SXSW 2014 Wrap-Up – Conference Themes

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A quick wrap up of the 2014 South by South West conference takes a look at five (of many) themes that dominated the “five days of compelling presentations and panels from the brightest minds in emerging technology” that is SXSWi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sadWPwZGtEw   In this video Cat Matson and Suzi Dafnis take a look at:

    1. Creativity and Science The more we bring the two together the more of the world’s problems we’ll solve and the more we’ll innovate. Creativity is not just for ‘geniuses’ – it’s for everyone.
    2. Democratisation of Everything We all now have a voice and the ability to make an impact. We can all make things, we can all create. We can all rise up against injustice and be heard. “If I just get creative about how I can use my voice, I don’t have to wonder how I can make a difference.” – Cat Matson
    3. Privacy It’s not only the Julian Assange and Edward Snowden’s of the world who are concerned about privacy. But, it’s not all ‘big brother is watching’. The data available for us to mine for good purpose and for business is extraordinary and many of us are giving it willingly.
    4. Content The creation of content, for many audiences, on multiple platforms was also a key theme. With that come questions of IP and legal issues associated with sharing content. And, we are all in the content marketing business.
    5. Personalisation Whether it’s your FitBit collecting data about your daily activities, or purely the ability to delivery personalised, targeted ads to our customers, we have come to expect a more personal experience with the brands which which we engage.

That’s 2014 in a very brief summary. We highly recommend you consider coming to the 2015 program. 2015 dates for SXSW Interactive are March 13-17 and you’ll find more information at sxsw.com/interactive.

This blog is part of a series of coverage of the 2014 South by South West Interactive festival. Other posts include: The New Digital Age – An Interview with Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google What Makes Genius? Austin Kleon Keynote at SXSWi Website Tips: Think Content First, Navigation Second Fanatical Commitment and Good Ideas: Humans of New York’s Brandon Stanton Are we all producers now? Blockbuster film producer Dana Brunetti’s SXSW interview. Eli Pariser – Upworthy on Viral Content  Chase Jarvis & Adam Savage – Art and Science Edward Snowden – A Virtual Conversation Celebrity Spotting at SXSWi: Kevin Bacon, Seth Meyers, Neil DeGrasse Tyson

About the Author

At Mindxcite® we specialise in executive coaching for women leaders and emerging leaders who want clarity and new perspectives to inform future directions. Women leaders face many challenges in their quests for seniority, success and work-life balance. Many will also relate to the experience of occasional crises of confidence or...