Feel the pulse of SXSW 2017!
This year, I’ve taken some time recapping my SXSW experience. While many cutting-edge ideas left us all thinking about where the digital world is heading, there were two main things that really made an impression on me: the increasing speed in industry developments and the growing need for human relations in the digital space.
SXSW 2017 was all about AI, chatbots, self-driving cars, and AR/VR. And a lot of cool people have been writing about it already: read the recap of The Washington Post.
Powerful brands shared their latest releases that will undoubtedly impact our daily lives. Ford Motor Company announced that they are out with their first edition of self-driving cars in 2021. Intel was all about chatbots used in banking. I was very inspired by their session where they shared their vision on the future of banking: talk to your bot and find out you can afford going out for dinner tonight, get the overview of your monthly balance and be ready to invest even more.
At the end of the day, the networking part is extremely important to me. You can meet the coolest people from all over the world in one place. Gary Vaynerchuk is hanging around and Brian Solis has his own Comcast lounge, where you always run into some of the best US speakers in the field.
SXSW Tradeshow
The SXSW tradeshow is always a highlight for me. Companies from all over the world share everything from software prototypes to the coolest VR gear. I have tested a new Skype Auto Filter and, of course, the 360 glasses from Facebook.
Hi Speakers!
For me, SXSW is also about scouting for the best speakers for our events and especially our Komfo Summit. This year, I want to bring home the Snapchat influencer — Carlos Gil and a consumer neuroScience professor. Stay tuned for more info!
Adam Grant — this year’s favorite!
My best experience was listening to Adam Grant. He gave me insightful tools that I have already added to my daily leadership. Yes — there will be more of us embracing digital and yes — AI and chatbots are taking over jobs, but there will still be a need for great communication and relations between people. And small things can do a huge impact. But, better yet, go watch his talk yourself.
Does SXSW still matter for agencies and tech companies? Yes.
In fact, the answer is an overwhelmingly yes. No other conference blends SXSW’s disruption, passion, and optimism. As Buzz Aldrin said at the conference “If we do not inspire, we will expire.” I do not advocate sending huge teams, but for communications executives within social/digital, tech, healthcare, and financial technology — this is the place to be.
Let’s all join forces!
This is why we have already started to plan SXSW 2018. Denmark is the country sending most participants per inhabitant in the world. So why not join forces and book an airplane together? It might not be possible — but it’s worth a try. I’m negotiating with SAS already, so reach out if you want to join the Danish delegation at SXSW 2018!
