Connecting on a Human Level with Willa Tellekson-Flash
Jul 26, 2022
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Willa Tellekson-Flash, Director of Community at Public, discusses creating safe spaces, effective community guidelines, onboarding new members, and shaping company strategy. They also explore the rapid growth of Public's community and its focus on diversity and inclusion in the investing space.
Public.com fosters a sense of belonging and encourages conversations around investing by connecting people based on their interests.
Public.com prioritizes creating a positive and respectful community atmosphere by enforcing community guidelines and empowering members to report inappropriate behavior.
Public.com's success in community building can be attributed to the integration of community efforts across teams within the company.
Deep dives
The Power of Community in Investing
Public.com, a community-based investing platform, has experienced significant growth and has cultivated a diverse membership base. The company recognizes the importance of community in making investing more approachable and less intimidating. By connecting people based on their interests, such as running or specific products, Public.com fosters a sense of belonging and encourages conversations around investing. The community team focuses on providing value through resources, content, and social features that help members enhance their investment knowledge. Additionally, public.com prioritizes creating a positive and respectful community atmosphere by enforcing community guidelines and empowering members to report inappropriate behavior. The company has integrated community-building efforts across teams like marketing, partnerships, and product development, ensuring the broadest reach and representation possible. Through intentional efforts and a focus on community, public.com has grown to a valuation of 1.2 billion dollars and continues to prioritize the development of an inclusive and engaging investment community.
Connecting People Through Shared Interests
Public.com recognizes the importance of connecting people based on their interests to foster engagement and learning. By leveraging members' existing passions, such as running or preferred brands, the community team at Public.com helps individuals find their connection to investing. For example, if someone is interested in Nike running shoes, they can explore investing in Nike as a publicly traded company. This approach creates a sense of personal relevance and encourages meaningful conversations within the community. Public.com has expanded beyond requiring investments to participate in the community by implementing additional social features like charts, polls, and various content creation options. These features provide more opportunities for members to engage, contribute, and learn within the community.
Maintaining a Positive and Respectful Community Atmosphere
Public.com has prioritized creating a positive and respectful community atmosphere by enforcing community guidelines. These guidelines set behavioral expectations and foster a safe space for diverse perspectives. The community team actively moderates the platform, addressing inappropriate behavior and ensuring compliance with guidelines. Additionally, members play an important role in maintaining community health by reporting violations and actively contributing to a positive environment. Public.com's commitment to a respectful community has contributed to its substantial growth and the sense of belonging experienced by its diverse membership base.
Integrating Community Across Teams for Growth
Public.com's success in community building can be attributed to the integration of community efforts across teams within the company. Marketing, partnerships, product development, and community teams collaborate closely to ensure the broadest reach and representation possible. By carefully considering how partnerships, advertisements, and outreach efforts align with the company's community goals, Public.com has built a diverse membership base that reflects its commitment to inclusivity. This integration enables Public.com to continuously grow and enhance the value it provides to its community members.
The Impact of Building Community with Intent
Public.com's intentional approach in building a community around investing has resulted in exponential growth and a valuation of 1.2 billion dollars. By focusing on community-building early and prioritizing the development of an inclusive and engaging environment, Public.com has successfully created a space where people feel connected, valued, and empowered in their investment journey. The collaboration between multiple teams and the emphasis on connecting individuals through shared interests have been key drivers of Public.com's community success.
#050 Today’s episode is a behind-the-scenes look at a massive online community success story. We’re very excited to have Willa Tellekson-Flash joining us to discuss Public.com. Willa is the Director of Community at Public, an investing platform valued at $1.2 billion with a community of over one million members. She even made the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Marketing list as a result of her amazing work! We talk all about creating safe spaces that encourage conversation around touchy subjects, outlining effective community guidelines, and empowering a small team to enforce the rules and manage a diverse user base. Willa and Jillian also discuss attracting and onboarding new members the smart way and working closely with other departments to shape company strategy. We know you’ll enjoy this one, so listen in for some great tips and tactics you can apply to any growing community. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/cx050.