Brand & Marketing
innovation conference
Where brands meet their people
Geared towards agencies and organizations that want to strengthen connections with their communities and clients, this programming features effective approaches to brand strategy as well as novel methods of engaging audiences through traditional, digital, and experiential marketing practices.
Eric Liedtke
CMO, Under Armour
“Consumers are stressed. We can make them product and just transact more, or we can let them buy into something that’s purpose driven.”
programming themes
- Brand Partnerships
- Digital Marketing
- Community
- Storytelling
Past Speakers
The people shaping how stories get made.
Tasia Filippatos, Disney Parks
“Shaping Brand Relevance for a New Generation”
Nancy Harhut, HBT Marketing
“15 Counterintuitive Tactics Smart Marketers Can Exploit”
Greg Greenberg, TBWA Media Arts Lab
“Craft Still Wins: The Irreplaceable Role of Human Instinct, Taste, and Emotion”
Cheryl Miller Houser, Creative Breed
“Human-Centered Storytelling: Create Connection & Community”
Conference Rewind
Take a look back at the sessions you don’t want to miss.
Human-Centered Storytelling: Driving Connection & Culture
The most successful brands and leaders tell stories that move people deeply, foster connection and drive culture. Cheryl Miller Houser shares a storytelling framework anyone can use to achieve this. Her human-centered approach draws on the craft and science of storytelling and something much deeper – how to tap into our own heart and the heartbeat of the times. Interweaving moving examples and anecdotes, she takes participants on an emotional journey that leaves them inspired to tell stories that drive results in marketing, sales, leadership, social impact and personal development.
Shaping Brand Relevance For a New Generation
Join Disney for a candid, forward-looking conversation on staying culturally relevant and driving growth in a rapidly changing market. Drawing from real-world experience at the intersection of commerce, creativity and global s, this session will tackle the essential question for any organization: "How can brands remain meaningful and resilient for future generations?"
Why Saying Yes to the Unthinkable Works
We’re conditioned to play it safe—but what if the wild, unpolished ideas are actually the smartest bets? In this talk, you'll hear real stories of bold ideas that went from "no way" to "how did they do that?" It's a rallying cry for creators and leaders to stop self-editing, embrace bold thinking, and protect the unthinkable—because that’s where the magic (and real impact) happens.
Additional Information
Each year, SXSW brings the best speakers in the world to Austin, TX< to present sessions on what’s next in the worlds of film, culture, music, and technology.
The convergence of first-class talent from so many different disciplines and backgrounds creates a unique environment for attendees to explore.
SXSW Conferences include the Innovation Conference, Music Conference, and Film & TV Conference.
Accompanying the SXSW Conference are events including expos, a pitch competition, parties, and more.
Explore Keynotes, Featured Speakers, Session Formats, and programming tracks, of visit the Conference Formats page.
SXSW Conference sessions will be divided into multiple tracks across three overarching verticals:
- Innovation Conference Tracks explore technology, marketing, health, the creator economy and more.
- Film & TV Conference covers both the creative and business elements of film and TV production.
- Music Conference features content on the making, marketing, impact and future of music.
Visit the Tracks pages for detailed information on each of the tracks.
Conference session formats range from presentations and fireside chats to panels, workshops, mentoring, networking and more.