Gabrielle Laine-Peters is a digital and social media consultant with over 15 years of experience in marketing, PR and advertising. She is a 9/11 survivor and a New York City turned London expert. Gabrielle tells us about the benefits of being a digital and social media professional, her reasons to unfollow a person, three websites worth checking out today and more.
1. In 140 characters, tell us about you:
Curious, sassy, savvy, fun, compassionate, connector, enabler – 9/11 survivor & dirty vodka martini drinker. Lover of debate & spacegeek.
2. How do you use your digital and social media expertise to benefit/help others to change the world?
Change the world is such a big statement – it is all about small steps for me, building solid, organic networks. Social is all about the layers of connections and interactions. I have helped to build non-profit communities online that have reached out to help, inform and change lives- that is big.
3. When has social media helped you achieve something great?
Social media has helped me build a career in a sector that didn’t even exist 10 years ago, doing a job that didn’t exist 3 years ago. It’s exciting, new and challenging every day. On a personal note being active on twitter got me to Kennedy Space Centre, FL to watch the final launch of the Space Shuttle – this is turn lead me to consultancy work with NASA. That counts as a great achievement in my book.
4. What makes you unfollow or unlike somebody?
People who broadcast about themselves be that through a blog/product/cause with no other conversation. Passion is good, selfish passion is a turn-off.
5. If you could have a topic trend on twitter what would it be and why?
#WaterPoverty – Because it is going to be critical, bigger that the ‘Oil Crisis’ could ever be.
6. What does influence mean to you?
Influence is the ability to inspire action and reaction. In social media it’s not about the number of followers or likes (these numbers are the new ‘penis envy’ – yes I said it!), these can be gamed and purchased.
7. Three links you recommend highly are:
a) For all things internet and tech this is one of the best online – TheNextWeb
b) A brilliant social media curating tool – Storify
c) If you work across time zones this is great and simple – WorldTimeBuddy
8. If you were an animal, what would you be?
A monkey – inquisitive, intelligent, social and mischievous!
Follow GabrielleNYC on twitter to stay updated on politics, social media and the latest in technology.