My official thoughts on the Royal Wedding

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Inspiring Women Who Drive Results #suwn

Tonight was inspiring. I attended an event, thanks to Miss Andrea Hong, titled "Game Changers: Women Who Drive Results | A Step Up Panel Discussion" - Step Up is a national non-profit membership organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls. It reminded me a lot of what Mattel and Barbie do with her 10 Women to Watch program as the main goal is mentorship and inspiration for girls helping them set their lives up for success.

It truly was inspiring. Why? Because the women on the panel were real and talked about things that many career focused women talk about. It wasn't a complaint session about women in the workplace, but rather a time to talk about what really matters and how they overcame issues to become the successful women they are today. To be honest, I'm usually skeptical of events like these but this one really got me excited and my head is running with ideas now.

I guess it's also hard to not leave inspired when you look at the list of panelists.

• Lesley Jane Seymour, Editor-in-Chief of More Magazine
• Lisa Garcia Quiroz, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Time Warner Inc.
• Julia Goldin, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer of Revlon
• Lisa Hsia, Executive Vice President, Bravo Digital Media (who by the way grew up with a Tiger Mom and now raises her kids much more relaxed)
• Regina (“Regi”) Meredith-Carpeni, Chief Operating Officer for Global Markets/Capital Markets, Bank of NY Mellon
• Mollie Spilman, Senior Vice President, Global B2B Marketing, Yahoo

Their titles and bios say enough of the position they have within these powerful establishments, but I really felt as though I was in a room with my girlfriends just talking about life and careers. They gave some great advice (and hilarious soundbites)

Here are some highlights:

• On taking risks: You dot have to be an expert or stay where you are. To move up: raise your hand to do something new, it helps you move up the ladder. Listen to what's going on around you, find the experts and execute. Women who are successful take risks, you have to to be noticed.
• On family: Family is a manageable risk. Many women get concerned sometimes to the fact that one day your husband will become your husband rather than you being his wife based on the success of one's career path. This one really stuck with me. Amidst a lot of discussions lately on family and women entrepreneurs leaving work to raise a child or a man's concern that the new mother may not be as involved, the opposite was looked at here. When does that point happen, or even that DISCUSSION happen when the woman makes more money than the husband and you are the lead in the relationship. I have a feeling all of these women have a husband, vs. being a wife.
• We are born w two fears- loud noises and falling down. Don't worry about the rest. So true.
• There is a difference between being successful and doing a good job. Everything comes around full circle - always do a good job. You never know who you will work with next.
• Your mental health is more important than work. Remember to balance.
• Women care more about the content of their jobs than what the next job is. Energy and passion and creating great teams is a generalization of women and we can use it to our advantage.
• Older and established women should start mentoring to younger women NOW before they get frustrated and leave. Set a good example within your organization so women can grow and stay motivated.
• Schedule me time. Many of the women turn to sports. Some still need to work on it. It seems as though the balance is a struggle across the board for some.
• Wine can cure bad days.

The event was great and I'm planning on attending many more in the future. More info can be found here.

Weight Watchers: Making Men look at Weight Loss like Fantasy Football

The new ad for Weight Watchers (Watch it here as the embedding is being pain) , targeted at men, has surfaced. I like it. Whereas the woman's focus has been under the umbrella of spokesperson Jennifer "holy crap does she look good" Hudson, the company has now upped its game in reaching the "dude" who needs to lose a few lbs but doesn't want to say it to his buddies.

While it may be a BIT super targeted (yes men cook on the grill and drink beer. easy) it does a great job of making weight loss feel "cool" or mainstream in the sense that everyone should be healthy and it shouldn't matter what your friends think. It also brings in the "bro" type voice making fun of the system a bit.

What do you think?

Where We're Going: e-commerce & the Facebook Open Graph

I attended an event tonight for a company I've known for almost 2 years now. Matt Sunbulli and his team at Social Amp hosted "Beyond "Like": Unlocking ROI with the Open Graph." These guys have tapped into something that will change e-commerce and and the social interactions that are a part of it. Using the power of Facebook, and the real power that is the people on the network, they've focused on ways that major brands in the e-commerce space can add a social element to shopping, a way to drive sales in a new way and bring in the interactions we have every day online into the purchase process.

With panelists including clients 1-800 Flowers, Forbes and Facebook itself, the panel lead by recent investor Esther Dyson (and also joined by Social Amp's discussed how our behavior as humans to use Facebook for. The 1-800 Flowers example is one of my favorites. Add the Social Amp platform to the flower company's website. Through one authorization of the Facebook Open Graph platform, you now have an experience other consumers do not. Users could crowd source Gift Notes from global shoppers and friends, and browse friends birthdays on site for gift recommendations. It's like that extra kick in the butt reminder to send your mom a gift when Mother's Day sneaks up on you.

I've been thinking about this for awhile now. (I guess I should as it's part of my job, huh?)

While brands over the past few years have focused on building a larger fan base within the facebook.com site, we talked tonight about how the more power is going to be when we bring the Facebook experience to the user's site. I couldn't agree more. Think of it this way. Some e-commerce brands who have yet to launch on Facebook (and there are a bunch) have maybe 20-50,000 fans, some active, most probably not. But their own company website has visitors and users upwards of 7 figures who come to purchase on a fairly decent basis. Why not go where the people are and bring a familiar, and useful experience to them?

Think of how many times you ask your friends for opinions on purchase behavior on Facebook.

• Travel: "I'm going on a vacation. Any recommendations on places to stay in Mexico?
• Clothing: "Looking for a dress for an upcoming black tie wedding. Any suggestions on places to start?"
• Restaurants: "In search of a restaurant suggestion in Union Square. Parents are coming into town."

And these are three Facebook posts I've seen from friends in the past week. How about if brands could somehow insert themselves and be part of those thoughts around those upcoming purchases.

They can do this by creating the social experience on their own site and include their branding in those above questions.

Keep an eye on Social Amp and this growing trend. This also isn't the only way you can use the Open Graph platform, but it's just a sample of an important model around it.

I choreograph my personal story.

I LOVE this ad for SELF magazine and the last line. As seen on the back page of AdWeek. Inspirational start to the day.

It's a Shoe Store...it's the Real World House..it's AN APARTMENT?!

I am jealous of this. I want to live here. Someone buy it for me. It's only $45 million dollars. All images courtesy of Curbed. Full slideshow of the apartment here.

REAL MEN KNOW HOW TO USE AN IRON (featuring Edward Norton)

Interesting spot from Demi and Ashton to get the word out about anti-child-trafficking. Also, does anyone else want a grilled cheese?

Broadway: The House of Blue Leaves

Just saw this tonight. Wow. What an amazing show. If Edie Falco doesn't get nominated/win a Tony than I don't understand what they judge. Truly amazing. Ben Stiller was great as well and it's nice to see him in something that doesn't end in Focker.

The story of a man and his sick wife amidst the day that the Pope comes into New York during the Vietnam era. Chaos, madness, love, tragedy ensue all in one day through a comedic voice (laugh out loud through the entire show actually)

The show officially begins April 25th. Grab tickets now.

My neighborhood

I live in Hells Kitchen. Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River. Not one of the most enviable of neighborhoods to all my friends who live within the east village/LES/Williamsburg circuit, but hey I like it. I live in a high rise building with a doorman and a gym and a "deck" overlooking the Port Authority that I sometimes invite my friends over to. My neighborhood is filled with everyone as New York is but you'll also find a number of Broadway actors wandering around with Broadway one block away and of courses tourists overflowing from Times Square (although to be honest, they usually don't make it past 8th Avenue)

The restaurants are mainly italian style with many pre-theater price options. Puttanesca is AMAZING italian. Ajisai is fab for sushi. 5 Napkin Burger is known for being great. West Bank Cafe (trivia: Bruce Willis used to bartend here) is the perfect neighborhood spot with the Laurie Beechman theater below. Stay late night and see a flood of Broadway actors come in as well as the house playwright Mr. Lewis Black himself. Also--sit at the bar and drink wine (they keep it coming) and listen to some of the actors that live in the apartment building above talk about their week.

The neighborhood is where West Side Story happened. Many famous actors and entertainers have resided there, including Bob Hope, James Dean, Madonna, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Alicia Keys, John Michael Bolger, and Sylvester Stallone.

As of lately many new spots have popped up trying to attract a edgier/younger crowd. Reunion is fun. Southern Hospitality is good for my BBQ friends. Ember Room, the new Todd English place, has pork so that means I can sway about 96% of my friends to come join me for dinner there.

The neighborhood has charm but I've never really looked at the history of it. Lately I've just been fascinated by NY history. Pre-Giuliani. Yes, the time when transvestites and porn shops ruled the streets. And I just recently learned of the great history of the building I walk by every day. Manhattan Plaza. Filled with famous past of actors (Larry David!) actresses (Angela Landsbury!) singers, dancers...you name it. A documentary about the building is set to come out this year. Watch the trailer on the site.

I'm hoping it will be a huge throwback to the era of the city that is somewhat forgotten amongst the skyscrapers and clean streets we now walk through every day. I wouldn't change New York one bit---but damn would I have loved to live back then for at least a day to see it.

The BBDO SXSW debrief

Finally, the BBDO SXSW debrief
Originally uploaded by cstoller

Gave a recap to the BBDO NY office on the many joys of SXSW. Filled with photos of furries and GroupMe screenshots.