2013 DIGIFAM SPEAKER: Isabel Kallman

This is a series of interviews with the speakers of Digital Family Summit 2013, October 11-13.
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Isabel Kallman is the founder and chief at Alpha Mom, an online parenting website. Isabel and Alpha Mom have been featured by leading national media such as USA Today, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. Forbes anointed Alpha Mom one of the Top 10 Mommy Hood Gurus and Parents Magazine named Isabel one of the ten “Power Moms.” Before launching Alpha Mom, Isabel spent a decade at a leading Wall Street firm working in international investment banking and equities where she worked on capital raisings for companies and advised large mutual funds and pension funds on their portfolios. Isabel lives in New York City with her husband and eight-year-old son. When she grows up she wants to be Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights.

twitter: @isabelkallman
website: http://www.alphamom.com  

How did you get involved with blogging?

Alpha Mom was started because, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, motherhood is not a natural instinct for many (many) women. Rather than running to grandma, I ran to Google looking for help. What I discovered was that I was not alone and that there were/are many women like me. Even though I developed my sea legs, I discovered that connectedness is a new mom’s first instinct. And, with non-judgmental support and advice from other moms and parenting professionals, Alpha Mom tries to help women embrace motherhood with confidence.

What’s your favorite technology to help you blog/write/tweet/edit?

I love EchoSign for contracts.

What blogs do you read regularly?

– Cool Mom Picks is a great resource for shopping. – A Cup of Jo is wonderful to learn about NY and culture, especially with children. – Design Mom is so much fun and inspiring

If you could travel back in time and send yourself a message, what would it be?

Keep in touch with more people as you move from one life stage to another.

Any advice for young bloggers?

Be consistent and original.

What do you think is the greatest opportunity for digital teens today?

Being original. If it’s already been done, please don’t copy. Instead figure out how you would do it YOUR WAY.

What’s the biggest danger facing digital teens & their families today?

Being obsessed with attention and positive feedback, such as “likes” on Facebook, YouTube , Instagram, Tumblr, etc.

What are you going to talk about at the conference?

Going to ask kids in digital media what their initial experience has been with a goal to helping parents in the audience understand how kids are approaching publishing in the digital world.

Who are your Creative Heroes?

One of my site’s contributors, Brenda Ponnay (aka Secret Agent Josephine). She has so many wonderful ideas.

Do you have any hobbies other than digital media creation? What are you passionate about?

I love ballet and it changed my life. I am currently on the board of directors of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Adam Gertsacov is the co-founder and co-organizer of Digital Family Summit.  He wears many hats, including those of a professional clown, an author and publisher, an artist/educator, a non-profit administrator, a P.T. Barnum impersonator, a flea circus impresario, and the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland.