The digital industry’s not really about technology, it’s about people. The digital economy is supported by technology but is conceived, created and developed by people, the heroes of digital.
But who are their heroes? Who inspired, supported and taught them along their journey and to become digital heroes?
We want to find out. So, we’re asking some of our industry’s leading figures to nominate their digital hero and to explain what’s so special about them. And, in return, we’ll be asking the nominated hero to choose their own, creating a never-ending celebration of the most respected people in digital.
Laura Jordan Bambach, one of the creative heroes of digital, is chief creative officer of Mr President and a former president of D&AD. She’s a co-founder of She Says and the CANNT festival.
Who is your digital hero?
Rosie X (Cross), the founder of geekgirl (the world’s first cyberfemminist hyperzine).
What have they done to win hero status in your eyes?
Rosie fuelled my drive to make the digital space one that’s inclusive of women and that celebrates difference of all kinds. She gave me a platform, the mentorship and the vision to make the most of myself. She was the first to articulate, for me, the power the internet has to change the world for the better.
She is a woman of action – she built a community, a magazine, and one of the coolest websites in the world around the incredible women in technology. She’s generous – she let me learn and create anything I wanted to for the platform, which she shared with me openly.
She’s freaking talented. A great writer, a visionary, a pioneer. A connecter of people and ideas.
She made a massive difference to every women working and playing with the internet. And a massive personal difference to me. She set me on my path and gave me safety to experiment. She made me stronger in my belief that creativity can change the world.
How has their heroism helped drive digital?
She is the original geekgirl. The founder of the first global voice for the likes of me and many other women. Her hard work helped and still helps create a more inclusive space for women. She’s everything the internet should still embrace. All the good bits. Full of soul.
What the biggest challenges in digital we need another hero to solve?
In some ways, digital has become less about soul; less about what is possible, and more about what can be delivered efficiently. I love an MVP as much as the next person, but more focus on the experimentation and creative leaps that take us somewhere new, please! And more of the best of humanity.
What is your most heroic personal achievement so far in digital?
I’ve had a lot of accolades for my work, but the thing I’m most proud of is creating SheSays, the volunteer network to get more women into creative careers.
It was born of digital, and exists helping women at every stage of their careers, in a digital and physical way.
