Sincerely, Sofia

Welcome back! In class this week, we are discussing interpersonal influence, opinion leadership, and the diffusion of innovation (I love how we are tying new topics into last week's discussion!) While reading through articles about social media strategies, word-of-mouth influencing, and opinion leaders, the concept of authenticity kept recurring. Especially in Simon Sinek's TED Talk "Why good leaders make you feel safe," he emphasizes that companies with a powerful, genuine "why" connect better with the public than companies just trying to sell a product (Sinek, 2014). This is also true for the individuals companies use to promote their products. We all value honesty, do we not? Honesty and authenticity go hand-in-hand. When we are being told about new innovations- whether product, service, or idea- we want those communicating to us to believe in what they are sharing. That is an aspect of interpersonal influence that I believe opinion leaders have an upper ...

Happy Sunday! This week, I have spent some time studying the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. According to the Boston University School of Public Health, the Diffusion of Innovation Theory is a theory developed by E.M. Rogers in 1962 that explains how an idea or product gains momentum and diffuses through a specific population or social system over time (LaMorte, 2022). The DOI Theory is a concept that we live in every day! One thing that I appreciate about the Diffusion of Innovation Theory? It includes a simple graph that effectively communicates its meaning. The graph describes five different types of adopters described by the Boston University School of Public Health (LaMorte, 2022): Innovators - Adventurous, risk-taking individuals who want to be the first to try innovations. Early Adopters - Individuals who are comfortable with change and do not need to be convinced to try innovations. They are willing to lead when they see the need for change. Early Majority - People that adop...

Hello there! My name is Sofia. I am currently a graduate student studying Strategic Communications! I received my bachelor's degree in Communication Studies in 2022, and it didn't take very long for me to put my nose back into the books. I love learning about how to reach others, giving, and getting the most out of every interaction I have. Whether speaking or writing, sharing fun stories or spreading information, I hope to communicate authentically and with purpose. Here's a bit of fun, personal information about me! I love to travel. Whether I'm visiting a friend studying abroad or going to see one of my favorite bands live, I'm probably putting miles on my car. I have a fascination for World War II. I will read, watch, and visit any 1940s or World War II material I can get my hands on. With this interest comes a love for antiques, big band music, crocheting, and Old Hollywood. Growing up, I worked as a docent at a historic home. I would greatly enjoy taking my gr...