January 8, 2013

The AGBU Young Professionals of Toronto (YPTO) have kicked off a new exciting season of educational programs by successfully hosting a seminar on a timely and increasingly relevant topic: “Social Media With No Time Wasted.” Randal Craig, one of Canada’s foremost social media experts, was invited to address strategies, tools and techniques for effective use of social media platforms and networks from both professional and business owner perspectives.

A twenty-first century phenomenon, social media has fundamentally transformed the ways people interact or stay connected with friends, peers, associates, or the ways companies engage in recruiting, business marketing, promotion, or news distribution. However, with no clear purpose or policy in place, social media can quickly deplete resources, not to mention mankind’s most valuable commodity – time.

As YPTO Chair Mihran Egavian explained, “In the age of technology and communication, it is an absolute imperative to understand and engage in meaningful application of social media tools. Mr. Craig’s presentation offered a striking revelation of eyebrow-raising yet widespread gaffes, as well as concealed opportunities all of us must be informed about.”
An intuitive thinker with an acute awareness of the fundamental principles of business, Randall Craig has given the audience an exclusive tour into the minds of hiring employers, jobseekers, marketing professionals, and online consumers.

“Randall’s undisputed background in business, finance and entrepreneurship has leveraged his expertise to better explain social behavior in the Internet realm” said Aren Sarikyan, YPTO Vice-Chair. “It is this kind of insight and experience that helps us connect the dots and envision new forms of online interaction, collaboration, or conduct of business”, added Aren.

Mr. Randall founded several successful start-ups, held a long-time position at a “big-four” consulting firm, and was an executive at an American public company. He has been intimately involved in Internet strategy since 1994, when he put the Toronto Star online (as well as over 100 other major organizations since then). Randall also lectures at the Schulich School of Business, blogs for the Huffington Post, and hosts Professionally Speaking TV. A best-selling author, Randall is also the president of 108 Ideaspace Inc. – a generous sponsor of the event.

The seminar attracted a diverse crowd of young professionals and entrepreneurs–a clear indication of the importance of social media today.