Maria Sipka

Current

CEO, Founder at Linqia
Founder, Board Member at Starfish Community Group S.L.
Founder at The Moderator Community

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Past

Area Director at Entrepreneur Organization
Director of Community Building at XING
COO at XING

Founder, CEO at Cherry Group

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1 more...

Education

University of Newcastle

Recommended

21 people have recommended Maria

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

Maria Sipka’s Summary

Maria is the CEO and founder of Linqia.

Linqia drives social media marketing results through an online global marketplace by connecting brands deep into the heart of conversations of online groups and social networks.

At the age of 18, Maria set a goal to become financially independent by 30. She built four businesses over 10 years including a portfolio of more than 35 properties.

By 28, Maria realized that life wasn’t 'just' about making money. She embarked on a world journey over 2 years meeting 100's of entrepreneurs through the Young Entrepreneur Organization (EO).

After meeting the founders of XING through EO, Maria took on the role of COO and then later became Director of Community Building responsible for generating alternative revenue streams and member acquisition strategies. Following XING's IPO in 2006, Maria founded Linqia to fulfill a significant gap in the market helping social networks monetize their platforms.

Maria's social vision is to play a key role in connecting community leaders globally, predominately in developing countries. Inspired by the work of The Hunger Project where hungry people are empowered to change their mindset, forming social circles and dramatically improving their situation to end their own hunger. Ultimately, the Linqia marketplace will serve as the conduit to fulfill on Maria's social vision bridging knowledge, opportunities and connection to one another.

Maria Sipka’s Specialties:

Online communities, online groups, social networks, web 2.0, social media, monetization, online marketplaces, conversational marketing, member/customer acquisition and retention,

Maria Sipka’s Experience

CEO, Founder

Linqia

(Privately Held; Internet industry)

April 2007 — Present (2 years 9 months)

Linqia drives social media marketing results through an online global marketplace by connecting brands deep into the heart of conversations of online groups and social networks.
Founder, Board Member

Starfish Community Group S.L.

(Internet industry)

2007 — Present (2 years )

Pioneering services and solutions in the online community and social media arena.

The Linqia platform helps social networks monetize their platform by enabling brands to reach group leaders to spark meaningful and authentic conversations.

The Moderator Community connects online community and group leaders to one another, offering over 1,500 resources, events, jobs and discussion forums related to online community management.
Founder

The Moderator Community

(Internet industry)

April 2007 — Present (2 years 9 months)

A resource rich gateway helping online community managers and group moderators share their experiences and learn how to build more engaging online discussions.
Area Director

Entrepreneur Organization

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

August 2006 — June 2008 (1 year 11 months)
Director of Community Building

XING

(Public Company; O1BC; Internet industry)

April 2006 — April 2007 (1 year 1 month)

- Created & defined business model for premium group product
- Designed & implemented education and training for premium group operators
- Proved premium paying rates to be 42-80% in premium groups compared to 13% across general platform
- Design & implemented member acquisition program to acquire significant databases into premium groups
- Founded Global Business Women community attracting over 14,000 professional women
- Initiated and launched premium groups on platform including dropping knowledge, Victress, Netweaving International, Round Table Group, Amazing Dreamers
COO

XING

(Public Company; O1BC; Internet industry)

August 2005 — April 2006 (9 months)

- Advised the CEO in the reorganization of the operations & established scalable processes
- Lead international country management team to increase new member intake
- Spokesperson & liaison at international industry events (ETRE, CeBIT, House of Lords London)
Founder, CEO

Cherry Group

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

January 1995 — September 2005 (10 years 9 months)

Sales and communication strategies for leading Australian brands and service firms.

Maria Sipka’s Education

University of Newcastle

BA , Communications , 1993 — 1995

Activities and Societies:

Journalism, Public Relations, Film Studies, Radio

Additional Information

Maria Sipka’s Websites:

Maria Sipka’s Interests:

LIVING & EXPERIENCING LIFE TO THE FULLEST!!! including traveling, fine food, jogging, swimming, film, foreign films, paris, Barcelona, books, boxing, learning, conversation, therapy, life coaching, mentoring, chocolate, networking, skiing, diving, music, business, gardens, laughing, cooking, art, painting, opera, meditating, Buddhism, zen, vipassana, intuition, non-profit, The Hunger Project, love, energy Beliefs • Who you become in 5 years will depend on the books that you read and the people you meet • We are experiencing a ‘networked information economy’ • Social networks bring traditional databases to life • Content inspires meaningful dialog • Relationships are formed and deepened in social networks • Social networks form a person or groups identity • The future of communities is one of being interconnected • Online communities are a mirror of how humans behave in the offline world • Humans strive for social connectedness, a sense of belonging.

Maria Sipka’s Groups:

• Member of the Entrepreneur Organization (EO) since 2005
• Various leadership roles within EO including Area Director of Eastern Europe (current), Committee Member International Learning (2006), Membership Chair Sydney Chapter (2006), Learning Chair Sydney Chapter (2005)
• Public speaker on the topic of social networks including House of Lords, London, IESE Women’s Club, IBM.
• Senior consultant on community building for YPO, EO, IBM, ISIC, IESE, Active Capital Partners.
• Investor and activist for The Hunger Project (www.thp.org)
• Passionate about entrepreneurialism in the developing world, social networks, mentoring, philosophy, reading, traveling, film, skiing, hiking, XING