In July 2006, computer systems company Dell launched Direct2Dell (initially called ‘one2one’), its first public blog designed to be an extension of Dell’s direct business model where the company “learns and improves by listening to customers.”

During the 18 months since its launch, Direct2Dell has helped Dell credibly engage with customers, fans and critics around the globe.

Now, Dell is turning its attention to the role a blog can play in engaging with shareholders and the financial community.

In this exclusive FIR Interview, Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz talked with Lynn Tyson, Vice President Investor Relations at Dell, Inc., about Dell Shares, Dell’s new investor relations blog launching on November 1.

Our discussion focused on how Lynn sees the new blog helping investor relations at Dell expand beyond the traditional approaches to IR to being involved in direct relationships with the company’s shareholders and potential shareholders.

About our Conversation Partner

Lynn A. Tyson is responsible for Dell’s relationships with investors and financial analysts, and strategic direction of the Investor Relations function. From 2004 through 2007, Ms. Tyson was also responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of all Global Corporate Communications, including public affairs, media relations, internal communications, and industry analysts.

Prior to joining Dell in April 2000, Ms. Tyson served as vice president of Investor Relations for Tricon Global Restaurants (now YUMBrands!). Tricon encompassed the worldwide operations of Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell, and was spun off from PepsiCo, Inc. in 1997. Previously, Ms. Tyson spent 12 years at PepsiCo, holding various positions in treasury, capital markets and international corporate finance – covering Latin America – as well as investor relations, where she assisted in planning and execution of the spin-off of Tricon from PepsiCo.

She is on the Board of Directors for the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI). Her views on successful Investor Relations practices, valuing intangible assets, and defining strategic direction, have been featured in IR Update magazine, the monthly publication of NIRI, as well as IRQ magazine, NIRI’s journal of corporate value.

Ms. Tyson received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The City College of New York and a master’s degree in finance/international business from The Stern School of Business, New York University.

Download the 21-minute conversation here (MP3, 9.6MB), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a podcatcher such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio or iTunes, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.

If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments; or comment at Twitter: twitter.com/FIR; or at Jaiku: fir.jaiku.com. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.

Podsafe intro music – On A Podcast Instrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.

Related post:

• FIR Interview – Lionel Menchaca, Direct2Dell: January 12, 2007

(Cross-posted from For Immediate Release, Shel’s and my podcast blog.)