Although I had been in Detroit for a few hours before that short bus ride, I didn't know any of the other 140+ bloggers personally before my trip.
My first engagement with a #FordNAIAS blogger was when sitting at the hotel restaurant bar. He was sitting at the other end of the bar Tweeting as was I. Then we had the "aha" moment when he sat closer to me and engaged in conversation with a perfect stranger: me.
A few minutes later he was telling me about his trip from London to Detroit and genuinly interested in the blogger collective I was representing. This was the start of something fabulous that was about to happen:
I made new and friendly connections with various other design and art professionals that also happened to be bloggers.
Amazingly enough, these bloggers also happened to Turkish, Brittish, French, South Asian, German and Canadian. They blogged about Fashion, were avid Instagramers, shared in my foodie lifestyle, and were kind-enough to put-up with my moment of wide-eyed fan-tude.
As I shared with my friends back-home, this event, by-far, had the smartest, savviest and the most ego-less group of bloggers I have ever come across.
I ate it up and took advantage of learning from everyone I came in contact with. And why not? I had the unique opportunity of learning from the brightest minds in the automobile, design, fashion and arts industry.
Another great thing about this opportunity was also sharing a little about me with bloggers that didn't have a preconceived notion about the Latina Lifestyle Bloggers Collective, my intentions, or my qualifications as a PR professional or blogger. It was by all intents and purposes, refreshing.
It showed in my spirit and my constant bounce in my step. (Heck, I even wore high-heeled booties and didn't feel the pain in my ankle when I walked the entire NAIAS floor!)
Instead of being cautious of what I said, who I said it to, and who it might upset, I opened up.
I was me.
I was the me that was comfortable in sharing my point of view, nerdy, strong willed, and otherwise contradictory to popular belief.
Like when I asked if Ford designs for men or women - to the head of design!
The answer: Women are brought in early in the design process to give their "female" perspective. This was especially true with the newly redesigned Ford Fusion which appeals to both men and women.I was the me that almost jumped up from my chair when a Ford speaker posed the same question I was almost crucified over: "So What?"
Which I followed up with the question: "Does culture shift design or does design shift culture?" to some of the brightest minds in Design, in a roomful of bloggers from all over the world and Ford exec's. (Yep, I'm that balsy)
The answer: Ford designs globally and works collectively for global products.And it was then that I realized: I am at my best, when I am surrounded by good design, creative brains, and smart folks.
View my photos HERE or on Instagram.