A couple of weeks ago I announced that I was departing Ashoka to move to San Francisco and that as such I was looking for the next opportunity to challenge myself and create positive social change.
Today I am very pleased to announced that I will be taking up the position of Senior Social Media Consultant at Small Act, a DC-based start-up which helps cause-focused organizations to use social media strategically. As part of my role I will be establishing the West coast office for the company.
I couldn’t be happier or more excited to take on this new role. Over the past six months I have got to know the founder of Small Act, Casey Golden, and Chief Love Officer (that really is her title) Kate Hays and I respect, admire and like them greatly. I’m looking forward to working with them to grow this enterprise. I know they are passionate, as I am, about helping social change organizations to tell their story, empower their stakeholders and rally people to their cause. It feels good to join an organization whose vision, product and people I believe in. In fact, it’s essential.
I truly believe that digital and social media has the capacity to help organizations large and small to empower their communities and bring about positive social change. We can do better together when we are better connected, better informed and better able to work in new ways to find new solutions to issues which confront our world.
I have gained an enormous amount from my almost two years with Ashoka and am sad to be leaving. Nothing negative is pushing me to leave, but life is pulling me to San Francisco and new challenges. I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity Ashoka gave me and remain deeply committed to doing my part to bring about the Everyone a Changemaker world we need. They say that once you’re at Ashoka you’re an Ashokan for life and I hope that’s true. I’ve met so many amazing people whose support, collaboration and companionship have meant so much to me and who I hope to stay in touch with for life.
I am now excited to take all my learnings, ideas and energy and support a diverse range of organizations to use new technologies in ways which make a difference. I’m excited to explore San Francisco and connect to the vibrant non-profit technology and start-up scene there.
I finish up at Ashoka the first week of June and will start work in San Francisco in early July, after a two week drive across southern America. If you have any advice on neighbourhoods, restaurants, events or organizations for me to check out in San Francisco (or on the way over) I’d love to hear them!
We will miss you here. But glad to know I will have one more person to hang out with in SF.
Tom d!!
Congrats on the exciting opportunity!
Your adventure sounds amazing xx
Awesome dude.
Well done.
YES.
I made a map for friends moving to SF:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=morgan%20sully%20google%20map&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl
My fave places in the Bay Area. Top of the list? Radio Habana Social Club. Hands down.
Cloud Forest is pretty awesome (beautiful scenery – clouds floating by not 30meters above your head:).
Moraga Hill too (nice hike, overlooks all of SF).
Land’s End (beautiful and overlooks the Pacific Ocean).
I look forward to working with you, Tom! You have a lot to offer the Small Act team.
Thanks everyone! Very excited about this next adventure. Looking very forward to working with you and the whole team Annie! Thanks for the map Morgs!
Tom,
So happy for you! Glad you are making smart moves in your career and making the migration to the West Coast. Want to hear about all of the new adventures that you will be embarking upon. Can’t wait to catch up with you and work on future collaborations.
One,
Todd Pitt / Zero Strategist
Congrats! Can’t wait to finally meet you now that you’ll be out in San Francisco.
Congratulations T-
Sad to see you go, before we really got a chance to know each other. It was neat living in your backyard, or were you living in mine? When I’m in SF, which I am often, let’s meetup for beers.
Perhaps one last poker game for the road?
Danny Marx
[...] Friday I tried to draw this all together in a webinar I delivered for Small Act (organized before I accepted an offer to work for them next). The goal was to give an accessible introduction to different ways of creating social content at [...]
Tom, this is wonderful news! You certainly should be at the heart of Social Media as you are one of it’s great thought leaders. All the best in San Fran!
You are all far, far too kind. I’m looking very forward to getting over there and connecting to the non-profit tech/social media community. Can’t wait to see you on the west coast Todd, Sue and Natasha.
However I’ll miss many many people here and hope to return for regular visits.
Not sure if a poker game is likely to happen Danny, maybe my last week in DC (June 14-18)? Let’s see if we can organize something, one last chance to win my money back
You will be missed here but I am sure this New Venture is clearly the direction you were hoping to go. Wish you some much luck.
Chief Love Officer? Wow I like that!
Shireen
[...] you might imagine I’m disappointed by this turn of events. I was extremely excited to join Small Act and to come to San Francisco. The opportunity to work with, support and learn [...]