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Leadership Austin Recruiting Events

During the Essential Class recruiting season, Leadership Austin is hosting a number of receptions at which potential applicants can learn more about the program, speak to past participants and Leadership Austin Board members about their experiences, and get guidance on the application process. RSVP to a recruiting event below, or find additional program information in the Class of 2013 Recruiting Packet.

Wednesday, May 9

5:30 - 7:00 pm
National Instruments (11500 North Mopac)
RSVP for May 9

Wednesday, May 23

5:30 - 7:00 pm
Catellus at Mueller (4550 Mueller Blvd)
RSVP for May 23

Tuesday, June 5

5:30 - 7:00 pm
Whole Foods Downtown (525 North Lamar Blvd)
RSVP for June 5

Getting Connected Business Resource Fair (4/12/2012) Save the date!

This is a unique opportunity to meet, network, and learn from local organizations that assist business owners. Whether starting out or looking to expand your existing business, Getting Connected is a great opportunity! Exhibitors will include non-profit organizations, government programs and agencies, area chambers of commerce, and community development corporations whose mission is to help business owners succeed.

Date: April 12, 2012

Time:  3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location:  Palmer Event Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX
Fee:  Free
For Information:   512-974-7800   www.austinsmallbiz.com 

2012 Dell Social Innovation Challenge

Want to change the world? Start here.

The 2012 Dell Social Innovation Challenge is looking for big ideas from students who want to change the world! The Challenge is open to university students worldwide, in any discipline, at any level of study. Students can compete for $140,000 in cash prizes and one-of-a-kind mentorships and networking opportunities. 

Student teams that want to compete in our Grand Prize Awards must complete their project pages by February 13, 2012 to be eligible for the $50,000 Grand Prize. Projects are also eligible to win one of 17 People’s Choice Awards, chosen by public votes.

Visit DellChallenge.org today to post projects, join university groups, and vote for your favorite social innovation ideas!

Panel Discussion on the Future of Mobile

Event Information
Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Time: 6:00 - 9:00PM
Location: AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, 1900 University Avenue at MLK/19th, Austin, TX 78705

Registration Fees (which include refreshments & garage parking)
Pre-registration: $25.00 (Deadline to pre-register: November 11th at 5:00 PM)
Walk-Up registration: $30.00 (space permitting)
Student pre-registration: $5.00 (with a valid student ID)
Student walk-up registration: $10.00 (with a valid student ID)

Background and Panel Discussion
Over the last few years, the mobile industry has emerged and evolved in ways none of us could have imagined a decade ago. Just as the web opened up countless opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation, so too has the mobile industry. From hardware to connectivity to applications, mobile is increasingly becoming the platform that we rely on for work, play and everything in between.This panel discussion will feature different Austin technology professionals with unique perspectives on mobile trends and what’s in store for us as innovation continues in this space at a breakneck pace. Panelists will present perspectives on application development, mobile commerce, mobile investors and investment, mobile gaming and more. We’ll look at critical innovations that have shaped this industry, challenges that still need to be overcome and opportunities. We’ll also explore whether Austin has the right combination of creative genius, technical talent, entrepreneurial know-how, and access to capital to contribute in a meaningful way to the evolution of the mobile space.

Moderator
Josh Jones-Dilworth, Founder and CEO of Jones-Dilworth, Daily Dot and Totem, and Slashy
The founder and CEO of Jones-Dilworth (and the Daily Dot and Totem and Slashly), Josh helps bring early stage start-up technology companies to market. Previously a leading member of Porter Novelli’s digital practice, he's a prolific blogger (on Mashable's 'Top Bloggers' list and Robert Scoble's 'Top Tech Blogger/Friendfeed/Social Media List') and social media expert with a tremendous amount of knowledge of and understanding of the changing landscapes in the mobile industry. He's a go-to source for everyone from the Associated Press to Mashable, and he is currently an advisor to Buzzstream, MakeMeSustainable, Startup District, Ice Cream Man, GoTime, Plerts, and the SXSWi Accelerator.

Panelists
John Arrow, CEO of Mutual Mobile
John Arrow is a veteran of entrepreneurship with a passion for harnessing disruptive and emerging technologies. His ability to combine market vision with methodical execution has propelled Mutual Mobile, Inc. to become the world’s largest and most called-upon mobile consulting company. Over the last ten years, John founded successful businesses in the online payment processing industry and the consumer and enterprise software spaces. He also created one of the first site targeted PPC advertising networks. An adventurer and an innovator, John founded Mutual Mobile with the vision to unite the best minds in emerging technologies to pursue world changing endeavors.

Rudy Garza, Partner at G-51 Ventures
Rudy started G-51 Capital in 1996 and has served as an investor and board member for >20 companies, selling many to publicly traded acquirers including SAP, ADP, Prudential, and Cisco. Rudy has demonstrated success in seed-stage business identification and development across the country, leading to the firm’s nationally ranked return performance. He is also an active leader in the venture community. Rudy received his MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and his BBA from St. Edwards University. He serves as Chairman of the Board of the University of Texas Alumni Association and is a lifetime honorary trustee of the Dell Children’s Medical Center Foundation.

Dave Sikora, CEO of Digby
David founded Digby in 2006 with a goal to accelerate the convergence of mobility and electronic commerce. A veteran of the software industry, he was previously CEO of several successful public and venture-backed private companies during his 25 year business career. He has served as the CEO of Pervasive Software (NASDAQ: PVSW), Question Technologies, Ventix Systems, and Forefront Group (NASDAQ: FFGI, acquired by NASDAQ: SKIL). He has also served on the boards of several companies, including TippingPoint Technologies, Motive, AG Tech, ClearOrbit, Troux Technologies, and Powered, Inc. Sikora has an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

Hoan Vu, CTO of Digital Harmony Games
Hoan is a software systems engineer with a passion for gaming. Previously, he co-founded two GPS telematics companies in which he developed and integrated systems that network remote devices via cellular networks. Fearless and innovative, he has a knack for delivering solutions through conventional and innovative approaches. Hoan oversees Digital Harmony's revolutionary new network architecture called "Harmony" that provides a 'Harmonious' cross-platform environment where iOS, Android, and Browser players can play together in one world in real time.

Register - https://ricemba.wufoo.com/forms/panel-discussion-on-the-future-of-mobile/

Negative Networking: and Early Warning System

Negative Networking:

An Early Warning System

by Jan Triplett, Ph.D.

CEO, Business Success Center

Networking is about both giving and taking. It is not, however, only to be used to provide positive information to your network or those you want to add to your network. There really is something that I call “Negative Networking”. I have seen many people use it very effectively, even if they did not have a name for it.

To improve your Networking Success Ratio, you should also be on the lookout for negative information. This consists of any information that can warn you and your network of what or whom to avoid. It is not gossip. It is an "early warning system" that allows you and them to avoid costly mistakes of time, effort and sometimes money.

The members of your network should be on alert, too. If they aren’t this tells you something. Either they are not aware of the value of this to you or they don’t want to or think it’s right. This is a great way to help you evaluate how good your network is.

Negative Networking warned me about a potential client who does not pay his bills; a hotel that turns the lights out on meetings when the hotel personnel feel it is time for them to leave; and a vendor who can't deliver what he promises.

Other examples of Negative Networking might include telling people in your network about:

• A restaurant with bad service or food;

• A company which mistreats its employees or vendors;

or

• Someone who is not a "networker", but is just out for what he or she can get.

Without this information, you could ruin your meeting with a client or a "special someone" by taking them to that restaurant. If you took a job with that firm, you might pass up a job with a better company. If you provided goods or services to them, you might not get paid. All of us get "used" by others sometimes. If you know what to expect ahead of time, you can decide how much time and effort you want to give someone who won't "give" you anything in return.

What are some examples of Negative Networking that have helped you? What have you done to protect your network? Can you think of examples of Negative Networking that would benefit your network or individuals in those networks now?

It’s good to keep a current “Alert” list to know what to watch out for and to encourage members of your networks to do so, too. This is best if it’s based on your knowledge of their goals and their knowledge of yours.

(from A Networker’s Guide to Success, 3^rd Edition, by Jan Triplett)

Gary Hoover classes etc.

Hi Bootstrappers,
(I am one of us now, my 5th startup the Hoover Academy is my first bootstrap!)
I do not want to burden the main email list with promotions, so if you want to be alerted to my upcoming classes, please email me at garyhoov@msn.com and I will add you to my mailing list.
I just don't want to miss anyone who might benefit from my 10-week course in entrepreneurial thinking (next class starts early September, 2011), my new 4-hour class for high school and other students, my new video blog, or my pending entrepreneurial very small group tours to interesting places (likely starting with Mexico City). Details on current programs show up at my blog and website, hooversworld.com.
Thanks for all your support,
Gary

The People Side of Engineering

Product development and design projects are among the most difficult projects to successfully manage. The knowledge workers on these teams are subjected to enormous stress and often the projects still miss their goals. Doug Russell will share his successful approach, used in three corporations, to lead knowledge worker teams to success while not burning the team out (thus allowing them to do “well work”). Doug peppers his talk with real-world stories and anecdotes and presents the information in an interactive and high energy way. Doug will present insights from his recent book, “Succeeding the in Project Management Jungle: How to Manage the People Side of Projects.”

Also, the Harvard Business Review published a timely article, “Why Men Still Get More Promotions than Women,” discussing the ideas of “mentorship” and “sponsorship.” Would your organization be interested in piloting a program that has been shown to be successful in helping more women advance their careers? Leslie Martinich and Donna Imam will announce plans for a new initiative for IEEE Women in Engineering.

Time: Thursday June 9, 6-8:30

Location: El Gallo, 2910 S. Congress.

Register here