Social interactions with Google+
- Sep 28, 2011
Google recently hosted two of my social interactions: one was cosying up with 500 business leaders at a two day conference, and the other occurred online, just me and a lovely lady named Caroline. Thanks to social media, both experiences can be shared well beyond a conference center and my laptop.
My week started in Scottsdale, Arizona at the annual Google Zeitgeist, where we gathered to learn how great minds have been transforming their lives and others' with everything from pencils and handheld cameras to robots and social media - all coupled with sheer determination. Overall, I was impressed by how many people were passionately utilising technology and business skills to improve lives and the environment. My good friend Ray Chambers and I shared our personal stories about applying business skills and partnerships to the rewarding work of improving global health and the environment - but the audience and CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo just couldn't get enough of space travel technology.
The second social interaction was a chat powered by google+. Virgin was made for social media, as we're a rather chatty brand and enjoy talking with our customers and guests about what they like and how we can improve their experiences.
But nothing can replace the intimacy and trust built through a handshake, eye contact, and a pat on the back. So when Google's THINK Quarterly requested a phone interview, I suggested that I meet writer Caroline McCarthy on google+ hangout; at least we would have eye contact to help with the flow of dialogue. A few days later, the ever-so patient Caroline sat in her office in Chelsea, NYC and helped ease me through my first hangout whilst in my Necker Island office, which has since burned down. Here are the results of our hangout. What do you think? And who wants to "hangout" with me next?
