I recently interviewed Dave Ursillo, a GenY writer of self help and alternative leadership. We discuss the merits of personal branding and the role social media will play as Gen Y begins to inherit the world’s problems. Dave founded the “Renegadeism” Movement, which intends to inspire GenYers to defy cynicism and be true to their generation’s nature. He can be read at DaveUrsillo.com.
You seem to feel Gen Y has a lot of responsibility to change the future. Where 
and how do you see them starting?
It really will be all on our shoulders. I forsee the first change that GenY will begin to influence is our culture as a nation. Our country is rife with resentment and division on the political level. That sentiment is turning off a lot of Americans to the political process.
So, before we as a generation truly inherit responsibility and control for our country (as we grow older), I believe we need to start concentrating on the type of culture we would wish to see our country ultimately embody, before we get there.
How do you feel about the many Gen Yers who feel victimized by the economy and the fact that there were no jobs waiting for them. What would you say to them or what advice would you give?
Victimization won’t help anyone who’s looking for a job. The immediate responses to high unemployment for GenYers should be two-fold: first, embrace the way the world is changing through personal branding and social media; and second, be all-the-more motivated to become the change we wish to see in our country.
How can Gen Y use social media for personal advancement and what role does it play in the collaboration and collective change you forecast
Regardless of a Gen Yer’s personal or professional goals, social media can help solidify his or her brand, resume, image and so forth. Many are justifiably wary of social media because they fear the repercussions from a bad Facebook picture or foolish Tweet.
The fact is, when you concentrate and invest yourself in social media, you emerge as a better person; you’re obligated to be more responsible, uphold a certain public image, and strive to come across to friends, family, strangers and possible employers in the ways you would ideally be viewed.
On a collective level, social media is already playing (and will continue to have in the future) a significant role in Gen Yers connecting, interacting, and working together. Whether business, for fun, or on behalf of bigger political and social ideals, social media is helping facilitate the connections and the sky is truly the limit.
This idea of personal branding is a growing concept. Some argue that it’s dishonest and encourages people to present them in a false light online. Do you agree with this?
Personal branding is dishonest only if you allow it to be, or intend for it to be.
I liken personal branding to an Internet version of spinning those pointless summer jobs in high school on your resume — the point wasn’t to lie or mislead, but you sought to highlight your best attributes, skills, hobbies, and passions for the sake of an image that best represented you.
Lying on your resume might have looked good, but you’d be setting yourself up for problems during an interview or if you got a job you were unqualified to have.
Lying when branding online is the same thing. If you’re good at branding, you need to be transparent. If you’re transparent, you’ll eventually be found out and labeled a fraud.
How have you personally used social media, and what role has it played in your professional/personal life?
I’ve always been a computer geek, so social media is like second nature to me. I’ve used social media to forge a name for myself as a writer and aspiring author across the Internet, especially on Twitter. I’ve made some awesome contacts with fellow writers and aspiring authors, as well as industry-insiders who are very helpful to tender advice most would pay a lot of money for.
The benefits of social media online carries over to my personal life quite a bit. Every one of my friends and family members know what I’m doing and striving to achieve. A lot of Gen Y’ers dont realize how many secondary benefits come from that transparency.
One of the biggest roles is networking. When people know what you’re doing (especially when pursuing your dreams) they are often very willing to help you with resources and meeting new people.
