On March 11 – 20, 2022 South by Southwest is back with a packed lineup of sessions held virtually and in-person in Austin, Texas. The Ad Council is proud to be participating in two panels at this year’s conference, where we’ll discuss trends and innovation in both DEI leadership and gaming. Read on for the SXSW 2022 Panels where you’ll find us and more on the sessions we’re looking forward to.
The Next Generation of DEI Culture
- Ad Council Speaker: Jazmine Brown, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Date and Time: March 12, 2022 2:30pm – 3:30pm CT
- Location: The JW Marriott Austin, Salon E
About this SXSW 2022 Panel: At an unprecedented moment in the culture, a bold new group of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) practitioners are reimagining the creative process, dismantling inequitable systems and building digital communities. Join these leaders for a conversation about the evolution of creativity, the intersection of representation and storytelling, and the new non-negotiables around DEI.
(Update: listen to audio of the panel here!)
Looking for more on DEI? Powering Diverse and Multicultural Voices and Why Relatability Matters in Media, among others, will also explore the role marketers play in promoting equity and representation within our industry and organizations, and for our audiences as well. These sessions will cover supporting minority and women-owned and operated organizations and telling stories that feel profoundly personal for audiences across race, gender, ability and life experience.
Level Up! Bridging Gameplay and Advertising
- Ad Council Speaker: Felicia Carmichael, Director of Media, Social & Emerging
- Date and Time: March 14, 2022 11:20am – 12:30pm CT
- Location: The Fairmont Austin, Park View A
About this SXSW 2022 Panel: In 2020, there were more than 2.7 billion gamers worldwide, and on average, they spend 6.5 hours playing each week. Gaming is crossing lines from consoles to mobile, from Gen Z to Boomers, from gameplay to spectating. As this genre of entertainment continues to expand and engaged gaming communities continue to form, advertisers have no choice but to learn how to shift their tone and traditional advertising tactics to join the fun and enter the game. This panel will tap into experts from companies including Twitch, Enthusiast Gaming and Frameplay to explore 2021’s definition of a gamer and the various touchpoints to harness the community's engagement factor ultimately bridging the gap between virtual settings and IRL action.
To dive deeper into the world of engaging digital-first audiences, we’re looking forward to sessions like How to Inspire the NextGen of Community Influence, Not Your Boomer’s Consumers and Winning the Race for Creator Talent. These are just a few of the SXSW 2022 panels that will highlight the latest best practices for tapping into online communities, communicating authentically in the digital age and cultivating impactful influencer relationships.
With such a robust lineup of sessions, we’re excited to share and learn together. See you at SXSW 2022!