MVP 2 | Jennie Sager's Most Valuable Perspective

In this episode of MVP, Managing Director of Nextdoor Australia, Jennie Sager, joins Dear Storyteller GM Mike Drysdale backstage at State of Social for a closer look at building communities and real-life connections.
In this episode of MVP, Managing Director of Nextdoor Australia, Jennie Sager, joins Dear Storyteller GM Mike Drysdale backstage at State of Social for a closer look at building communities and real-life connections. They explore the reasons why Nextdoor’s community-based app grew during the string of calamities known as 2020 and discuss its transformation from a needs-based to a wants-based platform.

The conversation goes on to cover the wondrous results of multi-generational communities and Jennie shares some insight to counter the idea that ‘community life is collapsing in Australia’. Also, with a career that’s spanned multiple global media companies (think: Twitter, ABC, MTV), Jennie has plenty of wisdom to share about building something from scratch and creating rapid growth. 

Lastly, Jennie responds to Mike's classic quickfire questions, uncovering her love of podcasts, a surprising prized possession, and Mike and Jennie’s mutual love for the ever-quotable Seth Godin. In this episode, Jennie’s down-to-earth and compassionate approach serves as a refreshing tonic in an industry that can often err towards creative self-interest. Her antidote (and one you'll commit to memory on the other side of this chat), is community.


People kind of became reclusive and were indoors more and online more, but I think at the same time people realised the value of personal connection and that’s something that hasn’t changed now that we’re out the other side.” 

There was a great post from a 90-year-old in Australia a couple of months ago where she literally said in her post ‘I can’t believe I’m on an online platform, I don’t even use the internet, my daughter had to help me, I’m 90 years old, but I just want to connect with the local community.” 

Just figuring out, where can I make this really resonate with people and then listen to their feedback. I think people forget to listen. Just listening in to those super-engaged users and taking that on board and going, ‘hey these are people that instantly latched onto our product, we’ve got to figure out a way to serve this better.” 


Links:

Jennie Sager/Nextdoor:

Mike Drysdale/Dear Storyteller:

State of Social:

MVP 2 | Jennie Sager's Most Valuable Perspective
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