the crisis is limited, however when pertinent, urgent information becomes available, Twitter will become the first channel of information for a large audience.

I would like to get your thoughts on this - do you think Twitter is vain? Or does it provide specific value?

I will maintain that the first time I saw the Susan Boyle video, I noted that she looked exactly like Jay Leno. Apparently I am not the only one. Been under a rock? Here is the first original-  be prepared to get a little bit teary. We at the Smart Savvy office have been known to get a bit emotional after this one.

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I have had a couple of people over the last few weeks list the most essential social media tools for marketers. Rather than launch into a long dissertation on the importance of social media, I thought I would post them to our blog. Feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments if you have any other favs, but I have found that of the many social media memes, these are the most effective.

1) Twitter

I think we can officially all agree that Twitter has arrived. Explosive adoption rate, massive press, and celebrity followings have launched Twitter (and its new language) into widespread consciousness. As a marketer, Twitter can be an extremely effective tool. With it you can drive traffic, monitor your brand, communicate with your customers, gain clients, build relationships and promote your brand. At Smart Savvy, we have sourced leads directly from Twitter, developed relationships with local companies, and actively utilized the search functionality to monitor our brand. All this from a tool that limits you to 140 characters. If you aren’t following us yet, check us out here.

2) YouTube

YouTube , owned by Google, is not only a place for funny videos but is also among the largest search engines on the web. Companies need to have a presence there. It is important to post and organize company videos so when someone searches a topic your company will show up. These can be short videos explaining basic concepts, internal videos to promote employee culture, or a myriad of other things. Consider this as another way to get your content out on the web. You can check out more of our videos on YouTube here.

3) Blog

Blogs are a great way to communicate and interact, and are an integral part of your social media strategy. Blogs allow people to comment, engage in the conversation, and see the real people behind the company.  This is the essence of today’s social media. A one-way conversation is passive; instead blogs allow people to respond and join in dialogue. In order to avoid blog irrelevancy, you need to be interesting, insightful + topical, and most importantly, consistent.

4) LinkedIn

In the recruitment field, LinkedIn is a tremendous connector. Find thousands of resumes, comprehensive search functionality, and access to passive job seekers. Mastering LinkedIn is not easy. Knowing how to use LinkedIn well is key. Check out this article to give you a head start on some tips and tricks.

5) You

Social media is not a quick fix. Its about building an authentic community and relationships. While the web provides the tools, the people behind the brand are still the most significant component. Without a personality, no one will read, watch or interact with your content. As Seth Godin says, “Be interesting.”

We just passed the 1000 follower mark today on Twitter and want to say thanks to all our amazing followers! We have learned so much, participated in fascinating conversations, and met hundreds of great people along the way. Thanks for your support and let’s keep on tweeting!

If you aren’t following us yet, head over to http://twitter.com/smartsavvy and join in 

I found a collection of these facts from the site Want To Feel Old?

Let us know in the comments which ones make you feel the most old.

1) The film ‘Back to the Future 2’ is set five and a half years from now. Buy stock in Hoverboard!
2) The Macarena came out 14 years ago; August 22, 1995 to be exact
3) Ghostbusters came out a quarter of a century ago
4) The Matrix came out ten years ago today
5) Quantum Leap’s first episode aired twenty years ago. Also, it was set in the year 1999. That’s right, Quantum    Leap was set ten years ago. How science has failed us.

Wow, I guess time flies…

An ongoing series highlighting companies in Vancouver who ‘do it best’.

Twitter is both an engaging tool and a daunting task, and doing it right is by no means easy. As it has gained mainstream popularity — with users like Obama, Ellen, and CNN — businesses, especially marketers, are feeling the push to get involved and join the burgeoning service. I don’t want to argue the merits or disadvantages of Twitter, that’s for another post, but I do want to highlight a couple of local companies that are doing it right. Vancouver is considered one of the ‘early adopter’ cities in the Twittersphere.  Here are a few of the companies that stand out.

Japadog- Using Twitter to Sell Your Product

You just have to love Japadog. As a hot dog vendor, traditionally you have to rely on flashy signs, location, and the wafting smell that is more addicting than, well… you know. However,Vancouver’s Japadog took a different approach. Following an L.A. Taco stand’s lead, Japadog now tweets specials they are running, its location, and connects with its customers by tweeting their next destination. The result?  Tons of press, informed customers, and a lot more franks being sold.

Hootsuite - Inform and Update Your Customers

For nothing else, Hootsuite deserves to be on this list because of its 20,000+ followers. Being a Twitter application however, brings this number into perspective. Twitter can be used in a variety of different ways and Hootsuite uses it to inform its customers and users on product updates, new features, and feedback. Created and run by the folks at Invoke , it’s not surprising they do it well.

MakeGood - Become a Thought Leader

Is it incestuous to write about a company you share space with? We don’t think so. MakeGood uses Twitter to carve out a niche as a thought leader in their field (social responsibility) and does a great job interacting and conversing with people across the world that are passionate on the topic. With over 1,500 followers strong, it’s a compelling topic.

Vancouver Canucks - Engage Your Customers

The Canucks are using Twitter to talk to their fans, spread breaking news, and promote events. I love how they use Twitter as a conversation starter, not as a broadcasting device. Fans can @reply and expect a response, and they can tweet their thoughts during games.

BC Business -  Spread The Word

BC Business is one of the province’s most widely read business magazines and they use Twitter to spread their content and connect with their readers. I like how John Butcher injects his insights with tweets like this, “Anyone out there use the word “skookum”? (Adj.: big, hearty, fierce.) Apparently, it’s BC and Yukon slang that comes from the Chinook slang.” You really can’t go wrong. All in all, its a pretty skookum Twitter feed.

lululemon - Connect and Inspire

Oops… this is #6, but I just couldn’t resist.  Lululemon, makers of yoga-inspired apparel for healthy living, actively uses Twitter to inspire their followers to stay well-balanced and healthly. Either join a Yoga class and “boogie woogie” or read an insightful book.  They also like to throw in the odd tweet asking their followers about their favorite lululemon item or about a new product, but why not? Their fabric is like none other.

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Here begins a new weekly series designed to highlight places in the city that I’d consider ‘hanging my hat’.  As recruiters, we get to see the inside of a lot of companies (albeit sometimes limited) and periodically you stumble upon a company/organization that stands apart as a potentially great place to work.

This week I’d like to feature NaiKun Wind Energy Group

About NaiKun:
NaiKun is focused on developing Canada’s first offshore wind energy project off the northwest coast of British Columbia. NaiKun’s project is in response to the government’s BC Energy Plan, which sets a target of electricity self-sufficiency by 2016.

Why would I work at NaiKun?

1. The Alternative Power Industry is ‘Hotting Up’
The alternative energy industry is on the rise and is a very interesting an interesting place to be right now. There is lots of growth in the sector, and there’s a great deal happening on the public policy front.

2. The NaiKun Leadership Team is ‘Brawny’
The leadership team is solid, with proven track records and a wealth of experience – this ensures the viability of the project. Have a look through their roster – I am sure you will recognize a name or two. Company leaders have held senior leadership roles at ICBC, BC Transit, BC Hydro, Vancouver Airport Authority, Duke Energy, The BC Energy Council and Terasen.

3. Beyond “Green Power” to Sustainability
Offshore wind energy projects have the least impact on the environment. Beyond “green power” The NaiKun Wind project offers local benefits to the Haida people and Haida Gwaii including jobs, revenue, and a shared role in environmental stewardship for the project. The islands surrounding the project are the largest off the grid area in the province and they now burn diesel to generate electricity. The emissions from those generators are a real tragedy for such a pristine environment.

4. NaiKun Appears to ‘Have Collective Soul’
Amidst the hustle and bustle of pressing project deadlines they take time to honor their people. A good friend of mine served as a consultant to their team. Due to a very aggressive cancer this friend has become very ill and her time appears to be limited. The NaiKun team went far above and beyond what one would expect to assist this friend, her husband and young family in a time of need. That goes a long way with me.

So, based on what I know, Two Thumbs up for NaiKun.

Disclaimer: It may be that my criteria differs from yours, and to be true, I may be more guttural than the ‘average bear’ but nonetheless, I am officially ‘on the prowl’ to uncover some great places to work. On that note, if you feel you work for a great company I’d love to hear about it – peter [at] smartsavvy.ca (subject line: Places I Would Work).