A woman’s place in this industry has been heavy on my mind lately. First, there was that whole Playboy thing that so many people freaked out about, then this odd occurrence at the TechCrunch party (more funny in its textbook “what-you-don’t-say” quality than truly offensive) and the most recent visit to the Valley from the girl no one can agree on: Miss Julia Allison. As you know from reading this blog, I like Julia. Is she any kind of serious tech or business journalist? No. But she’s not trying to be. After having many a late night conversation with her about business and brand, I can say she’s not just a fluke or a pretty face or a girl who had her career bestowed upon her by Nick Denton’s magic wand. She’s a savvy business woman and she’s learned a lot in the last few years. I had her come by TechTicker to share her thoughts on why companies shouldn’t be afraid to brand employees. Believe it or not, it’s not too different from the advice Charlene Li gives companies in Groundswell.
I get a lot of grief for being friends with Julia. But you know what? People also probably get grief for being friends with me. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my life on the Internet it’s not to believe everything you read about people, but to meet them and judge for yourself.
(Business Week columnist / Yahoo Tech Ticker journalist Sarah Lacy)
