Home » Connectors

Jo Matthews

Profile
Jo Matthews
Location
London
Region
South West
URL
http://www.wyse-ngo.org

I am a freelance consultant in social marketing. My main clients are currently WYSE International, an educational leadership charity associated with the United Nations, and Equator Media, a social marketing agency that works with organisations such as Channel 4 and Time Out. My background is in development, marketing and communications, in the particular context of social enterprise and youth development. I gained experience in Business Improvement with Oxfam International and worked on the PR for their ‘Oxfam Unwrapped’ scheme. I then worked for a youth development project in Calcutta, before completing a Masters degree in Development Management at the University of Westminster. For the past two years I have been working in the social enterprise sector as Director of Marketing and Communications for i-genius, an online community of social entrepreneurs with members in over 90 countries. I was involved from the start-up stage, and so climbed a steep learning curve which culminated in organising an international conference in Thailand for over one hundred social entrepreneurs.

See www.equatormedia.co.uk and www.wyse-ngo.org

Q&A

  • What is the best connection you have made or received?

    I have a wide variety of contacts throughout the world as a result of the work that I have been involved in, both through working and travelling abroad, but also through running large international networks such as i-genius. Now working for WYSE International, so the network just keeps growing!

  • Why is getting connected important to make things happen?

    Getting connected, getting to know people, and sharing knowledge and expertise ignites passion, enthusiasm and action! It shows you how many different alternatives, routes and methods there are to what you are doing, and encourages you to think differently about how you work. It gives you the confidence to accept help and advice from a wide variety of people. And together anything can happen!

  • What are your top tips for hosting a great networking event?

    Ensure there is enough opportunity for people to form established bonds with one another. Keep it engaging, keep it relevant, keep it fun. Good locations and talking-points are also great.

    And to those attending….Be open and relaxed. And remember the ‘Two ears, one mouth’ philosophy – speak half as much as you listen!

  • What are your best networking links / resources?

    The Connectors is great! Plus Facebook can be invaluable. Personal internet based research relating to your area of interest can also be rewarding.

  • What is the best connection you have ever made or received?

    It is so hard to say – my view is that it is a ‘trickle-up’ effect - every connection that you make leads you to another- to another-to another. They are all rewarding; even ones that may not seem significant at the time can turn out to be like gold-dust a few years down the line.

Connect Me!

I havn't made any comments yet.

I have commented on the following questions: