Susie Bright is also an amazing person I got to meet and interact with at BlogHer. The founder of Off Her Backs and an early feminist and subversive, Susie is a vibrant, interesting person who has much to teach and clearly enjoys learning from others. Susie, I hope we connect more back home in CA.
I was also really proud of my friends Lisa, Jory and Elisa. They've created Blogher as a platform that clearly is taking on a life of its own under their able stewardship. The fact that Jory's business skills can lead to so many sponsorships, Elisa's organizational skills can produce such a large conference (and make it all go so smoothly) and Lisa's presence and political chops can bring in an Elizabeth Edwards are all cool, but what gets me is how the vision and message (yes, this is a cause-related business) they support are something so many women are tapping into--I am watching with interest to see where this all goes.
BlogHer also had a diversity I don't usually see. Not only was it woman-focused, though with some very cool men attending, but there was a racial mix and an age mix that many conferences don't have--and this time, I think the very engaged Mommybloggers were balanced with lots of other types of bloggers--including, I was happy to see, a larger number of women over 55.
I met so many interesting people and have a huge number of follow-ups for next week--and feel refreshed and energized--just what I hope a conference would help me achieve.
(On another note, it is interesting to contrast this post with the ones about the techcrunch party-which seems like a must-attend for status event more than it was fun for everyone there. Don't know if that is true, but am getting that vibe.)
(And on yet another note, I hope Scott Beale's party was a blast. I *heart* Scott and would have loved to be there. The pictures here and here look great.)
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