"Look in the mirror and lead" BlogHer '06 keynote by Arianna Huffington, Caroline Little, Mena Trott and Grace Davis

Pictured from left to right: Arianna Huffington, Molly, Grace Davis' daughter, Grace and Terry Acebo Davis. Photo credit: Mary Tsao.

Last January, when we were preparing to launch the new BlogHer.org site and create today's directory of 4,100+ women bloggers, one of our new editors emailed me to suggest a tagline. "You should call it BlogHer II: The Revenge," wrote Tracey Gaughran-Perez, who blogs Sweetney, referring to the question that inspired the first BlogHer conference.

I was reminded of Tracey's comment Saturday night as 720 of us watched Arianna Huffington, Caroline Little, Mena Trott and Grace Davis answer Moderator Chris Nolan's questions at the closing keynote of BlogHer '06.

In the past year, each of these women has leveraged Web-based technologies to pursue their professional agendas and triumphed -- while experiencing with unrelenting public pressure and excoriating personal criticism. If success is the best revenge, revenge must be sweet indeed for this quartet. For today, each of these women todays enjoys kudos from their readers/users (even critics), while at the same time being able to point to cold, hard facts such as Web traffic and revenue that demonstrate their ideas were worth pursuing.

How'd they do it? Nolan's skillful interviews Saturday evening revealed four very different women whose core message was remarkably the same: Look in the mirror and lead.

"Instead of waiting for the white knight to come and save us, we need to find the leader in the mirror and act on those skills fearlessly." - Arianna Huffington

"I've always had my pilot light on. Sometimes I don't pay attention to it but it's there. In responding to Katrina, I didn't even think about the obstacles. I just thought that I should be there helping somehow." - Grace Davis

"You either fly with it (change) or you don't ever get on the boat. And I think you get on the boat." - Caroline Little

"I've followed my gut and my passion...I 've seen so many people driven by title. As soon as you know someone cares more about title than the product, it really shows." - Mena Trott

What do I mean by blistering criticism

Last year at this time, the press was joyfully dissing two-month-old Huffington Post and founder Arianna from Redmond to the Beltway. Washington Post|Newsweek Interactive, led by Caroline Little, was struggling along with the rest of the newspaper industry to please both Wall Street and its Web users, while taking risks and making mistakes. Mena Trott's company, Six Apart, was still working through the cultural upheaval of buying Live Journal, and she'd publicly had it with trolls. And Grace Davis had no idea that Hurricane Katrina would devastate the Gulf Coast, FEMA wouldn't find its proverbial ass with either hand, and that she would end up on CNN for getting diapers and ice to Mississippi before the U.S. government. Instead, she was still calling her blog "Dr. Laura's Worst Nightmare," and receiving hate mail from anyone who thought a mommy blogger shouldn't use the f-bomb or write about politics.

Success is the best revenge

Now for the revenge part. Today, The Huffington Post's most excoriating critic is writing for Huffington and publicly avows the site's quality. As panic continues to spread in the boardrooms of traditional news companies, Little's boss recently voiced his support for her leadership and reported that revenues in her division were up 34 percent over last year. Trott's company has changed-up the blog-hosting game by introducing Typepad widgets and released a new product, Vox. As for Grace Davis, well, in addition to that ice-to-Mississippi-thing, she now gets paid to blog for SFGate.com and ClubMom, and received the largest audience applause when the quartet was introduced Saturday night.

I'll upload some more quotes tonight, after I write one zillion thank you notes. And we'll upload the podcast as soon as we can.

Do you agree with me? Disagree? I'd love to know your opinion of this discussion. And please - if you blogged this -- add links to your blogs below. Thanks.

Submitted by Lisa Stone (view blog

) on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 7:31am

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Thanks for these notes

This keynote was so inspirational and engaging! Thanks for taking great notes.

My one regret is that we didn't all stand up in the room and give you, Jory, and Elsa a standing ovation for all your work in leading the blogher conference!

Thank you!

Submitted by Beth Kanter on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:01

HERE HERE

Yes, a standing ovation really should have happened. Consider this a virtual one.

And I have to say, I left that keynote ready to take on the world. I'm not kidding.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Submitted by Erin Kotecki Vest on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:06

These women are incredibly

These women are incredibly inspiring and I applaud all of them for refusing to let adversity stop them from succeeding. It is just the boost my entrepreneurial spirit needed.
----------------
Lexicon Indigo|Blogilepsy|SmutWriter

Submitted by Indigo Black on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:14

Why didn't I go?

Just being there virtually has inspired me to take more chances. Can I register now for blogHer '07, before I forget?

Submitted by catfish on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:39

You said it!!

I totally agree with you. If it weren't for this blogging platform, I'd have never been able to start my own online design studio and show my talents. Thanks to all you wonderful and strong ladies who inspire me each day.

I'm real upset I missed the conference this year, but swear to be there next year!

Girl en Route

Submitted by meenagar on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 10:58

Ask Patty Wrap Up on BlogHer06

Link Text

I am self proclaimed real woman rather than a feminist woman, so the ragged edged feminist comments were rather thick at times for my taste at BlogHer06. Perhaps the location being so close to UC Berkley, the capital of feminism in California, had considerable influence on the mix. As a young single mother in 1979, with three children ages 2, 4 and 6 to support 100%, I chose the higher paying jobs in male dominated industries to survive financially. I have never felt I needed to take a feministic stance or join the NOW to be respected as a women, I was too busy trying to survive to and had no time to join in politicalluy rallies or debates on gender issues. My results both personally and professionally brought respect automatically career wise and as a single mother as my children are now 30, 32 and 34 and are all wonderful loving contributing human beings. This 'earned respect' enabled many opportunities for me to contribute to male dominated businesses as a President, Vice President and at Director levels without beating any feministic drum. I guess I focused so hard on the results I forgot to watch what the men were doing or not doing to prevent me (a woman) from succeeding, afterall I HAD to succeed as my entire driving force and focus was providing for my children. I do however have a terrifying Mother Bear complex so if you Touch My Kids or threaten their survival I will rear up on YOU, bare my teeth, claws and chase you up the nearest tree, male or female! I owe my personal success based on FOCUS and DRIVE, not feminism. Perhaps this is the reason many men allowed me to enter the inner-sanctum above the glass ceiling of the business world , as we had a simple common bond, goal and priority: providing for our families.

I thank all those feministic activists for going to all the rallies, debates and lobbying for me while I was in survivial mode, I love and admire women from all walks of life as I have walked many paths in my own life and certainly understand what all the feministic fuss is about. I am a Mom, Sister, Auntie, Grandmother, career woman, professional, caregiver, lover, tree reef and river hugger. been single, married, divorced, widowed, have belong to many women's professional organizations and do considerable charity work to support women and do understand women's challenges. I guess as I have aged ( sigh) my view is more balanced because it is derived from hard earned personal experience rather than pure political passion. I cannot alienate men or for that matter anyone that challenges women's rights or initiatives as I need these challenges to "sharpen my sword" and make me more worthy to go after and claim my personal vision and continue to lead by example or as NIKE put its. Just Do it!

My favorite quote of BlogHer06:

"Fearlessness is not absence of fear. Fearlessness is not letting fear stop us." - Arianna Huffington

All we are saying is just keep bloggin' on...all we are saying is just keep bloggin' on...........

Jody DeVere
President
www.waai.com
President - Ask Patty div CarsMagazine.com
www.askpatty.com

Ph: 888 854 9929
Cell : 805-208-1008
Fax: 805- 375-3922
eMail: jdevere@askpatty.com
AIM Screen Name : "askptty"

Submitted by Jody DeVere -- Ask Patty on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 11:13

Wiki of LiveBlogging (and other remarks)

Amy Gahran started a wiki of liveblogging BlogHer coverage
http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/blogher06/

Be part of the do-ocracy and add links!

Liz Ditz
I Speak of Dreams
lizditz@gmail.com

Submitted by lizditz on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 14:00

ID photo (and a friend)

An ID for the photo (a friend)

I recognize the "friend" in that image -- that's Grace Davis's sister, Terry Acebo Davis. I write the name down from a lovely postcard she gave me, on which is printed one of her works of collage serigraph art. So it looks like it was a Davis family photo standing with Arianna.

2020 Hindsight | Family Oral History Using Digital Tools

Submitted by Susan Kitchens on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 16:28

Thanks, Susan!

I've added her name to the Flickr photo, too.

Mary
BlogHer Contributing Editor, Mommy & Family
Mom Writes

Submitted by Mary Tsao on Tue, 08/01/2006 - 14:19

Lisa, what a great write up

Lisa, what a great write up of the panel discussion. I was so inspired by these women.

Also, I do agree that we should have had some recognition of you, Jory, and Elisa for making it happen for all of us. So, thanks!!

I'm committing now that there will be a LOT more food bloggers there next year. I will make sure more people know about it.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 16:54

I thought the closing

I thought the closing session really brought together a lot of issues raised in those two days -- my thoughts are on this post: Blogher '06: Conquering Fears

DrumsNWhistles (odd time signatures)

Submitted by Karoli on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 17:59

NICE - thank you!

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 18:14

Right on! Grace's sister is in the photo

Hi everyone,

Oh you've made my day - thank you thank you!

(Side note: Apologies for my hiatus in reply - I had to drive back down to the Hyatt to pick up boxes of BlogHer detritus. My rewards were a final hug from Denise and TW, and some fabulous Indian food with Elisa and Jory, so I'm a happy camper).

So - to your points:

Beth, thank YOU for your exceptional blogger-on-the-street poolside reports. Your fashion coverage, I'll have you know, is the reason for my luau pedicure. You and Britt were intrepid blog-reporters, from the lite to The Light -- such as the Relief.net and recycling posts. Thank you.

Erin, I'm so glad you agree. You and I have been in the news business long enough to know that there's a difference between typical criticism of a public figure and character-assassinating high-profile, powerful women for having the nerve to open their mouths and speak their minds. These women experienced the latter, in my opinion. You have so much to say yourself -- bring on the posts!

That goes for you too Indigo Black, Catfish, Meenager! I officially hold you to it and look forward to meeting you.

Jody, I'm so glad you attended. As I've said before, BlogHer is an omnipartisan site that exists to create opportunities for all women to attain greater exposure, education and community for their sites.

Liz, absolutely - I'll add that to the comments on Mir's list of live blogs, thank you. I saw you at the conference but when I turned around to say hi you had escaped me. So -- HI. Thanks for coming back.

Susan, you genius, thank you for identifying Grace's sister. Holy cow. Now that's some good DNA, I must say.

Kalyn, you rock star, one of the kazillion highlights of my weekend was recognizing you by the pool. Yum. Yes, cutting-edge food coverage has a huge future at BlogHer. Let's get you all and Elisa together asap to start talking about a fantastic session (or 12).

As for thanking us three, I gratefully accept -- but only with the caveat that it is we who thank you. This really is the conference that the community built. And when our post-conference survey comes into your email inboxes, we look forward to hearing the good, the bad, even the ugly about your experience and how we can improve it next time. We really are all in this together -- and as you can see from the genius in this conference's "do-ocracy" track, some of the smartest, funniest, most insightful women alive come to BlogHer.

I can't wait to see what happens in the next year leading up to BlogHer '07. Watch for Elisa's post announcing where and when...we're really excited about going east!

xo
Lisa

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

Submitted by Lisa Stone on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 18:12

Thanks to YOU

...for making that keynote session, and the whole conference, possible.

Hearing Arianna Huffington and those other awesome ladies chat so openly and intimately was a perfect close. And it inspired me to come out (by asking the question that I did) about my fear and my desire to work past it, because despite the 720 odd women in the room, it was as intimate as a coffee klatsch

I'm so grateful for that.

Catherine
Her Bad Mother
Link Textwww.badladies.blogspot.com

Submitted by HerBadMother on Tue, 08/01/2006 - 12:48