Writing the first corporate blog of a company which prides itself for being at the heart of the web 2.0 blogging phenomenon is not a task that I should take lightly. Or not.
Definitions of what distinguishes a blog from a regular article differ… articles and expression opinionated freely, beyond the reach of corporate editorial control and censorship. Wikipedia suggests a blog is something akin to a personal online diary.
I suspect exposing my uncensored personal reflections will set the scene for considerable controversy within the company, with possible repercussions well beyond the scope of Kimia´s realm J. Therefore, I shall speak personally but soberly and for this first blog entry, it will be the corporate me talking...
My contribution as first blog will be a reflection on the diversity of Kimia´s staff and buzzing workforce. Having spent nearly 4 months at Kimia, I have gone through three phases of observation of the Kimia DNA:
1st impression. Having never worked more than sporadically within Spanish business environments, I find an amicable bunch of techies toying away on their keyboards like only developers do. Since I don´t speak SOAP, Java nor C++, I cautiously greet them with measured politeness and distance.
2nd impression. As the weeks rolled by, I start to get to know the people individually. I am increasingly confused… From an initial understanding of Kimia as a start-up but nonetheless fairly typical and coherent company, an impression of polar opposites emerges... Whether regarding geographic origin (outspoken Basques versus proud Madrileños to state but one example), political belongings (and manifestations!), corporate spirit & senses of humour, I feel I´m witnessing a collection of antipodes of Spanish society. I start to wonder, what has brought these people under the same roof…?
3rd (and hopefully final) impression. What comes around, goes around… My first impression may have been correct after all. Kimia employees share a common craze, a shared passion. Experienced from various angles but inescapably sharing the same nucleus. Living and breathing the connected internet, web 2.0, online social life or whatever you want to call it… is what brings them together.
This is best reflected in the distinctive blend of successful bloggers we have here at Kimia. Interestingly, few will congregate online “together” as previously stated social antipodes have placed the bloggers in separate spectres of the innernet. But they undeniably share the passion for online expression, publication and interaction…
It took me a while to figure this out… but only because I was using traditional means of observation… Once I looked through optic of a computer screen, virtual reality suddenly added sense to reality. From an online behavioural perspective, Kimia indeed speaks with many voices but all through the same megaphone. I´m pleased and grateful to take part in this ride and have the opportunity to voice these words through that megaphone.
Best wishes for the holidays and see y’all 2008!
Daniel
