Ryan Holmes

“Importantly, companies are using social media to do things that go way beyond just chatting up existing customers on Facebook. Sales departments use social to nurture leads and close sales. HR posts job openings and vets applicants. Community and support squads mine networks, blogs and forums with deep listening tools.”

“For some people, staying grounded means doing yoga. For others, it's spending time with family. Social media, too, can be a lifesaver.”

“During the early days of HootSuite, when social media was still seen as a fad, I made the decision to treat our funding as if it were my personal bank account. That's not to say I blew it on fast cars and fancy dinners. Exactly the opposite.”

“No surprise that, as companies have adopted social media en masse, demand for software and applications to manage and monitor social use has exploded.”

“Certification programs for social media are blossoming as a response to the demand for more social media training. Both industry professionals and recent graduates are tapping into tactical training programs to help them stay up to date as the industry grows.”

“Every day I'd come home after school, pop the hood of my mom's car, put alligator clips on the battery, and wire into the house and go play on my computer. If I used it for too long, I'd wear down the car battery, and my mom would be all mad at me the next day.”

“From its humble origins in college dorm rooms, social media has quietly crept into the boardroom.”

“I often talk about the PayPal mafia out of San Francisco, people that were in PayPal and got out of PayPal and continue to reinvest in other start-ups and create a huge pay-it-forward type of network there.”

“I'd love to build a brand, a legacy.”

“Companies and managers that find a way to harness social media stand to gain.”

“Hammer down product fundamentals first. Make sure you've got something that works before doubling down on promotion and marketing. Create a groundswell of organic support, and only then leverage PR and advertising to spread the word.”

“One of the most important principles I've learned is, every so often, just drop everything. Stop racing from one party to the next.”

“Understanding and respecting your roots is critical not only to winning the tech talent wars but leaving a legacy that transcends bottom lines.”

“Don't be scared to try new things, but remember to hold on to the vision of your company and the initial successes that defined your brand.”

“Anyone working at HootSuite will tell you that I don't sugarcoat my opinions. I heavily encourage feedback and suggestions - partly because I'm blunt about offering the same in return.”

“When you think of technology that gets people excited - long lines at stores, enthusiastic reviews in the blogosphere, passionate evangelists - the first thing to come to mind probably isn't thermostats. Then, along came Nest.”

“LinkedIn and Flickr, among other sites, have already proven freemium can generate revenue in the social media context.”

“Entrepreneurs, by disposition, are built to think big. When a role no longer affords those opportunities, it might be best to leave it in capable hands and move on.”

“If you catch me lying, it's probably because I'm about to surprise someone for their birthday, or hide away the specific details about a company getaway to a strange but amazing place.”

“When my company was first getting off the ground, we were completely lost in the shuffle, despite our best efforts. In 2012, however, we had a 28-foot-long, 15,000-pound secret weapon. To stand out amid the gala parties and blow-out bashes hosted by much bigger tech companies, HootSuite decided to take to the streets.”