CHICAGO — Credit union executives attending THINK 13 onWednesday were given an unmistakable, undeniable proof that socialmedia can become a powerful ally in making disruptive change.

The CO-OP Financial Services conference is meeting at Chicago'sSwissotel from April 29 – May 2.

The message came from a twenty-something singer from Connecticutnamed Daria Musk, an up-and-coming performer who owes her career ina large part to Google+ and other social media.

Musk told the story of how she came to be one of the firstmusicians to use Google's new Google+ service to reach at first 10and then hundreds and then thousands and millions of listeners andeventual fans around the world – a dream she said she had evenbefore she had a clue that it could even be possible.

“For me, the music industry felt like a party that I was notonly not invited to, but which was held in a fortress with thedrawbridge drawn up and surrounded by man-eating alligators,” shetold the audience.

“So I decided I had to crash the party and not only crash theparty but leave the door swinging open behind me,” Musk said.

Musk proved to be a positive and disruptive influence forGoogle, which found itself moving forward with innovations toaccommodate musicians and others who wanted to present things towide audiences via Google+. The Internet giant also rolledout an app that let musicians use Google+ with much higher-qualitysound.

“I didn't know I couldn't do what I did so I just did it,” Musksaid, adding that credit unions should understand that authenticityis the new currency.

Musk also performed three songs for the THINK 13 attendees.

Also from THINK 13:

• Virtual Teller Idea Wins THINK Prize13
• The Great Change Debate
• THINK 13 on Wednesday: SlideShow
• Mayor Booker Keynotes on Change
• Innovation That MaintainsIdentity
• Innovation Needs Controls
• THINK 13 on Tuesday: Slide Show
• Self-Assessment First Step inInnovation
• Leaders Should Talk Last
• CO-OP Rebrands ATM, BranchingNetworks
• Chicago Confab Kicks Off