We have something new and exciting for you today on the Kumbuya blog. Our first ever community leader interview! Meet Terri, leader of Women- Owned Business and you will quickly see why we are so inspired by her and happy to have her as an influencer on Kumbuya!
Name: Terri
Location: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Web Designer
Community: Women-Owned Business
Tell us one interesting/unusual thing about yourself:
An interesting/unusual thing about myself? Like the time I… No. Wait. There’s no way I would want THAT carved in cyberspace and online for all of eternity! :-) Something safe to say online: About a Thousand Web Years ago (circa 1987), I was an Online Events Coordinator. My job was to book keynote speakers and authors for live Chat events. In addition to booking the events, I also had to manage/host the events and also train the speakers in the mechanics of a chat room. On average, I would book 300 events a month. When I left that job, I had more books than my local library and less hair than James Carville.
What brought you to Kumbuya?
I saw someone Tweeting about it, then decided to check it out. Sometimes I actually click on links I see in my Twitter feed.
Why did you choose to create a community centered around ”Women-Owned Business” ?
Well, there’s the obvious; I’m a woman and a business owner. Then there’s the challenge of this project. There are over 8 million Women-owned Businesses. I really want to see how many of these women-owned business can gather in one online community, and actually help each other succeed in our respective fields. It’s a “Sisterhood” thing. :-)
When did you start your community & how has it grown since then?
I started the community (and by the way, I like the word “community” better than “tribe”) back in January of this year. It’s been very slow-going. And, honestly, if not for Adam and his love of the Retweet, I probably wouldn’t have as many members as I do at the moment.
What is your favorite thing about Kumbuya?
Without a doubt, it’s the people behind the scenes. Thus far, I’ve only interacted with Adam and Samantha…mostly Adam (Master of The ReTweet!), but both clearly have a personal interest in the success of Kumbuya. Also, I love the way some of my community members truly care about helping others succeed in their business. It shows in the way they interact, or chime in whenever I post a request for help or assistance with a project I’m working on… or when I’m looking for a certain skill level to make a referral to one of my clients. I like being able to turn to my community (which is rapidly becoming a reliable source) for referrals for my clients
How do you think Kumbuya is different from other social media platforms?
Not having visited all of the various Communities on Kumbuya, I can’t really say how it’s different from other social media platforms. I can only compare the community I run with my Facebook and Twitter pages. One thing I’ve noticed about the Communities I do follow, and my own, is that people seem to be more “professional” (for lack of better word) in their interactions and comments. In addition, and again primarily based on what’s happening in my own community, it’s really nice not having to scroll through dozens of stupid cat photos, memes, and nonsensical chatter to find useful information.
What is one of your favorite posts in your community & why?
ALL of the posts in my community are my favorite! Whenever anyone joins my Community and posts to me and/or other members in the Community, it instantly becomes my favorite post. :-)
What do you hope to see in the future in your community?
8 Million Women-Owned Businesses, and the vast majority of the women actually communicating with each other and sharing their knowledge, tips, resources, guidance, referrals, etc.. :-)
What do you hope to see in the future on Kumbuya?
A way to reply to a specific comment/member, and personally welcome a new Member to your Tribe (@username). Also, email notifications on a daily basis; Not just when a product has been sold.
What does the word “community” mean to you?
From my point of view, “community” is not just a group of people living in the same neighborhood. Community is when people show that they care about the success and well-being of everyone in their community. It’s about respect, participation, and a “for the good of all” mindset.
