Adnan Mahmud, CEO of Jolkona Foundation

Posted by admin

September 14, 2009

Jolkona Foundation. If you’re a Seattle local, I’m sure you’ve probably heard of it, but now it’s time to get to know one of the faces behind this amazing organization.

If you’re like me, you love giving to non-profit organizations; however, not being able to see the impact of your donation can be a bit frustrating. Well, not anymore, because when you donate to the Jolkona Foundation, you will receive tangible proof of your donation with a video, photos, or other material. In addition, with Jolkona, you have complete control over how your money is spent and to which causes it goes. And the best part about it? They’re fully utilizing social media in all of their efforts. Between their Facebook Connect integration with their website, to their blogs, to their YouTube videos, they are fully Non-Profit 2.0, and I think all other non-profit organizations should take notice of what they’re doing.

As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of what Adnan Mahmud and his wife and Co-Founder, Nadia, are doing with the Jolkona Foundation. I think it’s absolutely amazing stuff.

With that, please take a second to get to know Adnan, CEO of the Jolkona Foundation.

The Basics:

1. What is your name?
Adnan Azfar Mahmud

2. E-mail?
adnan at jolkona dot org

3. What is your occupation/company?
Co-Founder and CEO of Jolkona Foundation

4. What is the best part of your job?
Realizing every day that it doesn’t take million-dollar solutions to change people’s lives. There are small things that we can do that can go a long way in making the world a better place.

5. Originally from? When and how did you end up in the Greater Seattle area?
Originally from Bangladesh. I moved to Seattle almost six years ago when Microsoft hired me.

6. How can people find you on the web?
twitter.com/adnanmahmud

Social Media:

7. What is it about social media that attracts you?
That it is a relatively cheap way to reach a large community very easily. There is a low (negligible) barrier to entry, but the sky is the limit.

8. How do you utilize social media?
We use it as an effective marketing/PR vehicle to reach our supporters without spending big advertising money.

9. What is one thing the mainstream population should know about social media?
It is a lot more fun than people might think.

10. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
Random musings from a social entrepreneur with a wide array of interests who is focused on galvanizing the next generation of philanthropists.

11. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
Nascent, fun, creative, vibrant, and full of potential.

12. Do you remember your social media “wow” moment? What was it?
Remember it very clearly—when Ashton Kutcher showed that he has just as much reach as a billion-dollar media giant.

13. What is one piece of advice you give to new users of social media?
You have got to have fun while using social media. If you think of it as a chore, it will be very unrewarding.

14. Are you currently working on any projects which involve the use of social media? If so, what are they?
Jolkona Foundation is a small non-profit startup that I co-founded, and we make extensive use of social media already and are constantly looking for ways to further invest in social media. Got any ideas?

15. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future you would like to let people know about?
Social Media Club Seattle’s monthly event is a definite must-attend for anyone in social media.

Just For Fun:

16. What are your hobbies?
Travel, music, collecting stamps (yup, some of us still do that!), any sort of sports but mostly beach volleyball and soccer, and meeting new people. I absolutely love meeting new people.

17. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
Some beach surfing, enjoying the sun, and sleeping!

18. Favorite restaurant in Seattle?
Umi.

19. Favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer?
Anything, as long as it gets me out of the home. But, I do like to play beach volleyball as much as I can. Wish I could do more of it!

20. Favorite quote?
“All you can do is make the most of the time given to you.” – some movie

21. Guilty pleasure?
Okonomiyaki. But, we can’t get them here, so I would have to go with cupcakes!

22. Favorite actor/actress?
This one is obvious: Angelina Jolie.

23. I really like it when…
Someone takes the time to say “Hello… how are you doing?” with a genuine smile and care.

24. One day I would love to…
Travel the world and hear the stories of all the different people and truly acknowledge and appreciate that there are other ways of being than the one I have grown up knowing.

25. If I could meet anyone, alive or dead, I would want to meet…
Way too many. I have so many questions that I would like the answers to!

26. What would you like everyone to know about you?
I am just a man trying to find his way through this world.