If you don't live under a rock, you know that SXSW is here in Austin. Whether you're a native Austinite or visiting for all the fun, be sure to check out these 10 events in the upcoming days. Whether you're a tech wiz, interested in starting your own business, or just want to be around a bunch of cool and inspiring women, there's something here for every woman:
Event: How the Gender Tech Movement is Empowering Women
Date: March 9, 2019
Time: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: The Line Hotel, Onyx Ballroom 1, 111 E Cesar Chavez
Speakers: ElsaMarie D’Silva— Safecity, Rajest Mirchandani— United Nations Foundation, Lauren Moore— Johnson & Johnson, Ariela Suster— Sequence Apparel LLC
There’s a brewing sense of female empowerment around the tech scene, and increasing access to technology is (thankfully) fueling this movement even more. This event, moderated by the UN Foundation, will show how up-and-coming tech platforms are handling gender issues, while simultaneously extending their benefits to women of all ages. Thank you, tech world, for the inclusion!
Link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP89083
Event: Racy Conversations for Women: Interracial Sisterhood
Date: March 11, 2019
Time: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Westin Austin Downtown, Paramount 2, 310 E 5th St.
Speakers: Karen Fleshman— Racy Conversations, Inc., Minda Harts— The Memo LLC, Dr. Avis Jones-Deweever— Exceptional Leadership Institute
Historically speaking, women have created more social change than anyone else. The way to make this sisterhood even more powerful? Increase inclusivity even more, heal our divides, and move forward as one powerful group. This event is a chance for women of all colors to come and collaborate, while learning a ton of valuable insight and feeling both over-the-top-motivated and empowered while doing so.
Event: Featured Session: The Female Gaze
Date: March 11, 2019
Time: 12:30 pm. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB, 500 E Cesar Chavez
Speakers: Chelsea Hernandez— Building the American Dream, Karen Maine— Yes, God, Yes, Alicia Malone (moderator)— Fandango, Kestrin Pantera
Ever thought about how things would be different if they were shown through a female gaze? This event consists of female filmmakers who will be sharing their personal experiences with how female identity plays a part in the industry.
Link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP103138
Event: Featured Session: Alexis Jones
Date: March 12, 2019
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D, 500 E Cesar Chavez
Speakers: Alexis Jones— I Am That Girl, Kelly Krause— SXSW Staff
Alexis Jones started out working at FOX Sports and ESPN, and then channeled that energy into the founding of I AM THAT GIRL: “a badass version of Girl Scouts for college girls.” Alexis toes the line between entertainment and activism, making her perspective an empowering one, to say the least. She will be sharing tips on how to sharpen your perspective, as well, so if being an aware and intentional individual is something that interests you, you won’t want to miss this talk.
Link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP103374
Event: Imperfect Courage: Trading Comfort for Purpose
Date: March 11, 2019
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 9ABC, 500 E Cesar Chavez
Speakers: Jen Hatmaker— For The Love, Jessica Honegger— Noonday Collection
Author, podcaster, and entrepreneur Jessica Honegger will be reading from her book Imperfect Courage: Live a Life of Purpose by Leaving Comfort and Going Scared. Her book is full of insight into how she started her own company, which has become the world’s largest fair trade accessories brand. (Hint: Perfectionism and comfort zones NOT involved!) If you’re interested in how to live an impactful life by embracing your confidence, this event will hit the nail on the head.
Link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP102715
Event: SAY WHAT?: How Podcasts Pass the Mic to Rebellious Voices
Date: March 12, 2019
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: JW Marriott, Brazos Room, 110 E 2nd St.
Speakers: Hadeel Abdelnabi and Amani Al-khatahtbeh— MuslimGirl.com
During this event, the first podcast from the editors of MuslimGirl.com will be premiered. During an era of feminism, a plethora of strong voices are bubbling to the top, being broadcasted for the first time—and podcasting plays a huge role in building this voice. This talk will get into how podcasting taps into stories that may otherwise never be told, and how conversations empower more to follow suit. If you’re into podcasting, storytelling, feminism or equality in general, this talk will pack an empowering punch for sure.
Event: Austin Women Innovating Through Design Thinking
Date: March 10, 2019
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon K, 500 E 4th St.
Speakers: Tamie Glass— The University of Texas at Austin, Erin Hauber— USAA, Karen Ngo— Charles Schwab, Julie Schell— The University of Texas at Austin
This event is going to be one of the best of SXSW, undoubtedly. The switch to human-based businesses is taking the business world by storm, and for good reason: Focusing on people and what makes them tick is what makes the difference in innovative and adaptable business structures. In this talk, four women working to shape the future across four specific industry categories—education, healthcare, finance, and advertising—will be sharing raw, genuine tips on how they influence others and enact serious change. You do not want to miss this one.
Link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP88526
Event: All the Startup Ladies: Reimagining the VC Scene
Date: March 11, 2019
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon J, 500 E 4th St.
Speakers: Sarah Chambless— Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Maxine Kozler Koven— LDR Ventures, Tosca Musk— Passionflix Inc, Daina Trout— Health-Ade Kombucha
Unfortunately, women don’t have a huge presence in the venture capitalist world, meaning there are few funds to go around for women-led startups. But this is not going to be the case for long, thanks to powerful women who are working to change this disproportionality. The panelists of this event are uber-successful in either their own startups or the investment in others’, and will be discussing ways to defy the stereotype and make moves outside of the statistics, while ultimately working toward a gender-equilibrium in the pool of funds.
Link: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/PP83912
Event: Performance by Jane Claire
Date: March 13, 2019
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.
Location: Esther’s Follies, 525 E 6th St.
Jane Claire is a musician, a writer, and the founder of #bossbabesATX, “a support organization for women and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and community organizers,” as well as her own communications and experience design firm. She just released her first proper music tracks, which comprise both tunes and words. The four tracks are an “electric ode to gently outliving one’s enemies,” making this music event an intriguing one. Multifaceted women are super inspiring, and Jane Claire will be a lively example of this, sure to empower you with her music and words.
Event: Performance by Amara La Negra
Date: March 14th, 2019
Time: 11:20 p.m. - 11:35 p.m.
Location: The Belmont, 305 W 6th St.
The titles of Amara? International entertainer, entrepreneur, model, performer, philanthropist, and spokesperson. Not to mention that she describes herself as “eccentric, vibrant, and ambitious.” Right up our alley. Her performance will for sure invigorate you, as she channels the energy from the Sunshine State, Florida (where she grew up), straight into her music. Consisting of Spanish and Caribbean experience with a hint of R&B and Hip Hop, this artist’s show will be quite the empowering one.