Shavanna Miller, Social Media Manager at Rosetta Stone, explained to me the premise behind this event: When asked why Rosetta Stone got involved in Social Media Week, Shavanna put it simply: This was the first time I was at an event that was driven by the crowd. You could see tweets and voting results live on the screens. It reminded me of TurnTables, only instead of voting for another DJ, we voted for another cultural experience. I love seeing companies incorporate social media in their makeup and explore unconventional avenues to promote their product. It was a great event with lots of delicious food, cocktails, and great music! I was also really excited to see Tom Adams, CEO of Rosetta Stone, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to chat with him about the secret to the success of Rosetta Stone. We also talked a little about gamification and how Rosetta Stone is using it to help its users to learn a new language. “The hardest thing in self-study learning is motivation,” explained Adams. “So, we have game elements in the design.” For those who never used Rosetta Stone before, there are different puzzles to solve in order to pass to the next level. “When they solve a puzzle they learn. And when they learn they feel proud.” Adams also shared advice on how to manage stress to succeed, something all entrepreneurs face:
