Showing posts with label entrepreneur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entrepreneur. Show all posts

Sunday, May 29, 2011

23rd Annual Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce - Seattle Gala


Seattle, Wa -  The 23rd Annual Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce took place atop the Columbia Tower Club last night. With breaktaking views of the Seattle skyline, organization and civic leaders (Esther Lee, President TSCCS; Michelle Liu, President TJSCCS; Conrad Lee, City of Bellevue; Brad Owens, Lt. Gov) took the podium to celebrate the accomplishments of the organization in the past year. With a mission to build a network of Taiwanese Generations which will act as a resource for future developments on the community, corporate, national, and international level, the event acknowledged their progress towards these goals and set new ones.

Congratulations to the organization for such a great event and welcoming NAAAP Seattle into their community for the celebration.
Website(s):

http://tccseattle.org/
http://tjccna.org/


TSCC and TJSCC members and guests arriving and networking at the event.

Room preparations

Seattle Skyline from atop the Columbia Tower Club

Friday, May 27, 2011

iSoftStone Opens US Headquarters in Kirkland, Wa

Photo by Harver Yang

Kirkland, Wa -  iSoftStone, Inc, a global IT services and enterprise application company, proudly opened its North American headquarters in Kirkland, Washington at 5808 Lake Washington Blvd NE Ste. 400.  NAAAP Seattle along with 100 clients, community and civic leaders attended to hear from executive leaders and to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

SVP of iSoftStone Inc. Anders Brown expressed proudly, “We had only 40 employees back in 2008, but with the combined global vision and platform of iSoftStone and our local employees’ commitment to deliver quality technology projects and solutions for our customers, we have grown to over 200 –a five-fold increase." This opening represents the growth of the company both here in Washington State as well as in China.

Congratulations!

For more on the grand opening, go to: http://www.isoftstone.com/en/news/2011/20110526.htm

(l to r) Lincoln Popp (Sr. VP, iSoftStone) Edward Yang (NAE President, iSoftStone) Conrad Lee (City of Bellevue) TW Liu (Chairman & CEO, iSoftStone) Julien Loh (Governor’s office) Anders Brown (Senior VP, iSoftStone) Photo by Harver Yang

(l to r) Dr. Yushi Shen (Microsoft CHIME Board of Directors Chair) Gil Gido (NAAAP Seattle President)
(l to r) Heidi Yu (NAAAP Seattle Board Member, iSoftStone, Inc BDM) TW Liu (Chairman & CEO, iSoftStone)

Grand Opening Attendees

Sunday, August 22, 2010

A Noble Profession

I returned to Seattle after the Convention last Wednesday at 4pm and with my roller luggage I shuttled off to the Seatac Mariott across the street to where the State Farm Agency Information session was being held and was just about to start. I have known about these sessions but due to my schedule, I haven't been able to attend until now. It's quite different than what I expected and I am so glad that I went. First and foremost, this event was strictly a business opportunity information session; that is, an event providing information to start an agency in which attendees are introduced to the selection and training process.

What you'll learn at an agency information session (the facts):
  • There are 17000 independent contract agents in the U.S.
  • Largest insurer of autos and homes in the U.S.
  • Over 93 insurance and financial services products to offer clients
  • State Farm Insurance is A Fortune Top 50 Company
  • Being an agent is a fantastic small business opportunity involving:
    • Building relationships in the community
    • Client centered sales and marketing activities
    • Leading and motivating people
    • Being the CEO of a small business and dictating your financial worth
    • More at the State Farm website.
What you'll experience:
  • Real agents sharing their experiences
  • Making State Farm executive connections
What they are looking for in individuals:
  • Entrepreneurial Spirit
  • Relationship building
  • Sales ability
  • Leadership Skills
  • History of success
  • High integrity
  • Self driven and self motivated
  • Risk tolerant
  • Competitiveness
  • Financial wherewithal and credit worthiness
With that, our next professional development event is on Wednesday, September 8th from 6-9 pm at the Seattle Design Center.  We are partnering up with NHSMBA, NBMBAA and State Farm to discuss career transitions with a panel of speakers from various professions and to perform resume reviews. Click here to register.

Event details: http://seattle.naaap.org/Events.do?id=8338

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Friday, July 30, 2010

Conversations worth having

(L to R) Rachel Valdez, Beto Yarce, Murthy Kalkura, and Gil Gido

Last night at Tutta Bella on Stone way NAAAP Seattle and the National Society of Hispanic MBA's (NSHMBA) hosted a conversation with local entrepreneurs and members sharing the Secrets of Success.  I had a front row seat since I  had the priviledge of moderating.  On the panel were business owners: Beto Yarce of Cintli; Rachel Valdez of 16 Copenhagen; and Murthy Kalkura of 4AM Corp.
 
My overall experience from walking in the door to leaving can only be described as time well spent. Many who came either had a business or had an interest in knowing what it takes to start and run a business and this brings me to why I am writing - conversations. Conversations, I believe are key ingredients when it comes to running a business and even more so, leadership. Conversations can either be worth having or not having.  For me, those not worth having don't convey action. In fact, conversations lead to some result in business; for example, starting a business. They can end in no, maybe or what we would all like to hear, YES! It seems simple enough, but yeses move businesses; so as an entrepreneur, it's important to know when you are having a conversation that will lead to a yes. For example, yes, to a sale; yes, to accepting a new contract; and yes, to opportunity.
 
So what else can lead to a yes?  Well, I overheard and was engaged in many conversations last night and each had an element of authenticity, passion and free exchange of thought. There seemed to be no judgements or disinterest that I heard. As an entrepreneur, you get skilled in being authentic, passionate and inclusive and you start listening for opportunities that you can yourself use or pass onto your friends, clients and collegues. For me, it surely is a different experience when hearing, no, right?
 
Great! Since I want to provide you with short and timely information that you can use now, I'm going to end here. I know that I can't cover everything in this post. So, if you want to know more on having conversations that lead to yes, then you'll want to hear what Jack Canfield, a well-respected success coach, says, "it all starts with asking." http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=403944388995


With that, I want to give a special thanks to Christine Chen Velazquez of Chen Communications, Geraldine Rodriguez of NSHMBA and Hang Chen of NAAAP Seattle for organizing the event and giving folks an opportunity to have conversations worth having.
 
Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Friday, January 29, 2010

Leaders Sell

Business transactions are an exchange of good or services from a seller to a buyer.When you are leader you conduct a similar transaction. What you are selling are your ideas and vision to everyone without discrimination. You do this every minute of everyday and in whatever weather or circumstance.Now in doing so, you are selling your value, your organization and ultimately your products and services.

Selling can be most difficult since I am probably like many of you - I wasn't taught to sell. I graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois @ Chicago. Now 20 years later and through various experiences - from being a lab tech, a project manger, and now an entrepreneur, I am here writing as President of one of the most active chapters of the National Association of Asian American Professionals to underscore the importance of selling. Of all of the leadership skills, I feel it as the most important skill.

I realize now that I have been selling all along and I didn't know it.I sold myself when I got a job. I sold my ideas when I pitched project ideas. And most of all I sold myself to get into this position

When I'm not leading NAAAP, I am being an entrepreneur. I launched Ulysses' Social Media Marketing Company to help new businesses grow using social media - Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. In the short time I've been in business, I have 5 clients. 5 is a alot in the business I am in considering the time it took to build the relationships, understand their needs and to create solutions for them.

Turning it back to you, what have you sold?If you're a nurse or doctor, have you shared with someone on a healthcare policy or procedure? If you're a lawyer, have you shared testimony with a judge and jury? If you're an engineer, have you shared a new technology? If you're a history student, have you shared your perspective on history? Well, it's selling!


In closing, selling while challenging can be learned. Take stock in your accomplishments and don't fear selling if you're the type who like me who didn't like to sell. It just takes practice to get good. Below, I've included some resources on selling so you'll be a success.

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Books on Selling: