SXSW 2017: What We’re Looking Forward To

Every year, South by Southwest (SXSW) brings people from all kinds of industries together to throw one of the country’s most anticipated creative conferences. SXSW describes itself as an event put together to “celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries.”

A look at this year’s schedule shows the abundance of panels, parties, talks, and exhibits. It might seem a bit intimidating at first, with hundreds of listings for artists, films, and discussions filling the 10-day event that takes place in Austin, TX from March 10 to 19.

But, you shouldn’t feel pressured to attend everything, especially since SXSW happens in venues all over the city. And that’s part of the beauty of this busy, bustling conference. You have to plan it all out so you can get the most out of the $1000+ badge and experience the beauty and diversity of Austin.

Just as SXSW brings together all kinds of creative industries for its events, it also highlights contemporary social issues and cultural trends. Last year, virtual reality shared a spotlight with keynotes from the President and the First Lady.

So, what’s in store for you this year? Highlights include a session with HBO hit, Game of Thrones, showrunners and a talk with Japanese organization sensation, Marie Kondo. Diversity is also a big topic, covering not just entertainment but also in the workplace.

Here are some events to look forward to at this year’s SXSW:

The Role of Dataviz in Persuasive Presentations

Mar 11, 2017 | 9:30am – 10:30am

Making a compelling and engaging presentation can be challenging when it involves charts and graphs, but this panel will show what you can achieve by merging data with design.

IP: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Business

Mar 12, 2017 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm

Protecting intellectual property (IP) is vital for start-ups. Its panel speakers, including leaders from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, will surely impart essential information that entrepreneurs need to know regarding IP.

Featured Session: Game of Thrones Showrunners

Mar 12, 2017 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm

This might not be about start-ups or tech, but this session is bound to be filled with people from all industries. It’s a great opportunity to hear from the people behind one of the highest-rated shows on TV today.

A Scientific Methodology for Startup Success

Mar 14, 2017 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Is there a formula for successful startups? Caroline Winnett from SkyDeck, a startup accelerator out of UC Berkeley, will discuss the interesting parallels between university startups and research labs, and how they’ve helped create the successful startup environment of Silicon Valley.

Film: Song to Song

Take a break from talks and panels and enjoy this film featuring some of Hollywood’s top stars. It’s a movie set in Austin, which is a perfect fit for SXSW.

This is just a small sampling of panels and discussions throughout Austin during SXSW. There are also a number of opportunities for you to meet people and network through the following:

Mentor Sessions

This is your chance to meet experts from different industries on a one-on-one basis. Information for timeslots and schedules aren’t online yet, but keep an eye out for news, as sign-ups are available on a first come, first served basis.

Pitch Events

Applications to pitch your startup at SXSW are already closed, but you can still have the opportunity to watch how other entrepreneurs discuss their ideas with industry experts.

Meet Ups

One of the best things about SXSW is the opportunity to meet people who share similar interests and ideas. There are a number of meetup events happening around the city during the festival. Fill your spare time with a chance to encounter a future collaborator, business partner, or friend.

Workshops

The panels and sessions offer a lot of learning opportunities. But beyond that, you can also attend workshops that focus on your specific interests. Sharpen your knowledge or learn a new skill at some of SXSW’s highly specialized workshops.

To celebrate the start of this exciting festival, our team at ThisWayGlobal will host a cocktail party on March 11 with the theme being ‘Reboot Hiring’ at Austin’s famous ‘Allens’ cowboy boot store. We shall then be hosting our private launch party on March 14. Meet other fellows from the startup industry and mingle with like minded people at this opening party.

Visit ThisWay Global’s GPS4jobs booth (1334, 1336)  and get a chance to win two Golden Tickets for both parties.

Do you have plans to attend SXSW? Let us know which sessions, artists, and/or films you’re looking forward to at the event!

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SXSW 2017: What We’re Looking Forward To
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SXSW brings people from different sectors to throw one of the country’s most anticipated creative conferences. SXSW describes itself as an event to “celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries.”
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