Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!
Today, I am celebrating my 13 most inspiring moments from the BlogHer conference I attended on July 26 and 27 in Chicago, Illinois. Check out the photos below. Most are from the official BlogHer photo gallery. I included a few of my own courtesy of my Samsung smartphone!
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #1 – Attending the opening breakfast keynote on July 26 and hearing BlogHer co-founders Elisa Camahort Page, Jory Des Jardins, and Lisa Stone share information about the BlogHer community. Click here to watch the video. Here’s what I learned from the opening keynote.
- Over the past four years, the BlogHer Publishing Network paid $25 million to 5,000 women and men who write their own blogs for the Network. They represent a major industry and economy of their own!
- Based on the conference attendees survey, 57% attendees write one blog, 30% write two to four blogs, and 10% are new to blogging. Life is the most popular topic attendees blog about. Fifty-four percent of attendees came to BlogHer to meet bloggers they read face-to-face. Forty-six percent attended the conference to learn how to hone their blogging strategy. Developing skills was the major goal for 40% of the attendees.
I HEART DATA! That’s what makes me an Internet Geek!
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #2 – Watching Queen Latifah host the Voices of the Year (the BlogHer “Oscars”). Click here to watch the Queen in action and the amazing bloggers who read their blog posts during the Voices of the Year. I love seeing the Queen in royal form! She has always been a personal shero ever since the 1990s. I love her movies, music, television shows, and COVERGIRL Queen lipstick collection (today I am wearing her Into the Red shade).
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #3 – Seeing my digital sister Thien-Kim Lam read her Voices of the Year blog post entitled “I’m Tired of Defending My Nationality.” Kim rocked my soul with her powerful words about being an American. Watch her video.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #4 – Listening to my digital sister Arnebya Herndon (my BlogHer 12 roomie) introduce the Voices of the Year speakers for the Opt-Ed segment. Arnebya is the consummate speaker and writer. She knows how to rock a mic with fabulous style (love her dress!).
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #5: Hearing my digital sister Kelly Wickam share her blog post, “Demand the Supply.” Kelly started by asking the audience to photo bomb her. And they did because she was wearing a fierce dress! Go Kelly Go! Her blog post discussed her early days as a teenage mother and the power of using the word “Unacceptable.” Kelly gave us all permission to use our voices to call out injustice and inappropriate behavior! Click here to watch her video.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #6 – Listening to the leadership six-word memoirs and questions posed by the women who attended my “What Type of Social Media Leader Are You?” sesssions. They were so authentic and thought-provoking. Click here to read the key takeaways from the session.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #7 – Co-hosting the Multi-Culti Party with my digital sisters Pauline Campos and Dwana De La Cerna, and meeting all of the fabulous BlogHer community members on July 26. We had a great time chatting, taking photos, listening to good music, sipping the “Melting Pot” drink Pauline created, and eating tasty “multi culti” food.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #8 – Hearing my digital sister Majora Carter talk about her work with the Majora Carter Consulting Group and Startup: South Bronx, and how she maintains a “Just Do It” attitude in her work during the “Makers and Creators” luncheon keynote on July 27. Click here to watch the keynote address.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #9 – Watching Lourds Lane, creator of the 2013 Broadway-bound original musical, CHIX 6, perform during the keynote luncheon on July 27. I first discovered Lane during the TEDxWomen series held on December 1, 2012. Her TEDx talk and performance touched my soul in a very deep way and reminded me how important it is to find my inner superhero by embracing my imperfections and vulnerability. She rocks the world with her message of empowering women and girls through music and song.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #10 – Serving as an AARP blogger ambassador and working with the AARP team and Kitchen Cabinet bloggers at the AARP booth. I was able to share information about AARP’s caregiving, Decide.Create.Share long-term planning, and Life Reimagined campaigns with many BlogHer attendees. Click here to read my blog post about my AARP BlogHer experience.
Hanging with Patia Braithwaite & Rae Mathis
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #11 – Making new friends, hanging out with current friends, and having great conversations throughout the conference.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #12 – Listening to BlogHer co-founder Lisa Stone interview Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg about her book, Lean In and LeanIn.org. Click here to read my “Lean In” BlogHer Moment blog post.
BlogHer 13 Inspiring Moment #13 – Receiving two mini styling sessions from the True Fashionista Now founder Tyrone Farley, my digital brother. I ADORE his style and blog! Check out TrueFashionistaNow.com’s blog post featuring some of BlogHer 13′s best fashion conference moments.
If you attended BlogHer 13, what were your most inspiring moments?
Ananda Leeke 
I love looking through a post that will make people think.
Also, thank you for permitting me to comment!