Blogger extraordinaire and Microsoft ‘technical evangelist’ Robert Scoble and business thinker Charles Handy will be the guest speakers at IT@Cork’s 7th annual conference at the end of the month.
Scoble, who maintains the popular blog, Scoblebizer, and is noted for his not-always-complimentary views about Microsoft, will share his expertise and insights into blogging and discuss emerging trends in software at a technical forum session in the afternoon. He will also attend an inaugural ‘bloggers dinner’ later that evening.
Speaking in advance of the conference, Scoble said, “Corporate blogging is changing how companies talk with their customers. Do it wrong and you could end up with negative PR. Do it right and you’ll have happier employees, better products, and more informed customers. It’ll be interesting to learn about the blogging that’s happening in Ireland and I’ll bring some of the top tips I’ve learnt working for Microsoft.”
Management guru and top selling author Handy will speak on the topic of entrepreneurship. Handy’s presentation will demonstrate how mindsets, organisational structures and management systems influence, inspire and conspire against the creative and entrepreneurial processes.
Michael O’Connor, CEO of Cork Business Innovation Centre and chair of the conference organising committee, commented, “It is widely recognised that Irish companies, particularly in the technology sector, need to enhance their entrepreneurship and innovation capacities and it is in this context that we invited Robert Scoble and Charles Handy to this year’s event.”
Eoin O’Driscoll, chairman of Forfás, Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland and Joe Gantly, chairman of Cork Airport will be among those chairing sessions and presenting at the conference.
The event will take place on Wednesday 30 November at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Co Cork. See www.itcork.ie.
By Brian Skelly
