As part of my journey into all things PlanBig (an online community where big dreamers and helpers meet), I’ve met some crazy cool people.
Michelle Scully has been part of the PlanBig project from the launch, and her love for the community extends beyond telling the Australian public of the great stuff happening on the site through media stories.
It’s even hotly rumoured that she’ll watch (and tweet) Dancing with the Stars* whilst tying PlanBig balloon ribbons onto plastic clips in preparation for upcoming events. That’s dedication!
In addition, Michelle is a lover of bubbles, a fast talker and even faster thinker, a reader of Roald Dahl, a wearer of bling, both career and family minded, and a kind-hearted soul who always says it like she sees it. In other words, my kinda gal pal.
If you ever wanted a glimpse into the kaleidoscopic mind of a top Edelman PR type, read on!
Describe yourself in three words.
Ambitious, perfectionist and fun.
What are you passionate about?
Doing the best job I can do and surpassing expectations. And shoes.
Do or don’t you do the social media thing?
I do. I think social media is a fabulous way to share your story across multiple channels – using stakeholders to amplify and spread a message. Greater impact = greater engagement.
How did you find yourself in the land of Twitter?
I joined the Twitterverse in January 2010 – when I started working at Edelman PR in Melbourne. Edelman is a fabulous place to work and really invests in the education of its staff – they have a training program called Social Media Belt which is a series of modules that teaches you about everything from blogger engagement to community management. I’m a black belt – along with the entire Melbourne office.
Do you have any other social media involvement?
I started a blog in November – www.onemelburnian.com. I had been toying with the idea for a while but couldn’t isolate what I actually wanted to write about. I finally decided that I wanted to share my discoveries while exploring Melbourne – one of the best cities in the world. It’s quite fun – kind of like journaling but in a public space.
What are you currently playing with in the social media sandpit?
My favourite thing at the moment is tweeting while watching a great TV show. It’s just not the same without #qanda and #AngryBoys.
How did you get where you are today?
I grew up in Edmonton, Canada and got a BA in English from the University of Alberta. I then moved to Australia and lived in Perth for five years – where I did an MBA at Curtin’s Graduate School of Business. I kind of fell into PR when I first moved to Australia – and am so happy that my path has led me to my current role at Edelman. I love my clients, the work I’m doing and my colleagues.
What are you doing at the moment that excites you?
Everything I’m doing excites me!
What is your secret to getting big things done?
Being very organised and having clear objectives from the get go.
Name any dream brands, companies, personalities you would love to collaborate with.
Starbucks… they are an Edelman client in many parts of the world but not in Australia. I think the Australian coffee culture is very unique (particularly in Melbourne) – but the reason I love Starbucks so much is because going into a store really makes me feel connected to the global community.
I love when Starbucks Christmas cups come out – it means Christmas isn’t too far away! It also means I can order the most obnoxious drink ever: “Triple-grande, non-fat, half-sweet, no-whip peppermint twist mocha”. I know.
Starbucks is doing some very interesting stuff in the social media space (their Facebook page has close to 22 million “likes”!) – including a recent partnership with Lady Gaga where people can go on a kind of digital scavenger hunt.
Favourite quote:
“Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else’s dream?” – Tim Burton
Here’s how to find Michelle online:
On Twitter: @Michelle_Scully
Read Michelle’s blog: www.onemelburnian.com
*Ed. Michelle is probably more likely to watch anything but Dancing with the Stars, though I don’t like the truth to get in the way of a good story…
