In this podcast, Marie Hattar, Cisco’s vice president of network and security systems solutions and a social media devotee, talks about some of the company’s key social media initiatives and the benefits they provide; the challenge of dealing with the security issue that surrounds social media; the role of the almost-forgotten Second Life concept; and the types of social media products the company is developing for the marketplace.

Consumer products companies such as Procter & Gamble aren’t the only ones reaping the benefit of social media. A world leader in networking, Cisco Systems isn’t resting on its laurel when it comes to Web 2.0 tools and technologies, especially social media. The company is integrating social media with customer and partner communications. This approach includes using Facebook to leverage the AXP developer Contest and other groups to grow new communities.

For example, the company is also linking Cisco Twitter followers with Facebook, as well as communicating through blogs (Cisco Geeks), cross-promoting social media sites on invitation, banner ads, etc., outreach through YouTube for User/Partner/Sales submitted segments, communications through the LinkedIn Cisco professionals Group, and more. One of the more interesting things Cisco has recently done is launching The Realm, a multi-dimensional, animated webisode campaign that consists of super hero security characters and villains that Cisco developed with well-known Marvel Comics illustrator Mike Mayhew. The characters are linked to real-life Cisco engineers, as well as its products, but uses entertainment to appeal to the Web 2.0 crowd.

Bio
Marie Hattar brings more than 18 years of industry experience to her role as vice president of network systems and security systems solutions at Cisco. Under Hattar’s guidance, her organization creates and markets innovative routing, switching and security solutions focused on enterprise and mid-market organizations.

She has been instrumental in building security and network architectures for leading Fortune 500 companies. An industry expert in data communications, convergence, and security, Hattar was previously chair of the Broadband Content Delivery Forum and is co-author of IPServices at the Network Edge (Addison-Wesley). She holds a master’s degree in business administration in marketing from York University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto.

Resources
Fierce CIOs - Study Highlights Security Disconnect
Cisco: Networking is hot again - InternetNew.com
Cisco Blogs - Marie Hattar

Production Credits
Elizabeth Ferrarini, Executive Producer
Tom Parish, Host and Audio Producer
Audio Editing by Doug Marcis

Despite the downturn in the economy, some financial services companies are holding their own and hiring people, especially in areas such as IT. Genworth Financial is one of those companies. Genworth Financial has more than $103 billion in assets and 15 million customers worldwide. Genworth has earned the highest company ratings in its industry. It is a leader in long-term care insurance and annuities.

Christina Hollingsworth will be the first one to tell you that IT resides at the core of Genworth Financial's business operations. As corporate IT director at Genworth Financial, she oversees the strategy, planning, and execution of the company's enterprise finance technology acquisition and integration. Hollingsworth has earned a stellar reputation for leading global teams and initiatives and partnering with multiple suppliers.

Like many IT executives, Hollingsworth has to be sure that she has a well-stocked pool of qualified personnel who are not only technically savvy but can lead IT projects. She says, "In the past, IT professionals have been very good about executing on initiatives, or basically carrying out what they were told to do. Today, things have changed. Given the speed at which technology is evolving, we need people who can develop strategy based upon trends in the industry, can translate those trends into action, and then can execute on those initiatives."

In fact, Genworth Financial has deployed new technologies such as desktop video and software as a service, which manages travel expenses and investment portfolio expenses. The company also has a social networking pilot underway that is similar to Facebook. In fact, they call it Spacebook. Hollingsworth says, "As a global company, we have both employees and contractors working at a variety of locations. The best way to get good ideas is to have many ideas coming from our global talent pool. Our Spacebook will make it very easy for people to tap into these resources."

In this podcast, Hollingsworth talks about what skills people in IT need today, how recent IT graduates can chart a course for leveraging their skills, and what unemployed IT professionals need to think about when looking for a job. In addition, she also talks about Genworth Financial's career development program and the company's green initiatives.

Bio

Christina Hollingsworth is the corporate information technology director at Genworth Financial, where she has worked for seven years. The company recognized Hollingsworth's leadership skills by awarding her the 2005 Platinum Compass Award for excellence in performance execution. Before coming to Genworth Financial, she held technology leadership positions at Minerals Technology and GE Financial, before it became Genworth Financial. She has a Masters in the Management of Technology from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School and Penn Engineering.

Resources

Production Credits

Elizabeth Ferrarini, Executive Producer

Tom Parish, Host and Audio Producer

Doug Marcis - Audio and Music Editing