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03/07/14 | Uncategorized

The Official Women 2.0 SXSW Guide

It’s that time of year again… here’s a list of events to check out while on the scene. 

By Jessica Schimm (Assistant Editor, Women 2.0) and Ayesha Rizvi (Editorial Intern, Women 2.0)

Going to SXSW? Here is a list of awesome sessions to check out submitted by our community. If you’re speaking or hosting an event that is relevant to the community tell us about it here and we’ll do our best to add it to the list!

Monday 3/10

Age Matters: Leverage it for Startup Success, 9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.

Submitted by Christina Vuleta (managing director, 40:20 Vision) / Co-Presenter

This panel will challenge common stereotypes around age and startup success, generating thoughtful debate about what to consider when selecting your startup team.

Private Tech for Public Good, 11:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.

Austin Convention Center Room 5ABC 500 E Cesar Chavez St

Submitted by Jennifer Nedeau (senior director, Bully Pulpit Interactive)

This panel will discuss what is needed from the technology community in order to improve democracy and really make the world a better place. It will look at examples of new companies and technology working toward creating public goods, not just private technology.

Ben Coffey Clark, Bully Pulpit Interactive

Reshma Saujani, Girls Who Code

Tuesday 3/11

Pixelating Reality: How SmartPhones Shift Now, 12:30p.m. – 1:30p.m.

Sheraton Austin Capitol View South 701 E 11th St

Submitted by Gigi Johnson (executive director, Maremel Institute) / Presenter

Many of us carry smartphones wherever we go. Increasingly, we are leaning on them as active and passive gathering devices of data and images. Google Glass and other recording devices bring the question further front and center—how is our recording and perpetually digitally checking in affecting our everyday lives? How are those check-ins and recordings shifting our being “present” in our shared Now and Here? Are we increasingly taking the opportunity to be digitally Elsewhere and not Present?

Shelves to Space: What Images Say About Our World, 12:30p.m. – 1:30p.m.

Omni Downtown Longhorn 700 San Jacinto

Submitted by Ching-Yu Hu (Skybox Imaging) / Co-Presenter

Skybox Imaging Co-Founders, Chief Product Officer Dan Berkenstock and Director of Marketing Ching-Yu Hu, are teaming up with Premise Co-Founders David Soloff and Joe Resinger to discuss how advances in imaging are unlocking information previously unavailable. They’ll discuss the collection of image-based data streams from both the street and space, and how they distill them into transparent insights across myriad fields like macroeconomics, humanitarian aid, mapping and manufacturing.

Awakening the Mature Geek, 3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.

Courtyard Marriott Brazos 300 E 4th St

Submitted by Marlin Page (founder & CEO, Sisters Code and Knowledge Brokers) / Co-Presenter

While women make up 46.7% of the U.S. workforce, they represent less than 25% of S.T.E.M. Workers.

Want to get more women involved in technology careers and bridge the gender gap? Throw away the boring power point presentations, stop with all the “techie jargon,” and engage women looking to re-career into the field of technology. Essentially, it’s time to “Awaken the Mature Geek.”

Sisters Code’s founder, Marlin Page, was an aspiring Mortician until she unconventionally learned to code in seven languages, and her life literally changed overnight. Sister’s Code mission is to educate, empower, and entice women ages 25 – 85 to explore the world of coding and technology.

Our approach is totally unconventional, disruptive, and has been labeled “impossible” by some. This “crazy” approach is transforming the lives of women, providing corporations with a greater pipeline to diverse talent while building a community of practice and philanthropy. It’s worth the conversation.

——–

Friday 3/7

The *Real* Crowdfunding Investment12:30p.m. – 1:30p.m.

Hilton Austin Downtown Salon JK 500 E 4th St

Submitted by Jessica Randazza (cmo, Offer Board) / Co-Presenter

With the anticipated Title III new regulations of the J.O.B.S (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act, which will allow for crowd funding on equities investments by accredited and unaccredited investors. Anticipated regulations will create a new asset class of investors with financial contributions making investments in businesses seeking new growth and ROI. What does this mean to the crowd funding market? How can issuers and investors get educated in this “new asset class” and on potential opportunities for investors and/or investments?

Always Be Innovating: Thinking Like a Startup3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.

Hilton Austin Downtown Salon JK 500 E 4th St

Submitted by Hetal Pandya (co-founder, Easilydo) / Co-Presenter

Whether you’re a big brand or a startup that has momentum but is not yet mainstream, how do you keep the wheels of innovation turning without cannibalizing your money-making product? EasilyDo, Grail Project and Tagged executives will provide an in-depth look at how to inject originality and novelty into your company, regardless of its size. You’ll hear about the pros and cons of acquiring innovation versus creating a labs team and stories of hackathon style overnight experiments that turned into huge wins.

Work & Flexibility: Why Women Must Lead the Way3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.

Courtyard Marriott Brazos 300 E 4th St

Submitted by Stacey Delo (founder, Maybrooks.com)

Presenters Stacey Delo, founder of Maybrooks.com, a community for working moms, and Diana Rothschild, founder of NextKids (part of NextSpace), a coworking space that includes on-site infant and toddler care, will share inspiring examples of how women in tech are breaking the rules to do interesting work and still have a life (!), and how the tech industry is poised to lead the rest of corporate America in this effort.

Mentor Session3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m & Book Signing5:20p.m. – 5:40p.m.

Hilton Garden Inn 10th Floor Atrium 500 N IH 35 / Austin Convention Center Ballroom D Foyer 500 E Cesar Chavez St

Submitted by Margot Bloomstein (brand & content strategist, Appropriate INC) / Presenter

After speaking the past few years and appearing as as featured speaker at SXSW 2013, I’m returning this year to conduct a mentor session. I’m meeting with people interested in building careers in content strategy, then signing Content Strategy at Work at the SxBookstore immediately afterward.

Indiegogo’s SXSW Kick-off Happiness Hour with TechZulu3:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.

102 Trinity St Austin, TX 78701

Submitted by Jordan Rozsa (event coordinator & customer happiness agent, Indiegogo)

Grab a drink with Indiegogo’s Hardware Lead, Kate Drane, Tech Zulu and the rest of the team and Indiegogo campaigners to hear what’s happening in the tech and design crowdunding space.

Your Founder Is Your Product Manager3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.

Hilton Garden Inn Red River 500 N IH 35

Submitted by Alicia Dixon (mobile product manager, The Sheridan Group) / Co-Presenter

The session is a panel discussion about the need for startup founders to perform the role of Product Manager in the early stages of their company (before a PM is hired).

Saturday 3/8

Gamification @ Work Meet Up9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.

Submitted by Kat Mandelstein (customer impact & social business, PwC Advisory) / Co-Presenter

Recently, gamification has become serious business for organizations focused on deepening engagement with employees and customers because it engages and motivates them to change behaviors, develop skills or work together to solve problems. In this Meetup, we will have an open dialogue on where gamification for business is headed, your efforts and challenges implementing it for your organization and leading practices for applying game mechanics to the digital experience.

Women-Led: The Underserved Investment Opportunity9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.
Hilton Austin Downtown Salon G 500 E 4th St

Submitted by Adam Quinton (founder & ceo, Lucas Point Ventures) & Joshua Henderson (vp, Springboard Enterprise) 

Companies that are led by women or have diverse teams are shown to outperform those without women on the team, and yet private investments in these companies is far below what would be expected. Investors maintain that their decisions have nothing to do with the gender of the CEO. Less than 15% of venture investments are made in companies with a woman founder and/or CEO, yet according to the SBA women own about 50 percent of all businesses. There are many studies and impressive statistics to show the career and entrepreneurial potential of women indicating that they are an underserved business opportunity for investors. In 2000, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor recommended increasing the participation of women in entrepreneurship as a necessity for long-term economic prosperity. Three investors who have ‘made a market’ in investing in women-led businesses reveal their rationale and ROI.

Why We Need a Federal Life Science Startup Package9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.

Submitted by Amy Millman (president, Springboard Enterprises)

When we look at Silicon Valley, it’s clear that new technology receives continuous support from many different directions to push it forward. Speed to market, significant funding sources and the public markets all contribute to innovation in technology. There’s also a pervasive sense of optimism, that the next big thing is right around the corner.
In life sciences, that same support does not exist. Instead of a forward push, life science experiences a constant pushback.
Venture capital money is difficult to find. There are slow lead times in getting new products to market. These factors and more clog the pipeline to bring new treatments to market, and public policy must find a way to create the tenuous balance between safety, innovation and scientific rigor.
Government can join with entrepreneurs to foster life science innovation through the creation of a Federal Life Science Startup Package.

Four Tech Companies Changing the Face of Tech9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.
Austin Convention Center Room 6AB 500 E Cesar Chavez St

Submitted by Nichelle McCall (ceo, BOLD Guidance INC) / Co-Presenter

The myth that there are no successful tech companies run by people of color is just that, a myth. Meet three successful tech-enabled companies that have raised over $4 Million dollars in angel and seed funding, won praises from publications like TechCrunch and the Wall Street Journal, and are working in markets as diverse as Health Care, Education, and Software as a Service (SaaS). And oh, the founders just happen to be black women.

Breaking the Mold: How to Thrive When Allies Turn9:30a.m. – 10:30a.m.
Austin Convention Center Room 10AB 500 E Cesar Chavez St

Submitted by Joanne Bamberger (editor & publisher, Board Side Strategies) / Co-Presenter

It’s great to be a thought leader when your perceived allies are on your side. But how do you stay true to your ideals when allies decide you are a traitor to “the cause” and throw you to the wolves? Whether you are a feminist who disagrees with Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” movement, a progressive leader who agrees with Bill O’Reilly, or a political influencer who decides it’s better to approach opponents with love rather than vitriol, innovators and voices of influence can’t afford to go along just to get along. Well known tech mavericks, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates dissented against their peers in a different media age. Mark Zuckerberg did it before Facebook was Facebook. Most recently, Change.org pissed off the entire progressive movement to be more open and grew from 6 million users to 40 million in a year. From dissenting against allies to sleeping with the enemy, change agents must learn how to go against the grain to maximize results or risk failure.
#sxsw #breakmold

The Subjective Objective: Building Maker Media12:30p.m. – 1:30p.m

Submitted by Nicole Brydson (founder, Misfit Media) / Presenter

Exploring how to build a localized media that supports and strengthens independent artistic and maker communities through digital content and commerce free of commodification. The sum of honest subjective expression among individuals creates the most objective picture to understand the objective truth about a community. This user-generated picture best informs us and answers the question, how shall we live?
The action of sharing informed subjectivity based on experiential knowledge – distinct from bias subjectivity or lack of knowledge – has the power to transform. The universality in our specific experiences of community, art and commerce create a lattice between user and community, artist and audience, which is able to propel deep dialogue forward. This is best achieved through open source digital connection and the establishment of free culture without surveillance, which ingrains trust and transparency at its core, treating users equally on a horizontal platform.

Mentor Session12:30p.m. – 1:30p.m.

Submitted by Marta Voda (executive recruiter, Viacom Media Networks) / Presenter

One on one coaching/mentoring with those that are either looking to jump start their careers or looking to scale-up hiring.

Without Their Consent: Ending Revenge Porn5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.

Submitted by Christina Gagnier (ceo, Trail) / Co-Presenter

Across the country, there is an increasingly widespread problem of abusers and perpetrators posting images and video footage online as a tactic of abuse, harassment, bullying and extortion. The images and videos may be of consensual nudity or sexual activities that were taken with or without the victim’s consent. As seen in recent high-profile cases, they can also be images or footage of physical and/or sexual assaults. Regardless of the situation, when images and video are posted online of someone without their consent as a tactic of abuse, action needs to be taken to protect the victim and hold the abuser accountable. This session will explore this phenomenon and share information about what the technology community can do.

Beyond Unplugging: How to Stay Sane Online5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.

Submitted by Lauren Bacon (business & leadership coach, Curiosity Labs) / Co-Presenter

We’ll dig into our digital & personal toolboxes to share the practices, apps & gadgets that can foster a healthy relationship to technology. Panelists will kick off the conversation with their thoughts & suggestions for a middle way, then open the floor for your ideas and tips: How do you maintain your health, sanity & relationships while using tech?

How the Black Twitterverse is Changing Pop Culture5:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Red River 500 N IH 35

Submitted by Janel Martinez (tech editor, Black Enterprise)

The most influential community on Twitter is the “Black Twitterverse”. Using the microblogging tool as a platform, Black Twitterverse continues to influence pop culture and political discussion in power shifting ways. It can turn middling TV shows into hits (think ABC’s Scandal) or force mainstream media to address the not-so-hidden racism of a TV icon ( e.g. Paula Deen). In this panel, we will discuss how the Black community is changing the landscape of popular culture via Twitter.

Sunday 3/9

Media Camp (Turner/Warner Bros.)12:00p.m. – 2:00a.m.
Bungalow – 92 Rainey St

Submitted by Media Camp Women in Tech Luncheon

Media Camp, the media technology startup accelerator by Turner and Warner Bros., welcomes our partner organizations promoting female entrepreneurship. Come meet these organizations over a free brunch and drinks.
Jessica Lawrence, Executive Director of NY Tech Meetup
Stephanie Wanek, NCWIT (National Center for Women & Information Technology)
Vanessa Dawson, Girls Raising

Latinas As New Leaders in Tech Innovation12:30p.m. – 1:30p.m.
Holiday Inn Town Lake Lantana Ballroom 20 N IH 35

Submitted by Byrdie Franco-Rocha, (director, LATISM)

The Latina point of view is no longer a minority one. Latinitas and its panel partners can discuss the true sleeping giant – Latina females as a demographic of technology consumption and innovation

How to Build Culture in a Distributed Company3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.
Courtyard Marriott Rio Grande Ballroom 300 E 4th St

Submitted by Danya Cheskis-Gold (director of community, Spark Capital)

There’s a misconception about distributed companies: that in order to work for one you have to work remotely, or alone. While there may be thousands of miles between you and your colleagues, it is our belief that these companies can be as close-knit, effective, and serendipitous as those under one roof. Currently, we all work for (or have worked for) companies that are purposely spread out, and we are always finding new ways to meaningfully connect our team. For this panel, subjects will flow from the pragmatic: “how do you brainstorm without a whiteboard?” to the harder ones: “how do you celebrate successes when you’re miles apart?” Bring your questions and yourself, because we can’t skype you in for this one.

Hacking Entrepreneurship from Government3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m.
Holiday Inn Town Lake Sunflower Room 20 N IH 35

Submitted by Maitetxu Larraechea (director of communications & pr, Start Up Chile) / Co-Presenter

Join this panel to learn Start-Up Chile’s perspective on how to boost an innovative tech ecosystem and how to take the best out of it as a high potential entrepreneur. It’s time to believe it: Santiago jumped onto the list of the most innovative cities of the world, and it offers entrepreneurs the chance to start up with the biggest multinational/multicultural community of entrepreneurs in the world.

Indiegogo’s SXSW Film Happiness Hour w/ The Wrap & Alamo Drafthouse4:00p.m. – 6:00p.m.
102 Trinity Street Austin, Texas

Submitted by Jordan Rozsa (event coordinator & customer happiness agent, Indiegogo)

Interested in hearing the latest trends in crowdfunding and film? Come join our Head of Film, Marc Hofstatter, The Wrap, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and the rest of the team at the Indiegogo Tech Cafe for our Happiness Hour.

To be continued…

Photo via WoogyChuck / Flickr.

Elisa Miller-Out

Elisa Miller-Out

Elisa Miller-Out is currently co-founder of PollQ, a polling software startup and managing partner of Chloe Capital, an early stage investment fund. She also serves on the board of Women 2.0, the leading global media brand for women in tech. Elisa is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell University's Blackstone Launchpad. She's based in Ithaca, NY, but grew up in New Orleans and spent time in New York City as well.

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