Penelope Trunk at Accelerate Madison Event
I joined Accelerate Madison on Wednesday, May 13 because I wanted to go see Madison’s most famous blogger, Penelope Trunk, speak at their event that evening. I thought maybe I would get to meet her, or to say something memorable and witty to an attendee who would remember my name and be compelled to offer me my dream job.
I did not have to be a member of Accelerate Madison to attend the event, but the entry fee for non-members was $35. Since a friend and I both wanted to go, I figured I would join. Then both of us could participate for “free” and I would be instantly getting $70 back on my $185 yearly membership fee. Plus, when there’s an all-inclusive, deluxe way to do something, that’s how I tend to do it. (For this reason, my wife and I established a 3-day waiting period before I am allowed to set foot into a golf equipment store.)
Two notable things happened at this event: I did get to meet Penelope Trunk and the group of people in attendance got to exhibit their inexperience with social networking.
As my friend and I stepped into the elevator at the Fluno Center, he suggested I hold the door for the woman heading across the parking garage. I held the door, and as the woman approached, I half-whispered to my friend, “I think that’s Penelope Trunk! I mean, I’m not sure, since I only know her face from the picture on her blog, but it really looks like her! What do you think we should….” By then, time had run out to talk about the situation. She boarded the elevator and I suddenly and unexpectedly found myself standing right next to our famous, esteemed, very tall speaker for the evening.
And I am not afraid to admit I found myself more than a little bit star-struck!
Like a gazillion other people, I read her blog, and since her posts convey so much about her, I was overcome by the same self-conscious feeling you get when a person you’ve been innocently observing suddenly meets your eye. Not only that, but she is also so accomplished, she has chosen to run her latest startup here in Madison, and she was the speaker that evening – I felt a lump growing in my throat!
But wait! I’m going to business school, dammit! I am getting an MBA! I have an elevator pitch! I’m going to lay it on her and blow her mind!
But wait. Doesn’t she write extensively in her blog about how going to graduate school – especially for business – can be a fool’s errand?
But wait! I disagree with her when she writes things like that!
But wait. It’s just a short elevator ride. Better say something, quick.
“We’re here to see you speak tonight,” I say, nodding and smiling. Penelope takes over, sparing me further deliberation about how best to handle the situation. She ably guides my friend and me through a round of introductions and even asks us about what we do. We discover she is familiar with the services of the company I work for. I try to say something funny and self-deprecating. Then we’re suddenly in the lobby reception area of the Fluno Center. It’s time for her to move on and have the other 200 people there try to talk to her.
Later that evening, her talk about BUILDING ONLINE COMMUNITIES & COMPANIES through SOCIAL MEDIA was on-target, her delivery enthusiastic yet casual. At the conclusion of her talk, she took questions from the audience; most of them apparently still regard social networking as charming, alluring, and mysterious. Penelope found herself teaching an impromptu session of Social Media 100.
Her most profound statement came at the end of the Q&A session – in which Penelope revealed that in spite of having been running her company in Madison for three years, she had never heard of Accelerate Madison until recently. I hope the audience understood the relevance of her comment, especially at a talk about BUILDING ONLINE COMMUNITIES & COMPANIES through SOCIAL MEDIA.
Shad finds high-value intersections between business strategy and information technology. He currently resides in the Madison, WI area.
4 Responses to “Penelope Trunk at Accelerate Madison Event”
Haha, very nice details, I almost felt like I was there :) I am sad because I had to miss the talk and it sounds like it was very useful.
Thanks, Farhan! As the founder of a social media shopping company, your attendance would have benefited everyone since you could have shared some of your experiences. I also missed having you there on a personal level – you are just too busy these days!
Great post, Shad. It’s great to see some momentum around the accelerate madison community, I hope it continues.
Personally, I found it most interesting that she feels that no one entity in an organization “controls” social media. Better to find the people with passion about the product or service and give them free reign.
Thanks, Mark – your comment and the friendliness of the rest of the Accelerate Madison community have made me really happy I joined.
I like your point about dissemination of control because it provides authenticity to the “people with passion” about the product or service.
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