Spotlights
Spotlight on Creativity June 2009
June's second spotlight on creativity is on Ami Kassar, founder of ideablob.com and bloblive. For the past several years, Ami has served as the Chief Innovation Officer of Advanta. Prior to Advanta, Ami founded shop2give.com, a network of online charity shopping malls. Ami attended Brandeis University and the Marshall School of Business at USC and he currently lives in the suburbs of Philly with his wife Bethany, and his two children, Sam and Charlotte.
Your name:
Ami Kassar
Firm/company:
Ideablob
Occupation:
Founder and President
Current Location:
Spring House, PA
Hometown:
Cape Town, South Africa
Favorite Philadelphia neighborhood:
Art Museum Area
Best advice you've ever been given:
If you’re ever faced with a tough choice between two options, pick the one that you would be most upset if it disappears.
Your favorite thing about living in the Philadelphia Region:
I love the people in Philadelphia, and the sense of community.
Your favorite thing about working in the Philadelphia Region:
Philadelphia feels like a big city with a small town feel. A lot is happening, and yet it does not feel overwhelming.
How would you market the Philadelphia Region to professionals outside the region?
For great work-life balance, consider Philadelphia as option.
What advice would you give to young professionals trying to break into your industry?
Be creative, open minded, and a little gutsy in trying to get your first break.
How has the entrepreneurial community in Philadelphia evolved in the past ten years?
It’s exciting to see the increase in activity in internet startups in Philly, and groups that are helping them.
On ideablob.com, entrepreneurs share ideas in exchange for feedback, advice, and votes and the opportunity to win a monthly prize of $10,000. At our offline bloblive events, entrepreneurs come together to network and receive feedback from one another.
To learn more about Ami’s work in the region, visit www.ideablob.com.