Speaker: Heidi Votaw, IBM

Heidi was part of the team that was responsible for providing the first social software offering from IBM. She currently runs the team that is responsible for the overall Lotus Connections business which includes a mixture of Product Management, Offerings Management and Program Management that is part of the Lotus Software Group within IBM. Her team provides the strategy and direction for the emerging area of Social Software. She is responsible for setting the product requirements for the technology, contributing to the overall efforts in marketing the product, being an advocate for customers / partners / ISVs, and setting future directions, to name a few. In addition to assisting customers with social software directions and solutions, she also works to help drive usage and adoption throughout the IBM Corporation. Heidi has held numerous positions at IBM from Support, Marketing and Product Management. Before leading the Social Software she was the lead Product Manager responsible for the Notes client. She was responsible for contributing to the efforts of the revamped Lotus Notes 8 client. Prior to that, she managed the entire client portfolio for Domino (iNotes Access for Microsoft Outlook, Domino Off-Line Services, Domino Web Access), setting the strategy for the initial Workplace Messaging / Workplace Client Technology / IBM Symphony offerings as well as products such as Lotus SmartSuite and Lotus FastSite. She continues to present product strategies and plans to both internal and external audiences worldwide. She has also held a variety of roles in her tenure at Lotus Development Corporation since joining the company in 1991. Heidi received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Regis College, Westin, Massachusetts and her master's degree in Marketing from Rivier College, Nashua, New Hampshire.