Silicon Valley Watcher

CultureWatch: Silicon Valley's Connection To Warsaw's Stunning New Museum Of Polish-Jewish History: Philanthropist Extraordinaire Tad Taube

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:16:03 -0800

I recently visited the just-opened Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, a stunning $200m project, largely financed by the Warsaw regional and national governments, but with very strong support from the Bay Area's most impressive philanthropist: Tad Taube.

Every Company Is A Media Company - My European Tour

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:07:12 -0800

Above, I spoke at Burson-Marsteller's spectacular London offices. I've been a lot of talking since arriving in London last week and Amsterdam this week on the subject of "every company is a media company" and what happens next. I'll have a fuller report later this week but so far the reception has been excellent and there's quite a good understanding of the concept but a wide difference in how corporations and PR agencies are taking this message and moving forward -- or not.

CultureWatch: The Genius Of Johnny Marr At The Fillmore

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:47:36 -0800

Some days it seems as if the universe is conspiring to provide me with exactly what I need, in the right amounts, and at the right time. Johnny Marr, the former guitarist of The Smiths, playing just down the street from me at The Fillmore -- was concrete proof of this conspiracy.

CultureWatch: Haight-Street Fair Upcoming, And The Remarkable Pablo Heising 'The Mayor Of Haight Street'

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:52:15 -0800

I was walking along Haight Street and spotted a poster competition for the upcoming Haight Street Fair, June 9, which has always been one of the best San Francisco Street Fairs. For a long time it was organized by the wonderful Pablo Heising, a good friend and one of the neighborhoods best community leaders.

WeekendWatcher: A Killer Story At The Marsh in Berkeley

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:10:42 -0800

I saw this last Saturday and I highly recommend it. Smart dialogue, excellent musical performance by Allison Lovejoy, and it's A KILLER STORY @ The Marsh Berkeley.

Pre-show cabaret performance at 7:15pm

Arrive at 7pm and enjoy"Noir Era" food and "Killer Cocktails" in cabaret-style seating.

FRIDAY, May 3 The fabulous Mr. Lucky sings crime songs and more...

Allison Lovejoy is playing the score for this excellent and entertaining "Noir" play at a wonderful venue Friday and Saturday nights through May 18.

The show begins at 8, and we have pre-show cabaret from 7:15-7:50, with great food and cocktails in the Marsh Cafe.

It's on Allston Way, 1/2 block from downtown Berkeley Bart.

Tickets are available on Goldstar for $10.

Discount code on the website is "bourbon"

http://www.themarsh.org/a_killer_story

About SVW: Heading To London, Amsterdam, Berlin, And Warsaw - Presentations On Corporate Media EC=MC

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:13:33 -0800

In three days I'm off to London for a week, then Amsterdam, hopefully a few days in Berlin, and then Warsaw (above) returning in early June.

I'll be making a series of presentations around my favorite topic: "Every Company Is A Media Company - the transformative business equation of our times."

Analysis: The Hand Of Retired CEO Andy Grove Is Seen In Intel's New Leadership

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:44:00 -0800

Foremski's Take: Most Intel watchers are agreed, that Intel's new CEO, insider Brian Krzanich, is a safe choice but that Intel needed someone to "rock the boat."

They miss the fact that Intel is a supertanker, you can't rock a supertanker no matter how much you jump up and down - you can just gradually change its direction.

What they also miss is the new Ms. in the executive office: Renee James, the new President, the partner to Mr. Krzanich in Intel's "two-in-a-box" leadership team.

Corporate Media Services: BrightTalk - A Compelling Lead Generation Platform

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:27:51 -0800

One of my favorite media technology companies is BrightTalk, based in San Francisco and London.

Co-founded in 2002 by Paul Heald and Charlie Blackburn, this privately-held company offers an easy platform to create and distribute live audio and video broadcasts/podcasts. It also helps deliver the audience, with a stellar in-house lead generation team under James Miller. This is BrightTalk's secret sauce because it helps boost potential audience numbers way beyond a company's own networks of contacts, and increases the quality of customer leads.

I'm proud to say that I helped kickstart BrightTalk's online summit business a couple of years ago, which is now a thriving multi-million dollar business group.

I recently met with CEO Paul Heald (above) in San Francisco. Here are some notes from our conversation:

As SVW Advised: Intel Doubles-Up On Leadership - Replaces CEO Paul Otellini with Brian Krzanich and Renee James

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:00:16 -0800

Intel's board has named Brian Krzanich and Renee James to replace retiring CEO Paul Otellini.

Intel names chief operating officer to succeed CEO Otellini, as chipmaker sees industry shift - Winnipeg Free Press

A Product-Killer Meme: White Geeks Too Self-Conscious To Wear Their Google Glass In Public

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:18:44 -0800

The "White Guys wearing Google Glass" is a killer meme, a potential product killer.

A friend who is a prominent geek, always a bit of a rebel and very comfortable with self-promotion, is very concerned about posting a picture of himself wearing Google Glass.