I’ve been tapped to support the Global Women’s Leadership Network for the NetSquared Conference. This is an organization that defines the nexus of my interests and experience. So it nudges me to frame my world in terms of those two spheres.
Women’s Sphere:
Women’s college grad; developed Women’s Connections – a center for transition and self-discovery – that won a grant for a mentoring program; served on boards for the Junior League, an academic institute for women’s education, and an AARP initiative on women and aging. I’ve worked at the HQ of the March of Dimes and Girl Scouts of the USA as chief learning officer for both organizations. In that capacity, I created executive education and career development programs and materials.
Technology Sphere:
Starting with some home-based experiments in my early teens, I have been fascinated with science and technology. That led to a BS in chemistry and work in pharmaceuticals. Time off for kids overlapped with the introduction of the desktop PC – bought an Apple IIe for them to do homework . . . and guess who was bitten by what bug. In 1992 I upgraded the PC and got a modem. Within months I audited an online course at UC Santa Cruz out of curiousity about distance learning. By 1997, I was leading my first online course development project. In 1999 I switched industries and starting working in software and services where e-learning and technical training were my primary focus. I started teaching grad school courses online, and contributed a chapter to the AMA Handbook of e-Learning. The structure and inflexibility of LMS’s challenged my notions of collaboration at work and in the classroom. Enter Web 2.0. I am now a consultant, fully engaged in fostering it’s philosophy and ways of work.
My grandfather used to marvel at the fact that he crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the first time at age 14 in a commercial vessel powered by sails . . . and at 80 flew from New York City to Providence, RI to visit his relatives. How will I measure the distance I would have travelled by the time I reach that age? Time will tell . . .
In the meantime, I am asking that you to contribute $21 at http://www.givemeaning.com/proposal/netsquared to a campaign that is attempting to raise $500 for each of the Net Squared projects. There is great work insured with your small investment!
I would like to see a continuation of the topic