This year attracted a record number of proposals (3,283) for sessions at SxSW Interactive. Listed below are some of the topics I hope to see brought to life, hashed out, revered and questioned at the festival next March.
As they primarily (although not all, black market innovations and digital nomadism made the list) relate to accelerating social change, I hope you’ll find them as thought-inspiring as I do.
As you’re rendered breathless by the scope of topics and the expertise of speakers, I urge you to cast a vote in support! Representation for good starts here.
- Archetypes of Happiness–Pick Your Differentiator
Organized by yours truly of Cause Capitalism | @OKL
1 question this session will address: How cutting-edge businesses are using specific happiness archetypes to differentiate themselves.
. - Co-opting Black Market Innovation
Organized by Alexa Clay of Ashoka Changemakers
1 questions this session will address: What can black market innovators teach me that’s relevant to my business?
. - Create Brand-aligned Social Change
Organized by Delyse Sylvester of Ashoka Changemakers | @Changemakers
1 question this session will address: Why changemaking is central to a company’s success
. - Digitally Outsmarting Apathy
Organized by Bradley Short of Business Earth | @BusinessEarth
1 question this session will address: How can we use social media to drive online communities to action “IRL?”
. - Doing Good Globally: Cosmopolitan Activism
Organized by Ben Walsh of Purpose | @Purpose
1 question this session will address: How do we tap into people’s desire for identity and belonging to expand our empathy and impact?
. - Engaging Consumers for Good Through Gaming
Organized by Sloane Berrent of Lippe Taylor | @Sloane (I’m also a speaker for this session.)
1 question this session will address: What are the most important elements to consider when launching a game for social good?.
. - Making Social Media Measurement Sexy
Organized by Beth Kanter of Zoetica |@Kanter
1 question this session will address: Can you measure social change and if so, how the hell do you?
. - New Media and CSR: Communicating Corporate Good
Organized by Nick Aster of TriplePundit | @TriplePundit
1 question this session will address: Beyond reporting, what’s the exciting frontier in CSR communications?
. - Reflections of a Digital Nomad
Organized by Erica OGrady of Peanut Butter Media | @EricaOGrady
1 question this session will address: What are the qualities of a digital nomad? (This lifestyle isn’t for everyone.)
. - RIP Crowdsourcing–Introducing Open Growth
Organized by Ben Wald of Ashoka Changemakers | @Changemakers
1 question this session will address: Who are the innovators applying Open Growth and what is key to their success?
. - Social Business: Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch
Oganized by Sandy Carter of IBM |@Sandy_Carter
1 question this session will address: What are the five critical cultural items that have to be addressed for a company to successfully insert social media into all its business processes?
. - Startup & Nonprofit: What Do They Have in Common?
Organized by Allie Burns of the Case Foundation & Revolution LLC | @Allieb37
1 question this session will address: Can nonprofits really benefit from taking a business/entrepreneurial mindset, or is it all talk?.
. - The Power of Social Media for Good. B Corporations
Organized by Dermot Hikisch of B Lab | @BCorporation
1 question this session will address: How are B Corporations innovating, particularly around media?
. - Turning Online Donors Into Change Investors
Organized by Geoff Livingston of Zoetica | @GeoffLiving
1 question this session will address: How do celebrities and weblebrities (e.g., famous bloggers) affect online fundraising?
. - Under the Social Good Hood
Organized by Robert Rosenthal of VolunteerMatch |@volmatchRobert
1 question this session will address: How long does it usually take for a social good website to find a funding model that works?