SO WHAT’S WITH ALL THE MEF DRAMA?: I’ll explain…

So bit of ruckus over the weekend. Quite a few folks reaching out about it and since I’ve had over 50k impressions on LinkedIn over the last 4 days I know people are paying attention.

So here’s what up.

Troutman Amin, LLP lawyer Puja J. Amin–better known as Queenie–is one of the best known legal speakers in the industry. And her practice is absolutely on fire right now.

Everyone wants her on their stage–and in their corner. She just got done speaking at the big Scottsdale TCPA summit (where she was voted the best session by the attendees), she is speaking at LeadsCon next month–heck even the webinar she was on two weeks ago had 800 attendees.

Puja speaks. People listen.

LIMITLESS: Puja J. Amin is the Hottest Attorney in America Right Now—And it Has Nothing To Do With Her Looks

And its wonderful to see, of course.

A while back she was invited to speak at something called the Mobile Ecosystem Forum–I had never heard of it either– in Miami, Florida. Cool fine whatever.

We talked about it and she decided she wanted to fly across the country to attend this thing and speak for them. Big sacrifice and commitment. But, this is what we do. No problem.

She preps for about an hour with this guy TJ Thinakaran who had extended the invite, puts in another hour outlining her remarks, books her travel, and we even start promoting the event. 

Then Friday–International Woman’s Day–Puja gets a two line email from MEF president Dario Betti (anyone know this guy?) reading:

“We wanted to discuss with your participation at our event. Unfortunately, keeping the interest of the audience in mind and the occasion, we’ve decided to go a different direction with the panel.”

What. The actual. Hell?

So one of the best known (and best respected) women leaders in the legal industry was just kicked off a panel with no explanation?

NO WAY this happens if she’s a dude. Zero chance.

There’s been a bunch of times I’ve stepped on toes and been asked to tone it down, or avoid this subject or that–but unceremoniously kicked off a panel without explanation? No, that’s something that only happens to the “weaker” sex. And it is COMPLETE BULLDUNG.

Remarkably a few women have weighed in and told Puja it has happened to them before and that she should just stay quiet and move on. Fat chance.

Left out this meme originally… 

But what actually happened anyway? Why did Puja go from invited and highly-anticipated speaker to garbage left at the side of the road (other than the fact these “men” thought they could get away with it.)

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it has to do with me.

I picked up a passing interest in this story regarding MEF member the Campaign Registry and whether its foreign ownership might by a threat to national security.

BOGUS?: Is TCR’s Foreign Ownership A Threat To National Security? They Just Retained Latham & Watkins to Convince the FCC They Are Not

My interest in the story was mostly around what a poor job #biglaw did in defending TCR in front of the FCC, but I apparently hit a massive nerve with the Mobile Ecosystem Forum guys who slavishly do TCR’s bidding.

I talked about the TCR story for less than two minutes at the Summit last week. Puja recorded my remarks and posted this pretty low-impact video to Linkedin:

Definitely not my best stuff…

The next day she received an email that she’s off the panel.

So she got the boot because I dared to report on a NEWSWORTHY story involving an MEF member.

Now, to be clear, I respect MEF (and any) show’s ability to monitor or censor content. Its a private event. Its their show. Fine. You want to ask Puja (or me, or any of us) to lay off a certain topic, or tone it down, or not mention a company. No problem. Happens all the time. Happy to do it.

But to take your seeming frustrations with me out on her and treat someone of her level like some no-name (I know your conference is full of no names guys, but you have to know the difference guys) it just doesn’t sit well.

Then again, over the weekend my TCPAWorld story touching on this (and blasting MEF pal Twilio’s alleged illegal call blocking) went to NUMBER ONE on google news for any search of MEF or Twilio:

That’s got to suck for them.

The algorithms LOVE TCPAWorld.com, of course, because of its fresh TRUTFHUL content that so many people rely on (about 100k a month to be precise.)

So here’s what I want to know:

1. Who made the decision? Was it Dario Betti acting alone, or was this approved by a local, executive, or international board?
2. If it was Dario alone, why was the president of an international trade group empowered to make this decision and when? IF it was board action, when was it taken and who moved for Puja’s expulsion?
3. Regardless of who made the decision, why was the decision made? I want details.

Rather obviously anyone who shares information with me will be viewed as a friend of the Czar with all the privileges and trappings that come with it. And of course, I keep my sources anonymous always.

I will say, this guy Waheed Adam–Executive Chair at iTouch–has reached out and committed to helping bring this issue to resolution. I hope he is true to his word.

More to come on all of this.

But for Puja’s version of events be sure to attend her MASSIVELY IMPORTANT webinar on women in the lead generation industry for Lead Gen Summit on Tuesday! (if she doesn’t get kicked off the panel. hahaha)

Register Now.

Chat soon.