Millennials, Gen-Y, Generation Next, Echo Boomers – my generation has amassed a plethora of nicknames, many of which carry certain connotations (not always positive). However, regardless of what you choose to call us, one thing is clear – my generation has the talent, drive and digital intelligence that is driving our society forward right now. With this understanding, MassTalent brought together some of the best and brightest minds in Boston for a night of networking and idea exchanging revolving around the core topics of digital entrepreneurship, social media and technology, and millennials in the workplace.

Monday, November 15, saw roughly 60 students from Boston University, Emerson College and Northeastern come together for a night of learning and networking. The purpose of MassTalent was to bring together students interested in the way that digital media, new technology, and the millennial generation are shaping the future of advertising, marketing, business, and entrepreneurship. Students were able to network and exchange ideas with like-minded students from other campuses before listening to a panel consisting of millennial employees from SCVNGR, BuyWithMe, IAmHungry, Zipcar, Hill Holliday, Allen & Gerritsen, and Small Army Marketing.

The event was a tremendous success, with the #MassTalent hashtag becoming the #4 trending topic in Boston before the evening was done. I have to extend a special thanks to all the panelists, DJ Capobianco and the rest of the Hill Holliday team who graciously lent us their space and time, all the students who attended, and my student co-hosts, Boston University’s Maurice Rahmey and Northeastern University’s Aaron Gerry.

Below are some videos from MassTalent, containing some excellent tips and insights from our panel. And don’t forget to check out some other excellent write-ups on MassTalent from Small Army Marketing, Hill Holliday’s DJ Capobianco, and Allen & Gerritsen’s Eric Leist.

MassTalent Panel on Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Resumes:

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Oa0F9G2J4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL]

MassTalent Panel Talks Product Differentiation:

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgcv0fsnusg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL]

MassTalent Panel on Company Culture:

[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieDWLZCFHwM]

One of the best things about being a college student is that I can afford to take risks and try new opportunities with little financial consequence should things go awry. Therefore, I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities to engage myself in Boston’s terrific world of marketing. Emerson College’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter was also looking for a way to get involved in something marketing-related, while being able to give back to the community.

I was well-aware of Small Army Marketing‘s Be Bold, Be Bald initiative, which raises funds and awareness for cancer research foundations such as The Jimmy Fund and Livestrong. I decided that this was a perfect way for AMA Emerson to get involved, and with much help from my fellow board members, jumped at the opportunity.

In addition to street-teaming and taking promotional photographs, one of our main initiatives was a guerrilla marketing event. The idea was to do something unexpected that would gain media attention, ultimately raising awareness for Be Bold Be Bald. We decided to play a game of bald cap freeze tag in the middle of Copley Square. The result was highly successful, and we were even covered in various media outlets, including Fox 25 News.

Check out some pictures of the event, and video coverage below. You can also read my interview with Emerson College’s Katie Prisco-Buxbaum on the Berkeley Beacon.

Fox 25 News:

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMGK-P9OTEE]

Video from BostonTweet:

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PjwU15SDx0&feature=youtu.be]

[Photo courtesy of Flickr: Be Bold, Be Bald, by Karina Picache]