Conversation Agent - Valeria Maltoni

Economics as if People Mattered

I used to write more about social media based on my experience building a social network between 1999-2007, and serving as community manager. Through that work I observed and validated that commitment and driving cultural conversation were the foundations for a powerful value proposition. It was invaluable experience for brand building. New brands can go from unknown to respected by turning commitment into confidence. And that is exactly what happened ― from zero the network grew to 500 members at a time when there were no Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram to get the word out, and LinkedIn was getting started... Read more →

Debunking Detox and Diets, Designing Wellness

An article in The Guardian talking about the Angry Chef on a mission to confront the ‘alternative facts’ surrounding nutritional fads and myths delves into the truth about healthy eating. The Chef says,“A lot of the clean-eating people, I just think they have a broken relationship with the truth. They’re selling something that is impossible to justify in the context of evidence-based medicine.” This is something that when we pay attention we do know, our grandmothers did — eat a varied diet of in season vegetables and fruit, use natural ingredients, take smaller portions, cook more so you know what's... Read more →

Long-Term for Results: Fads vs Trends

Many of our decisions are based on the short term — our horizons have gotten very small, our tools indulge the need to constantly know where we are towards our immediate goals, never mind that we may be missing the big picture. Entire businesses exist and thrive because they indulge our habit of being “always on.” More businesses are there to help us be “here now.” We can create better habits. But it's hard to plan for a different future when we don't inhabit the present. Or we're partially here. Think of all the instances in which what we say... Read more →