From March 6-10, 2024, we are hosting a Learning Journey to Austin for South by Southwest (SXSW) with a 2-day pre-show program. Follow our live blog with photos, videos and insights here.
If you'd like to be emailed with learnings directly from Austin, sign up using the form below. We will then send you two emails.
Some participants were able to listen to Sandy Carter today, who presented the 7 trends in the technology sector, including
The human element plays a very important role alongside all the technology. Several presentations and panels at the conference revolved around this topic, such as "Mindfulness over Perfection" with Selena Gomez and Solomon Thomas.
Rebranding the CMO: How can the CMO strengthen their role again? A tip: CMOs should know their partners - both internally and externally.
We also visited some exhibitions & stores and experienced the Live Music Capital of the World in various pubs in the evening.
Day 2 of South by Southwest kicked off again with Colin's Morning Briefing.
Some of the attendees were lucky enough to get a Fast Pass for Amy Webb and secure one of the coveted seats for the keynote: "Amy Webb Launches 2024 Emerging Tech Trend Report".
Several other exciting presentations, including on storytelling and happiness, were attended, as well as exhibitions (country representations, brand experience).
We discussed the day's findings over dinner together.
South by Southwest (finally) starts today. After the daily morning briefing, individual groups made their way to various presentations and exhibitions.
Incidentally, today's International Women's Day was a big topic in Austin - whether
Over dinner together, we discussed the insights and wow experiences of the day and looked ahead to the highlights for tomorrow and the day after.
The 2nd day of our individual advance program starts at the University of Texas at Austin with highly interesting Q&A sessions with, among others: Kelsey Evans (Director of Corporate Relations), Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum (Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement) and Dr. Meeta Kothare (Managing Director of the Global Sustainability Leadership Institute).
We had lunch on campus, in what is probably the best "Mensa".
Afterwards we went to Dell Technologies and a Q&A session with John Howard (Director, Public Policy & Government Affairs) and Megan Carrasco-Beyer (Global Product Sustainability Marketing Lead).
The first day of our pre-event program has started with different speakers: Among others on decarbonization and business development in Austin & Texas. Many thanks to Jackson Walker for the warm welcome and to all the speakers.
Afterwards we went on to Foxtrot: In the supermarket with café there is only a limited selection of self-tested food. The store manager was on hand to answer our questions.
After refreshments in a typical Mexican restaurant, we continued on to the Miro XPerience Center: A presentation on the company and a tour of the Xperience Center concluded the official part of the first day.
We venture out into the Texan heat* and pick up our badges for South by. We take advantage of the time when there is still no queue at registration.
The final preparations for the pre-program are also made and the participants are on their way to Austin. We can start tomorrow!
We are really looking forward to the Learning Journey, which starts on March 6.
*) It's 32 degrees in Austin today - a good 20 degrees difference to Nuremberg.
On March 4, the first two Brandies, Colin and Eva, travel to Austin.
Once they arrive, they check out various stores (including Patagonia and Lululemon) and visit South Congress Avenue. South Congress, known as SoCo by the locals, is known nationwide for its eclectic retail offering.
Find out more about the Learning Journey to Austin - South by Southwest and the 2-day pre-program.
You can also make a non-binding reservation for the 2025 Discovery Journey. We will be happy to inform you as soon as details are finalized.
Please send me emails directly from Austin with the findings, photos and videos of the Learning Journey.