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After two years in the making, YMCA has a new look.  Kate Coleman, SVP of marketing of the YMCA, stated that after extensive research, they realized people didn’t know what the they do. So the rebrand was created to better understanding the organization’s mission and history.

Now, the “Y” will join other famous abbreviated brands such as P&G, KFC, and GM.  Research has shown that an average person remembers two or three words or symbols. We think it’s a great move and look.  What are your thoughts?

Check out the the entire article on http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/ymca

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Attention baby fashionistas, Pampers and Huggies have made disposable diapers fashionable! For a limited time only, Huggies Little Movers® has launched new denim looking diapers and no. one competitor Pampers® follows it with a more fashionable line offering designer diapers inspired b y Cynthia Rowley with 11 styles. With baby products topping a $7 billion industry in the U.S. alone, could these cool looking diapers become a permanent hit? If so, designers will be busy.

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After attending Teens in Tech last week, http://teensintechconf.com, I had quite an awakening. I went to San Francisco with visions of extraordinary technology insights from those who will be leading us into the future. And yes, I did take away some new and exciting trends, but what was far more interesting was observing this room of incredibly intelligent and creative teens and some of the messaging from the speakers, many of whom were kids themselves. Aside from the technology trends, the two truly formidable takeaways were this: 1: College is a waste of time and 2: Technology is for Boys.

Now there are several blogs and recaps of this event that are very informative and give a great overview of the speakers, such as http://www.sparkminute.com/2010/02/06/cool-and-not-so-cool-from-teens-in-tech. This was a brilliant collection of speakers, and it was truly a great event. However, I have yet to find any article or blog that touch upon the points myself and a few others in the room observed:  the knock on college and clearly obvious lack of girls in the room.

Within the speakers’ preachings and anecdotes, from the charismatic Danny Trihn to power team of John Ramey and Zak Hassanein, there was this thread, weaving in and out… and that was that college, for young technology entrepreneurs at least, was a waste of time. I heard things like “College is great for parties…” or “College sucks in a lot of ways…” Now to be fair, this was not a TOTAL slam on college or attending…. but in that room, full of impressional minds, there isn’t much of a difference from saying “School really isn’t that relevant….” to kids embracing and deciding that school really isn’t that relevant for me either.

Now taking this back and sharing it with the studio and some of our partners was also very enlightening. We did a small survey and found that yes, around 40% of the high school kids (and not even tech-minded/entrepreneurs) thought college was a waste of time; not too expensive, not too difficult to get into, but just not relevant. Is this trend new, no, but why now? If it is because of the economy, that is one thing, but if college programs and educational leaders can not keep up with 13 year old minds, I think we have a problem.

The second and somewhat unfortunate observance was the weak representation of female teens at the conference. They really should have called it ‘Teen Boys in Tech’. I mean, where were all of the girls? Of all the speakers, only one came to represent the female side of Teens in Tech, a group of 2 teen female entrepreneurs, http://smartpowered.org/connect/, came to work that day. This well spoken duo had a fantastic presentation that touched upon not only technology but education, environment and community. I was so very impressed and pleased, that was until it came time for questions. Much to my dismay, these girls were hardly asked about technology, environment or education, but rather how this was going to achieve financial rewards or, and this was the cake topper, if they were available for a date later on. Of course, all in good fun, but as an observer, it was painful. The boys in the room got a good laugh out of it, but what did it say for the future of girls in technology? So disappointing, but who in? In gaming companies for not producing authentic and addictive games for girls? In schools for not encouraging young girls to look down the path of programming or designing?

Overall, the conference was as good as it’s reviews and I definitely look forward to next year. The young minds of today are quickly making such a powerful impact on society and our future…and with these kids leading the way, that future is bright. I think perhaps next year, a few colleges should represent…at least to listen if not to speak; and unless they change the name, could only hope that we see a few more girls there too.

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This article is very interesting and sheds hopeful light that new technology like the  ipad and  smart phones are signs of our economy recovering.  This article came from Strategy Business that I suggest you subscribe  and follow their blog. I believe it is also part of Harvard Press which publishes Harvard Business review…excellent reading!

Enjoy: Pato

The New Golden Age

by Mark Stahlman

The history of investment and technology suggests that the global economy is poised to enter a new phase of robust, dependable growth. Such phases occur roughly every 60 years, and they last for a decade or more, part of a long cycle of technological change and financial activity. The current cycle, which began around 1970, is based on silicon: the integrated circuit, the digital computer, global telecommunications, and the Internet. It may feel like this technology has run its course, but the cycle is really only at its midpoint, and a new silicon-based global elite will lead the way to economic recovery.

To read the full analysis:
http://www.strategy-business.com/article/10110

enews is an exclusive platform for business analysis, insights, commentary, and other intellectual capital from the authors, strategists, and editors at strategy+business.

Art Kleiner
Editor-in-Chief
strategy+business

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