Penny Power
Penny Power, Founder Ecademy
Show Appearance Info:
Penny Power was a guest on our June 4th, 2009 show “The Psychology of Social Networking.”
Personal Bio:
Excerpt from an interview with Penny Power by Mike Myatt of N2growth conducted in Summer 2006.
Q. Tell our readers a bit about your background?
I am 42, born in 1964, I have been married for 16 wonderful years, my husband and I work together, which is a dream come true. We have 3 children and live in the countryside in Southern England.
During my pre-children years I worked in the IT Industry as a Sales and Marketing Director. My childhood goal was to be in a vocational career, helping Cerebral Palsic children, but that was ruined by lack of qualifications, how ridiculous! My belief in life has always been about helping others and making each day better for those I come into contact with, I have learnt that this can be achieved in any environment, not just in the caring professions!
Q. What was the vision behind founding Ecademy?
In 1998, Thomas Power became a self employed worker, choosing to do so to focus on his passion toward the Internet. Thomas became a well known speaker and writer in Europe. Due to Thomas’ natural networking ability, he had thousands of people that became his advocates, and also needed his help in the exciting period of the Internet Boom. I suggested to Thomas on the 7th February 1998, whilst having lunch with all the children, that I start a place on the Internet where his contacts could all get to know one another, and he could share his network with others. It was a hobby, a vocation and a joy, at this time it was not a business idea! Thomas came up with the name Ecademy whilst on a flight to speak in the US.
Latest Book:
Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me
If you think simply having a presence in social media will help you grow your business, you are wrong. Online networks are the new model for creating connections, so you’d better start by ditching your old ways of thinking. Being online is not about the technology – it is about the people. Technology is just the enabler. Forming deep relationships and being part of a community where you get out what you put in, lies at the heart of understanding this developing medium.
Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me takes you on a journey into the online business world. In 1998, Penny Power founded the online business network Ecademy, which has today grown to a membership of more than a quarter of a million, spanning over 200 countries. 1998 was the year Amazon.co.uk started and five years before Facebook existed. There was no route-map for Ecademy to follow and no knowing how the online world would develop. Penny was simply driven by a belief that there must be a better way for business people to meet, connect and help one another solve problems and expand their businesses.
Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me will refresh your thinking and help you truly understand the business opportunities that exist within social media, and how best to exploit them. Whether you are a multinational or an owner-manager, developing your online brand in the right way is key to making the most of the new business environment.
Note: move your cursor over the book jacket and select to pre-order Know Me Like Me Follow Me and save up to 50% off the regular release date price.
Book Excerpt Interactive Viewer:
Media Bites:
Business TV Penny Power – collaborative businesses do better
