My Picks from SXSW Interactive

SXSW 2015 was exhilarating, fascinating, and a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends. As usual, it was a sea of marketers, tech people, creatives, etc.–and it was a great opportunity for cross-industry connections.

If you weren’t able to make it, you still have the opportunity to see/listen to many of the sessions on SXSW’s Soundcloud and YouTube accounts. (Isn’t technology great?) There were so many hundreds, though, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by choice. Therefore, I want to share just a few of my favorites.

My Favorite SXSWi Sessions

Daniel Pink: Fear, Shame, Empathy, and More Ways to Change Behavior – Since I teach a class on consumer behavior, NYTimes bestselling author Daniel Pink is a writer whose work I find particularly interesting. But what loved about this particular talk was that he shares 7 specific ideas that we can use in our every day lives to persuade people to change.

Dao Nguyen: The Art & Science of Shareability – Buzzfeed’s publisher shared some of the different ways that Buzzfeed looks to engage customers in content that is particularly designed to drive sharing behaviors. Her talk included a fascinating set of case studies from this media leader.

Paul Roetzer: The Origins of the Marketing Intelligence Engine – Roetzer explored how data and algorithms will shape the next few years of customiziation, content, and customer experience.

John Hanke & James Frey: Worlds without Boundaries – This look at the next generation of gaming on-the-go and in real-space was a fascinating look at the nexus of game design, commerce, and storytelling.

Bill Gurley & Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation – The VC capitalist and bestselling author explore technology, healthcare, and soon-to-come changes in our transportation options:

Eric Ries: Everything Eric Ries Has Learned Since 2011 – The entrepreneur and writer was interviewed by Ted Greenwald of the Wall Street Journal on his approach to the Lean Start-Up, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Astro Teller: Moonshots & Reality – Google[X]’s chief explored the process of aiming at the moon, creating opportunities for innovation, and the next frontiers of Google[X]’s projects.

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For my SXSW Film picks, be sure to visit ZonteeHou.com/blog.