Ok this might seem like an odd request, but “odd” and me tend to follow each other around at the best of times ..
I’ll be speaking at several events over the next few months and most event organisers ask for a “bio” – however I’m not exactly sure if the one I have is ideal..
So, working on the basis that you have a $clue who I am and what I do ..
Here’s the current version – polite constructive input welcome via the comments:
Michele Neylon is the founder and managing director of the Irish based registrar and hosting provider Blacknight.
Neylon is an active member of the Internet industry, an award winning social media expert/evangelist and blogger. Neylon has spoken at numerous Internet Industry events covering a range of topics including policy, security, ICANN, Nominet, the IGF and Investment/First Tuesday.
A graduate of European Studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland, Neylon focuses primarily on European Internet issues and policy as well as serving on the Eurid registrar advisory board and the ENUM 353 policy advisory board. A film buff who speaks four languages, Neylon prides himself on being an early adopter of new technologies.
There’s an “about” me page here as well and my LinkedIn profile is here
Get ‘outspoken’ in there
Stewart – ok, but how? 🙂
Here are some small tweaks.
Was about to make some tweaks but see Paul has pretty much covered them all above.
He is an award winning social media evangelist and blogger(Kinda covers the early adapter bit).
Michele can speak (and curse) in four languages. Ask him to show you.
I would definitely mention the growth of BK as a company basically kicking ass and taking names with all of the others that are out there. Say where you the company is on domain / customer count as this is impressive.
Also mention the healthy sponsorship / support you give for Irish events perhaps.
Also in these its nice to mention something personal like. Michel has a full collection of Amazonian hunting knives from 320BC (I assume you don’t but you know what I mean – has a cat called Fluff, dog called Savage, loves to boat on the Liffey, etc…)
Hope this helps
Kieran
Please don’t name any animals after me ….
Ooops – Sorry Paul
A dog called Very Dangerous ??
He doesn’t have a cat called Squishy 🙂
This is a serious Bio support post not a cat luv in. That bloody animal its everywhere… 🙂
I would add the word dynamo in there to describe you Michele. Cursing in four languages is about right too 🙂
Would definitely mention “an active and passionate supporter of the internet industry in Ireland and the UK” (or wherever.)
Cos you do!
There is a fine line between “The Michele We Know” and “Michele The Respectable Internet Professional”.
A few tweaks to Paul’s tweaks incorporating Kieren’s suggestion:
Michele Neylon is the founder and managing director of Irelands largest registrar and hosting provider Blacknight.
Neylon is an active and often outspoken member of the Internet industry. He has presented at numerous internet industry events, covering a range of topics including policy, security, ICANN, Nominet, the Internet Governance Forum and Investment/First Tuesday. Neylon focuses primarily on European Internet issues and policy as well as serving on the Eurid registrar advisory board and the ENUM 353 policy advisory board. He is an award winning social media evangelist and blogger as well as a film buff who speaks four languages. Neylon is also a passionate philanthropist, sponsoring events such as EarthRace and 24 The Web.
Don’t forget to mention that you have a thing for toy dolls – perhaps after your language qualifications? 😉
I’d reduce the number of impersonal “Neylon” references, and replace them with “Michele”. makes you seem more approachable.
I agree with Kae.
A tongue-in-cheeck mashup of the above:
Meet Michele (not Michelle or Michael!):
Michele is very approachable, and he is the founder and managing director of Irelands largest registrar and hosting provider Blacknight. Blacknight is kicking ass and taking names under his direction.
He is an active and often outspoken member of the Internet industry and has a thing for toy dolls (not what you think!).
Michele has presented at numerous internet industry events, covering a range of topics including policy, security, ICANN, Nominet, the value of a good beer 8or ten) in the evening, the Internet Governance Forum and Investment/First Tuesday. He focuses primarily on European Internet issues and policy as well as serving on the Eurid registrar advisory board and the ENUM 353 policy advisory board. He just loves cats, and is constantly thinking about how cute they are with their ears, and whiskers, and nose.
He is an award winning social media evangelist and blogger as well as a film buff who speaks four languages and curses in eight. Neylon is also a passionate philanthropist, sponsoring events such as EarthRace and 24 The Web.
Hope this helps 😉
… and he has the coolest shirt collection at any ICANN event.
I have to say that I have a problem or two with your bio as I read it. Both here and on other sources like your LinkedIn resumé.
You really need to explain how a B.A. in modern languages can leap-frog his apparently better equipped B.Sc.(Comp.) rivals in setting up a viable business, in what is a very competitive field and in a country with very reluctant bank managers.
In other words, we know WHAT you’ve achieved and we know (or at least we can well surmise) WHY you did it.
The only missing link is HOW . . .
@Tom
Does it really matter what my degree was in?
A lot of people in the internet industry come from apparently unrelated disciplines
Michele
Sure there are. And the internet is enriched by their assorted backgrounds.
But even the graduates of Comp. Sc. & Web Engineering (arguably Ireland’s finest) have a hard time getting into any sort of commercial orbit, stable or unstable.
And many languages graduates would like to know how to translate their own aptitudes into viable businesses in a sustainable industry like the internet is.
If your bio is to be plausible and useful to its readers, you need to explain the HOW question.
On the other hand, if your bio is just a bookcover blurb, put whatever you want in it.
Just don’t expect people to read it as anything other than that.
@ Tom,
i see what you are saying but you are talking about a bio for a different purpose than the goals here.
HOW is the next step. This is an event bio. Michele needs to show just enough leg to attract further attention and the HOW question.
If the full story gets told there is no reason to go talk to him.
That does not mean “bookcover blurb”. There are lots of levels in between.
@Michele, which makes me think a story approach might be interesting to try (as described in Made to Stick).
EG.
15 years ago Michele Neylon founded a hosting company Blacknight from his kitchen table half way around the world.
Blacknight has battled to become Ireland’s largest registrar and hosting company and Michele now advises on European Internet issues and policy as well as serving on the Eurid registrar advisory board and the ENUM 353 policy advisory board.
An active and guaranteed outspoken member of the Internet industry. He has presented at numerous Internet industry events, covering a range of topics including policy, security, ICANN, Nominet, the Internet Governance Forum and Investment/First Tuesday.
His upfront and outspoken personality has won him numerous awards and he stands as one of the original social media evangelists and bloggers.
Only he can tell you where he finds the time to speak four languages, be an avid film buff and be a passionate philanthropist, sponsoring events such as EarthRace and 24 The Web.
Ask him how he did it.
@Alan – interesting approach, though most of the time the events I’m talking at are not about me or anyone else – they’re more about policy etc
Then why are you going? (As opposed to someone else?). Why should someone be interested enough to listen to you?
@Alan :
You don’t know what ambition is when you see it !
I can see why Michele is going.
Michele has copped that the internet industry is chiefly about communication. Words, gestures and manners in plain language.
In fact, he’s sort of proved it with Blacknight : commercial success is more about communicative ability within the cybersphere itself than software wizardry, customer engagement, market-focussed applications or anything else.
Now, picture the scene at both informal and formal gatherings of the EU Advisory board. It may well be that Michele is the ONLY member fluent in the 4 major languages of the member states. That is an opportunity.
He might – if he rubs most of the members the right way – get himself elected Chairman since he can, in the heel of the hunt, have one-on-ones with most important members in their own native tongue.
Being Chairman brings some influence on policy. But its real advantage is simply INFORMATION on the shape of things to come in the internet world:
1. The infrastructure development budget carve-up — of major interest to commercial entities.
2. Which sort of research projects would be favoured for EU sponsorship — of great interest to universities. (Expect a few speaking invites here.)
3. Other assorted information — such as the likely professional profile of EU executive staff involved with Internet matters; who’s who of importance within EU bureaucracy; identities of major players in internet sector on continent.
@Tom, you make some excellent points so Michele it is back to you.
You need to clarify your original brief. In this use case:
1. Where will your Bio be read?
2. Who will read it?
3. What do you want them to do next?
For myself I maintain a Google doc with 5 or 6 different bios.
Depending on WHERE, WHO and WHAT, different ones get used. Even then it is rare that the bio does not have to be tweaked to focus on the specific audience.
Alan
I think that he’s already sort of suggested in post 1 that it’s for these old speaker engagements.
Anyway here’s my ten cents worth.
It’s kinda decent of the event organisers to let you phrase your own bio — a fella can set the bar at the level that’s most appropriate for the audience.
<>
I just can’t do it.
Christ, if a man can’t serve the demands of his own ambitions then why should anyone else help him ?
Besides, there’s plenty of work down there in the management of that hosting company that needs doing.
And that’s where Michele ought be, not gallivanting around Europe for “policy” meetings and leaving the tech support gang in Carlow to be rushing around all day pulling the company’s trousers back up . . . .
Settle down and work there in Carlow, Michele boy !
There’s loads of improvements needed by your customers.
Loads of ideas available from the tech staff.
And loads of money if you get it right !