Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s Twitterview with my guest @Sara_G_N_Kerr. Lets get started!
Sara: Thanks, Joel, I’m delighted to be here.
Q – #1 So @Sara_G_N_Kerr, share with us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, attend school and what was your 1st adult job?
Sara: I studied French Lit and Econ at the U of MN which led me to selling wine at Haskell’s the @TheWinePeople
From there I went into Intl Marketing at the former #NWA and now teach @skate and do marketing for @goodgroundpress
Q – #2 So what got you interested in marketing and then using social media?
Sara: I’ve always loved marketing, so to me, social media is a fun, dynamic tool to add to the mix
Plus social media is fast, creative, and quantifiable.
One of the things I love about social media is that it “evens the playing field” better than other tools when it comes to non-profits
The same applies to small vs large businesses.
Q – #3 Did you have any mentors that helped you, along with your schooling, along the way?
Sara: Yes and no – I had a brilliant Frech prof in college, but by the time I was in grad school I didn’t.
I wish I had @UofStThomasMN, but my 1st masters (intl mgnt) was before the Opus school. My class didn’t have that #cohort experience.
However, I do now with the Dean of School of Bus. & Leadership @stkate, Paula King and my chair, Mary Henderson.
Q – #4 Since #sm as it’s used today wasn’t taught in school, how have you learned and adapted to use it effectively?
Sara: I think all marketers / biz people have to stay up to date. It was pretty hard to NOT notice #SM 5 years ago.
HOW is really using #sm (which is how I teach it, too), reading, analyzing and #playing
Philosophically, I think experimentation is incredibly powerful — teaching you how to do something and what the limitations are.
Q – #5 Are there any Thought Leaders or people in the industry that you’ve benefited from following and connecting with?
Sara: I suppose you could say that whom I follow here, on Twitter all influence me. #jectv (Vague, I know)
My #ahah moment occurred when I read @dmscott first book. Otherwise, I follow the #usualsuspects for insight.
My favorite blog du jour is @tboard an innovative #StPaul realtor with the most perfect real estate blog
I love to follow new uses of current #SM such as the #unsummit or bar classes.
Q – #6 Lets learn more about YOU. Favorite(s): restaurant, store, comfort food, color, recent book/blog and TC’s neighborhood.
Sara: I’m #ADHD which means I make mischief, mayhem, messes, and meals.
I LOVE #stpaul and will never live anywhere else. I am a total wine geek, so maybe if I had the chance I’d own a vineyard #Burgundy.
For gifts I love @grandhand and @sciencemuseummn
Our family comfort food is linguine and clam sauce, however I always tweek my mother’s recipe.
Going out, if a restaurant serves #mussels, my husband and I will be there! @meritage_stpaul and W.A. Frost
Oh, and I do love #minneapolis, too. I could not live without @FirstAve (i was a DJ in college, too)
Last one: interestingly I’m not at all into the #momblog phenomenon
Q – #7 You mentioned that you LOVE St. Paul. What are your thoughts on Mpls, and should they both be called Twin Cities?
Sara: Siblings at the very least, but #twin is more marketable. Bickering children that remind me of my sons.
When I blog http://t.co/Gbhqx4B (+ 5 others) I write more about #stpaul only because I bike everywhere and I have to drive to #mpls
Q – #8 So for your own growth, personal or professional, what do you hope to accomplish in the next year or two?
Sara: Personally, I’m looking into a PhD program at the U of MN #jectv Either http://cscl.umn.edu/ Cultural Studies / Comp Lit or Comm.
I’m speaking here http://www.mmaglobal.org/ in Sept about teaching #SM in college
Goals: apply to school, publish another paper, teach better and make more messes with my kids
Q – #9 Nice opportunity! So to close today, what advice would you share with students looking to get into your field?
Sara: To take risks and make mistakes AND always use spell check.
2nd, volunteering with an organization you care deeply about often presents opportunities to learn and apply #SM in IRW.
Thanks Joel, this was really fun!
@JoelECarlson: Thank you for sharing some of your thoughts and your time today on #jectv. Have a great week! :)