As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Christer Holloman, an influential speaker and author, will be addressing the Business Exchange at Teesside University’s Darlington campus later this month.
The Business Exchange is a programme of short, high profile networking events, featuring influential national and international speakers, for North-East business leaders.
Christer is the author of the bestselling book, The Social Media MBA, and has written for the Guardian and Sky News Tech Talk.
In his teens he set up an advertising agency and a Rent-A-Santa business before setting up a social media site in 2000 which was bought by an investor for an undisclosed amount only six months later.
He went on to become Head of Digital Development at the Times and Sunday Times before helping to launch the $40million start-up glassdoor.com.
The Evening Standard named Christer as one of London’s most influential people within New Media.
He is also the chairman of the First Tuesday networking forum and works to encourage young entrepreneurs to fulfil their potential.
He will speak to the Business Exchange about the future of social media and provide tips on how businesses can improve their approach to social media.
He will also talk about how they can create a socially connected enterprise and measure the return on investment of social media.
Christer said: 'Social media is so much more than Facebook and Twitter.
'Social media has really helped to level the playing field for start-ups in terms of getting their message out there.
'In the past, journalists were like gatekeepers to the media. But now it feels like the media has become a bit more democratised.
'Social media provides a great opportunity to build a following and to reach customers.
'Websites like Kickstarter use social media mechanisms to keep in contact with customers and firms like mobile phone network giffgaff are using social media to streamline their business.'
Laura Woods, Director of Academic Enterprise at Teesside University, said: 'For businesses, social media is fast becoming a vital way of engaging with new and existing customers.
'We’re delighted to welcome Christer as a keynote speaker in Global Entrepreneurship Week. He is a leading expert in his field, and I know that our business audience can look forward to a fascinating session.'
Teesside University is planning a series of events for Global Entrepreneurship Week which runs from 17 November until 23 November.
As well as the Business Exchange event with Christer Holloman, there is a Social Enterprise Start-Up weekend for students and graduates at the Northern Design Centre in Gateshead from 21 to 23 November.
There is also an event on 17 November at the Dickens Inn in Middlesbrough which will encourage students and social entrepreneurs to network and profile some of the social enterprises from Teesside University.
The Business Exchange with Christer Holloman takes place on Tuesday, 18 November between 5pm and 6.30pm.