Social Media Hero – Björn Lapakko

Currently, I am the Community and Marketing Manager at Funderbeam which is the first and only platform in the world where growth companies are funded and traded across borders. On blockchain. Prior to this, I worked as a marketer primarily for Fortune 100 companies in Minneapolis, MN (USA).

People behind social media

Name: Björn Lapakko
Company: Funderbeam
Position: Community and Marketing Manager
Years in field: 8 years
Social media profiles: Twitter, Flickr, Instagram

What is it that you actually do? Describe your daily routine.

Manage our Funderbeam community which entails speaking and connecting with Funderbeam users and coordinating events with them. Also creating and currating content for our social channels, writing our email newsletter, managing ads, and helping our amazing HR Manager with developing our company’s culture.

Why do you do what you do?

If you’re talking about marketing… I have no real idea why. I started as an education major but switched to business because I felt educators don’t get nearly the respect they deserve. Marketing seemed like a logical fit because it was both creative and analytical. Personally, I enjoy balancing self-expression and Stoic logic so when I was 19, marketing appeared to serve that purpose and today I think I was semi-correct in that assumption.

What was your first social media business account you managed?

Microsoft ExpertZone https://expertzone.microsoft.com/Start/Welcome

In 90 characters describe social media?

The good (and great), the bad, and the ugly.

If you could only use one social media platform, then what would it be?

It’s a tough call between Instagram and Medium… I lean to Instagram because I’m basic like that.

Proudest achievement?

Smoked a three during an NBA halftime show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfXCJC9k_7w

What was the coolest project that you have done or been a part of?

For me, the coolest I think has been everything we’ve been doing at Funderbeam. Considering the budgets I’ve had at some of the bigger companies I’ve worked for, you definitely expect to do “big” and “cool” things but with a startup nothing is given, you have to work super hard for everything so our humble successes thus far have been the coolest and definitely the most rewarding.

What world class brand would you like to manage in social media?

Patagonia, hands down.

If you don’t have internet and electricity for a longer period what would you do?

Fitness and cooking

Is internet ruled by cats?

I hope not

Who is your role model and why?

Hmmm, I like Carl Sagan if we’re naming people that we don’t personally know. I have a mentor but they don’t know it and I’d rather not single people out for fear of diminishing all of my other great relationships.

If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why?

Spiderman because my friend who died of a brain tumor was Spiderman

What is the biggest mistake you have seen on social media?

People being unkind and stating opinions as facts

What is the first step to become a social media hero?

1st – Have the mindset to genuinely be informative (factually correct)
2nd – Be kind

What are your suggestions for a beginner social media manager?

Poise, patience, and a humble nature will get you far… unless you work for Breitbart.

A video to describe a social media hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=9EjGMxpJ_aA 

Check out our previous heroes at
www.7blaze.com/tag/social-media-hero/