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Michael Slaby    

Technologist & Former Chief Integration and Innovation Officer for the 2012 Obama for America Campaign

In 2012, when the Obama administration began gearing up for re-election, one of the first calls went to Michael Slaby, who was chief technology officer in 2008—when the historical campaign leveraged the internet and social media to raise funds and organize volunteers in ways that had never been seen before. What resulted was not only a successful re-election, but a revolution in the way politicians, organizations and brands use social media to engage their audiences. Passionate and committed to helping humanity solve the world's greatest challenges, Michael Slaby is a global leader in digital and social media strategy, technology, and explores how together they can elevate mission-driven organizations. Currently, he is Managing Partner of Timshel—a new company working to help solve social, civic, and humanitarian problems via better technology, engagement capabilities development, and creative capital. Previously he was a Fellow at Shorenstein Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Michael helped lead Obama for America as Chief Integration and Innovation Officer in 2012, overseeing the CTO, CIO, CAO, in order to ensure effective implementation and integration of technology across the entire campaign. He was also Deputy Digital Director and Chief Technology Officer in the '08 campaign.

In addition, Michael has served as a technology and digital strategy advisor as well as board member to initiatives that include the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, F*ck Cancer, Bright Pink, I Am That Girl, LiveStrong, Citizen Effect and Jumo. He was named to Crain's Chicago 40 Under 40 List for 2011 and their Tech 50 List in 2013.

Speech Topics


What Everyone Can Learn from the Obama Campaign Strategy

What made the Obama for America organization so effective and groundbreaking? Based on his experience in the ’08 and ’12 campaigns, Slaby discusses organizational strategy and culture. He focuses on the progression of how values drive mission, how mission drives strategy, and how strategy drives tactics. How did digital technology really lead to victory for Obama? Slaby breaks down some of the mythology around the role of social media and data in each campaign, and explores how organizations of all shapes and sizes can utilize similar approaches to achieve success—however defined.

Reimagining Engagement

In this talk, Michael examines how the media and technology landscape has changed communication and how organizations need to shift to, adjust to, and take advantage of a new reality. This conversation covers everything from how individuals consume information differently and make decisions, to how journalism is evolving, to what effective communications strategies look like today. Falling back on a robust and diverse background, Slaby illuminates what is required from great organizations to effectively engage communities with power and inspiration.

News


A Few Places Where Government Tech Procurement Works : All ...
Michael Slaby — who was one of the people who built President Obama's much- lauded 2008 and 2012 campaign technology says he hopes these examples ...
Team Obama copied Amazon for fundraising | WashingtonExaminer ...
Michael Slaby, who was the campaign's chief integration and innovation officer, said he mined companies like Amazon for ideas. The biggest: saving the ...

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