Building a Digital Classroom on LinkedIn

Editor’s Note: LinkedIn Brazil recently launched the Make It Happen campaign to show how professionals are leveraging their networks to find opportunities. From consolidating a small company to keeping in touch with colleagues from other countries, our members are making the most of their professional networks on LinkedIn. Here’s a story from one of our members Leonardo Brant, a writer, researcher and culture manager.

After working in consulting with Brant Associates for over 15 years, I decided to change the course of my business to explore the creative economy in Brazil. In March 2010, I founded Cemec to help Brazilian professionals and entrepreneurs think creatively about their challenges. We started by building a physical space for networking to foster innovative thinking. We then did an extensive search for a digital space that could replicate the physical experience of a classroom, while extending the opportunity to network. Today, LinkedIn serves as this digital classroom where we exchange information and operate a meaningful community to share relevant knowledge.

As I leveraged LinkedIn more, I realized that this network is even more powerful than I originally thought. I have used it to find and connect people with shared interests, promote interactive processes and fund audacious ideas. I also used LinkedIn to build our business even further, encouraging members of our LinkedIn Group RedeCemec to participate in LinkedIn's Make It Happen campaign in Brazil by sharing professional stories of their creative ventures.

Professionals from all industries are spending more time on social networks, and it is no different with creative ventures like mine. Moving forward, I intend to concentrate more of my activities on LinkedIn, and encourage those I know to do the same. I believe LinkedIn is a network with excellent focus and results, capable of concentrating the energy of professionals to generate creative and sustainable businesses.

This is my LinkedIn story. Like me, many other Brazilian professionals have been using LinkedIn to find people, discuss ideas and bring projects to life. Meet some of them on linkedin-makeithappen.com.br and share your story.

If LinkedIn has helped you transform your career or business, please share your story with us or write a post on LinkedIn with the hashtag #MyLinkedInStory. For more inspiration, check out more success stories.