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.

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“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.”

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Links:

Jennie Sager/Nextdoor:

Website: https://au.nextdoor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextdoor/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thejenspot

Mike Drysdale/Dear Storyteller:

Website: https://dearstoryteller.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dear_storyteller/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeDrysdale_

State of Social:

Website: https://stateofsocial.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/state_of_social/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/state_of_social