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Insiders Guide to

SXSW Interactive 2015:


Following the SXSW TraX

@MSLGROUPNA
@msl_group
#MSLSXSW

Following the
TraX to SXSW
Welcome to MSLGROUPs
third edition of The Insiders
Guide to SXSW Interactive.

SXSW Interactives broad


array of speakers and events
is enormous, with so many
things to see and do at the
Convention Center, hotels
and sites around the city.
Whether youre a veteran
or a first timer to SXSW
Interactive, you need to
plan before you go to get the
most out of the experience.
Photo by Dyxie on Flickr

Stephanie Agresta
Global Practice Director, Digital
MSLGROUP
@stephagresta
Stephanie is the senior-most digital
executive at MSLGROUP and has
been recognized as one of the very
top digital creators, innovators and
strategists in public relations.

Its time to get detailed about


your plans for maximizing SXSW
Interactive 2015. This years event
is jam-packed with more big ideas
and innovations than ever before,
and were here to help you take
advantage of all the possibilities.

To help you plan, SXSW Interactive


organizes content around very specific
themes.

Since it began in 1994 with 36


speakers, SXSW Interactive has
grown into the top global digital and
interactive meeting in the world,
with more than 30,000 attendees
descending on Austin each March.
The social and digital evolution can
be chronicled by pivotal discussions
at the 20 previous events, and no
doubt there will be major milestone
discussions in 2015.

Our team of experts will be onsite to


follow six different areas of interest
and offer you real-time updates and
discussion opportunities, both on
social platforms and during live
events. Well even make influencer
introductions onsite and through social
channels.

Over the course of two decades,


SXSW Interactive speakers have
broadened from digital and social
inventors like Facebooks Mark
Zuckerberg and Instagrams Kevin
Systrom to the likes of new age car
and rocket maker Elon Musk and
social activist Edward Snowden.
As the idea of convergence
programming grows, SXSW
Interactive in 2015 means people
like Charles Barkley are part of the
conversation too.
The story today is about how digital
and social innovation impacts every
corner of business and industry to
shape peoples lives, governments
actions and opportunities for new
economic growth.
SXSW Interactives broad array of
speakers and events is enormous,
with so many things to see and do
at the Convention Center, hotels and
sites around the city. Whether youre
a veteran or a first-timer to SXSW
Interactive, you need to plan before
you go to get the most out of the
experience.

This year, MSLGROUP decided


to leverage this content filter with
MSLGROUP TraX.

We invite you to contribute to the


community and follow along by
checking our Twitter hashtags. This
will be helpful to those of you heading
to Austin as well as those who want to
track along from home. We will follow
these categories:

Food and Experiential Dining


#MSLFood
Health and Medtech
#MSLHealth
Social Media and Privacy
#MSLPrivacy
Work and Career
#MSLWork
Branding and Marketing
#MSLBranding
Content and Distribution
#MSLContent
We hope you join MSLGROUP on our
journey to SXSW Interactive 2015. To
get a daily email update, please visit
this link to choose your TraX:
msl.gp/TraXemail. See you there.
Cover photos clockwise from left: Luca Sartoni,
Nan Palmero and Paul Hudson on Flickr, Image
Think by Nam Chau.

Meet Our TraX Team


at SXSW Interactive
Contents
02 Meeting Our TraX Team
04 Planning Your Trip
06 Surviving in Austin
09 Building Your Session
Viewing Plan
11 Taking in the Big Picture
12 Getting a Global Perspective
TraX:
14 Food and Experiential Dining
18 Health and Medtech
22 Social Media and Privacy
26 Work and Career
30 Branding and Marketing
34 Content and Distribution
38 Manage Your Career
39 Parties
40 Hungry?

Mark McClennan
@mcclennan
Social Media and Privacy TraX
Mark is a social media, privacy and
fraud expert who has worked tech
PR for 19 years. He is chair-elect of
the PRSA.

Greg Eppich
@gregeppich
Food and Experiential
Dining TraX
Greg has nearly 20 years of
experience as a communicator
in the food industry.

Helen Shik
@helenshik
Social Media and Privacy TraX
Health and Medtech TraX
Helen is a healthcare PR, social media
and digital content expert with more
than 20 years of experience.

Jenny Heinrich
@jennyheinrich
Food and Experiential
Dining TraX

Aleisia Gibson-Wright
@aleisiag
Health and MedTech TraX
Aleisia formerly led global public
relations for the Medical Diagnostics
unit of GE Healthcare.

Jenny has over 15 years of digital


experience in food and consumer
matters.

Denise Vitola
@denisevitola
Brand and Marketing TraX

Brian Burgess
@centerorch
Work and Career TraX
Brian leads the MSLGROUP global
employee practice.

Marcy Massura
@marcymassura
Work and Career TraX
Marcy is a SXSW veteran, New York
Digital Practice Lead for MSLGROUP
and social media powerhouse.

Denise is the North America


Consumer Practice director for
MSLGROUP. She is well known
for developing on-strategy, insightinspired campaigns that integrate
earned, owned, paid and shared
tactics that infuse social, digital
and mobile.

Erin Lanuti
@erinlanuti
Content and Distribution TraX
Erin is one of the most senior experts
at MSLGROUP in paid media, content
and integrated marketing. She has
over 20 years of experience.

Matt Dickman
@mattdickman
Branding and Marketing TraX
Matt is a digital marketing specialist
who has created successful
marketing programs for some of
the largest CPG and entertainment
companies in the world.

Romain Vezirian
@whoisromeo
Branding and Marketing TraX
Romain is a digital professional with
over eight years of experience and
develops digital strategies in Atlanta.

Jeff Melton
@JeffDM
Content and Distribution TraX
Jeff is head of Global Technology
and Platforms and leads the global
integration of digital technology
with the MSLGROUPs global
digital offerings.

10

Texas-Style
Planning Tips
You wont have any trouble figuring
out whats on the SXSW Interactive
agenda the event planners have
everything locked and loaded.
What you might not be sure of is
what to wear, what to bring and
how to plan your off time. Follow
our insider guidelines and youll
be ready for anything.

Planning
Your Trip
1. Download SXSW GO.

The Official 2015 Mobile Guide to


South by Southwest lets you see
the lineup, create your own personal
schedule and sync your devices so
everythings up to date. The app
is available for download to your
iPhone, iPad or Android.

2. Check the weather


forecast.

March temps in Austin are usually


pretty nice (how do 60s and 70s
sound?), but Texas weather can
change in a hurry. Plan to dress in
light layers and bring a jacket and
umbrella for those stray showers.

6. Bring your own bottled


water and snacks.

Skip the long refreshment lines at


SXSW by tucking a few waters and
packs of trail mix in your suitcase or
stopping at Royal Blue Grocery on
your way through downtown.

7. Leave a little room


in your suitcase.

Downtowns 2nd Street District has


more than 50 local specialty shops,
services and eateries. Set aside time
to shop and take a piece of Austin
home with you.

8. Be prepared to network.
Were not suggesting a canned

3. Wear comfortable shoes. elevator speech, but having a few key

Youll walk a lot and likely stand in


a line or two, so comfy shoes are a
must. If you want to try biking, bring
shoes you can wear using B-cycle,
Austins bike share system.

phrases in your back pocket will help


get conversations going. And dont
forget to bring plenty of business
cards.

4. Pack your workout


clothes.

Theres at least one party every


night, and times are staggered so
you can make almost all of them if
you want. Pace yourself though
and make sure you have the right
access badge before showing up at
the door.

Whether you hit the hotel gym,


tackle one of Austins many running
trails or take a wake-up walk around
the block, exercise is a great way
to keep your energy up during long
SXSW days.

5. Stash extra chargers


and batteries.

Whats the most popular thing at a


technology conference? Technology!
Everyone will be on Wi-Fi, so be
ready for signals to come and go and
batteries to die at the most inconvenient moment. Bring extra batteries
and a portable charger, and stake out
the charging stations at each venue.

9. Pick your parties.

10. Plan a stop at the SXSW


Job Market presented
by Publicis Groupe.
Its free, open to everyone and a
great place to meet people, even
if youre not looking for a job. You
never know, right? March 13-14, JW
Marriott.

Surviving
in Austin
Transportation
Theres more to SXSW
Its easy to get around downtown
Interactive than sessions
on foot or bicycle (check out B-cycle,
and parties. Use our insider Austins bike share system), and
MetroBus and MetroRail are great
tips to navigate the event
for destinations further afield. Good
like a pro and round out
news if youre staying somewhere
your Austin experience.
other than downtown Austin: SXSW
has evolved an efficient hotel shuttle
service for registrants whose hotels
are outside the downtown walkable
area.*

Music

Austin is a music lovers mecca, with


live bands playing somewhere every
night. Read the signposts, collect
postcards on street corners and check
out the Downtown Austin Alliance for
live music venues.

Parking

Dont worry about parking if your


hotel is outside your walking distance
comfort zone and you go for a rental
car. Theres a garage on 2nd Street
just two blocks from the Austin
Convention Center, the hub of SXSW
Interactive. Get there early to snag
a spot.

Scheduling

SXSW works best if you plan ahead.


Yes, consider developing a personal
run of show for the event, but dont
feel the need to schedule every
minute of your trip. Take a breath.
Leave time for spontaneity.

Satellite-ing

Who says you have to be in the


room to get value out of SXSW
keynote sessions? Avoid the crowds
and watch from a satellite location
where you can network with people
who have similar interests. In many
cases, interesting sessions are held
immediately following the keynote,
saving you time and steps.

Social media

SXSW Interactive is all about


technology, but its also about people.
Follow conversations on Twitter,
Facebook and Instagram, but dont
spend the week looking at your
phone. Use this opportunity to make
authentic connections that will live
beyond Austin.

Lounging

Nothing will rejuvenate you like a


comfortable sofa, a cold drink and a
charging station in one of the SXSW
Lounges. Stop by to network or meet
up with friends and learn about new
business opportunities. In particular,
we recommend the PayPal Social
Media Lounge hosted by TechSet, in
Room 19AB of the Convention Center.
Youll be able to get your caffeine fix
at our coffee bar, pick up essentials
at the PayPal store, and recharge
yourself and your devices at one of
our many work stations.
*Please note that registrants must
purchase a pass.

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Tues

Building
your Session
Viewing Plan

The best tool for planning and


organizing your sessions is the
SXSW GOTM app, available for
download to your iPad, iPhone or
Android devices. Browse all the
events and speakers and create your
personal schedule, then log in to
sync it with your other devices. Want
to see what sessions your friends
and connections are going to? Its all
right there.
SXSW Interactive is full of cantmiss sessions, panels and keynotes.
To stay on track, keep them all
straight and catch the ones you
really want, make lists of your A, B
and C choices. That way, if your first
choice is full, you can always skip
to your B list or even your Cs. Make
notes on times and places to be sure
youre in the right place at the right
time. Allow time for travel.

10

Taking in
the Big Picture
SXSW Interactive has a long
tradition of lining up the worlds
most innovative and inspiring
speakers. Keynote events run from
2-3 p.m. each day in Exhibit Hall 5
of the Austin Convention Center.
These presentations take the form
of either a solo talk, an interview,
or a conversation between two
individuals. This year, you will have
the opportunity to see:

Paola Antonelli
Senior Curator, Metropolitan
Museum of Art
Friday
Princess Reema Bint
Bandar Al-Saud
CEO, Alfa International
Saturday
Martine Rothblatt
Chairman & CEO, United
Therapeutics
Sunday

They are must-attend events for


anyone with a show badge, but you
dont need to be in the hall to view
them. SXSW simulcasts keynotes
across its venues, enabling you to
avoid the crowds and watch from a
satellite location and network with
people who have similar interests.
We also highly encourage attendees
to check out the Featured Sessions
to hear from influential celebrities
and the top names behind some
of the industrys most innovative
trends and important conversations.
This years line-up of SXSW
speakers includes Charles Barkley,
Bonin Bough, Russell Brand, Pete
Cashmore, Malcolm Gladwell, Jesse
Jackson, Guy Kawasaki, Josh Klein,
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Eric Schmidt,
Brian Solis, Biz Stone, Eric Topol,
Gary Vaynerchuk, Jack Welch
and more.

SXSW Interactive is not just 60


minute sessions there are a
variety of fascinating things to
do outside the convention center.
SXSW Interactive Workshops offer
in-depth, multi-hour education on
a variety of subjects, all located on
the third floor of the JW Marriott. A
multitude of Convergence Meet Ups
are scheduled each day to connect
attendees with similar interest
across disparate industries. Theres
also the Gaming Expo, Startup
Village, SXgood (the official social
good platform at SXSW), comedy
and more a quick internet search
including SXSW can reveal all
kinds of events and opportunities
to enjoy!

Logan Green
Co-founder & CEO, Lyft
Monday
Astro Teller
Captain of Moonshots, Google[x]
Tuesday

Photos opposite page: clockwise from the left by


Paul Papadimitriou, Nan Palmero, Kris Krg, and
Andrew Feinberg on Flickr.

11

Getting a Global
Perspective

By Stephanie Agresta,
Global Practice
Director, Digital,
MSLGROUP
#MSLGlobal
The City of Austins official motto is
Live Music Capital of the World.
Its time everyone also recognizes
the importance that Austin and
SXSW play on the global digital
landscape. SXSW is now the largest
and most important gathering of
global digital marketers annually.
SXSW Interactive has always been
about whats emerging from Silicon
Valley and New York City. But
now, technology trends in Brazil,
China, India, Korea and Australia
are making big waves. Every year
the percentage of attendees and
sponsors from outside the United
States has grown. Last year the
32,798 attendees of Interactive came
from 82 countries. For global digital
marketers, the show is must-attend.
MSLGROUP brings colleagues
from around the globe to immerse
themselves in the global digital
ecosystem of SXSW in ways that
help drive innovation for our clients
worldwide.
Global content is integrated into
every SXSW theme. But there are a
myriad of ways to navigate the show
for those interested in finding likeminded global attendees. Here are a
few of the top items to be aware of:

Global Connections:
SX Global Connections seeks
to reduce the challenge of
connecting by bringing relevant
content, networking, and business
opportunities to the international
SXSW community. Dont miss the
kick-off event!
Trade Show 2015 Exhibitors
The Trade Show has now grown
to one of the most popular aspects
of SXSW. Still manageable in
size, attendees can make valuable
connections with exhibitors. Many
of the global sponsors are
represented here.
Latin America
SXSW recently announced
the creation of SXAmricas.
SXAmricas promotes networking,
ideas and new partnerships from

12

Latino film, music and technology


leaders. Two panels of note include:
Neymar: From Brazil Soccer Star to
YouTube Creator
Latin America: Silicon Valleys New
Frontier
Asia
At MSLGROUP, we are proud of
our deep expertise in navigating
the global digital landscape in Asia.
These panels on Asia specific topics
will prove to be some of the most
popular:
One World, Two Internets: Chinas
Tech Innovation
Winning Over Chinas Wired Women
The Birth of Korean Cool

Meet MSLGROUP
experts from
around the globe
who are attending
SXSW this year
Patricia Albuquerque
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Partner & Content Director,
MSLGROUP Espalhe
@patialbuc
Jon Chin
Singapore
Director of Digital & Social,
Southeast Asia
@jonwchin

Spotlight Asia
Mobile Lifestyle Comes of Age
Sunday, March 15
8:30 AM 10:00 AM
W Hotel, 200 Lavaca St
Great Room C

#MSLGlobal
Join MSLGROUP, Mondelz, Line
and other global tech marketers to
discuss the emergence of the mobile
consumer in Asia and the global
trends it is sparking.
Asia is now leading the way
for mobile messaging and
communications innovation.
Theregion entered a new period
ofgrowth at the same time as
mobile-Internet access became
widely available, resulting in the
region leapfrogging the PC-Internet
era. In an environment with mobile
at the core, rich development and
invention is happening in exciting
ways. Despite having being around
for a fraction of the time, messaging
services like Line, WeChat and
Kakao Talk have sizable user bases

rivaling Facebook. But these Asian


apps are more than just messaging,
they are lifestyle platforms,
branching out to include mobile
payments, shopping, taxi services,
banking, and more. As a result,
social networking platforms have
been transformed into indispensable
digital extensions of a users life.
The Mobile Lifestyle era is upon us.
The leaders of the major western
digital platforms are now traveling
to the East to understand this
innovation and the invention thats
still around the corner in North
America and Europe. Together
we will explore what happens
when a mobile messaging app
becomes the digital life engine for
millions of people. What does this
transformation means for peoples
lives, businesses and society? What
does this mean for global brand
marketers?
This event is invite only. If you
are interested in attending,
please reach out to us at
CorporateCommunicationsNA
@mslgroup.com.
13

Alice Hu
Shanghai, China
Manager, Social & Digital, Asia
@alicehu
Marcelo Minutti
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Director
@mminutti
Nicolas Moreau
Paris, France
Digital Strategies Consultant,
Publicis Consultants
@nico_dude
Narendra Nag
Delhi, India
Asia Practice Leader,
Digital & Social Media
@narendranag
Adrian Rosenthal
Berlin, Germany
Head of Digital & Social Media,
Germany
@neurosenthal
Josh Shapiro
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Director of Market Development &
Client Engagement
@joshds
Juliana Junqueira Vieira
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Digital Director, MSLGROUP
Andreoli

The Food and


Experiential
Dining TraX

By Greg Eppich, SVP,


MSLGROUP,
and Jenny Heinrich,
VP, Social Media
& Digital Content,
MSLGROUP

#MSLFood
Last years SXSW left us feeling a
little hungry. Not literally hungry,
ofcourse. Theres a lot of great food
in Austin and well certainly take
advantage of that again this year.
Breakfast tacos or kolaches, anyone?
The truth is, were hungry for
more SXSW sessions that focus
on food. This years lineup, led
by a wide range of respected food
industry thought leaders, looks
quite satisfying. Theyll address
the worlds food supply, responsible
sourcing and sustainable production
methods, plus predict food trends
and shifts in food marketing and retail.

In addition to this years hearty


sessions (see below for our top
picks), were looking forward to these
SouthBites highlights:
SouthBites Lounge at the
Driskill Hotel, which will serve as
the home base for food industry
professionals, fans and press.
Were keeping our fingers crossed
for lots of free food, too. Can you
blame us?
The third annual SouthBites
Trailer Park will celebrate
Austins iconic food trailer culture.
This years Trailer Park will offer
a wide range of foods from Asian
street cuisine and Turkish style
wraps to gourmet grilled cheese
sandwiches and Korean Mexican
fusion, just to name a few. The
SouthBites Trailer Park will be
open every day from Friday, March
13, through Saturday, March 21,
11 a.m. to midnight.
Craft-Cocktail Happy Hour
Presented by KitchenAid at the
Driskill Hotel on Saturday, March
14, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This
happy hour will wrap the first day
14

of SouthBites programming and


offer an open bar, appetizers and a
guest mixologist to create a variety
of craft cocktails using KitchenAid
tools. They had us at cocktail.
SouthBites Food Truck
Showcase Party on Monday,
March 16, from 9:30 p.m.
to midnight. Located at the
SouthBites Trailer Park, this late
night celebration will highlight
the delicious eats crafted by
chefs of the 14 participating
food trailers and mark the close
of SouthBites programming for
2015.
We invite you to join us, using the
hashtag #MSLFood, as we share
key findings and insights from these
and other SouthBites sessions and
events at SXSW Interactive 2015.

Session picks
from our experts
Saturday 14 March

Made in Brooklyn:
A Craft Foods
Revolution
Saturday, March 14,
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Driskill Hotel, Driskill Ballroom

The Unexpected
Mega Bites: Mining
Power of Shared Meals Food Data for Insights
Saturday, March 14,
11:00AM - 12:00PM

Saturday, March 14,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Driskill Hotel, Maximilian

Driskill Hotel, Driskill Ballroom

#sxsw #SouthBites

#sxsw #SouthBites

Participating in a shared meal leads


to expanding ones interactions with
new people, cultures, foods and
thoughts. This session will highlight
the success for meal sharing and
how it can make an impact that
reaches further than the dinner table.

A wealth of data is being collected


every day through food apps,
restaurant check-ins and recipe
searches. However, the landscape
of food as big data is still taking
shape, and how it will affect meal
innovation is yet to be known.
This session will seek to explain
the future intersection of food and
technology.

#sxsw #SouthBites
Craft foods and beverages have been
gaining mass appeal, as consumers
want more authenticity, sustainable
practices and seasonality. With their
popularity gaining momentum, the
effects on the larger food ecosystem
have yet to be fully understood. This
session will highlight success stories
of purveyors who have scaled their
business from micro to macro.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP38255

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP35870

The Future Role


of Tech in Dining
and Food
Saturday, March 14,
3:30PM - 4:30PM
Austin Convention Center,
Ballroom D
#sxsw #momotech
David Chang of Momofuku fame
will discuss how technology is
continually changing and shaping
the way people interact with food,
and how restaurants, chefs and athome diners consume meals both
literally and digitally.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43201
15

Join us as a panel of entrepreneurs


from some of the leading companies
in food data and food technology
discuss the possibilities for big
food data. We are on the verge of
something that can transform the
entire food system, and the leaders
in this movement will share their
thoughts, ideas and learnings.
Our panelists will unveil innovative
insights they have gleaned from
their experiences and share specific
use cases. Learn what lies in the
future of mining food data and the
advantages and obstacles at the
convergence of food and technology.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39373

Session picks
from our experts
Sunday 15 March

Grocery Wars: The


Future of Buying Food
Sunday, March 15,
9:30AM - 10:30AM
Driskill Hotel, Maximilian
#sxsw #SouthBites
Technology and customization take
center stage as consumers demand
a more personalized and streamlined
experience when shopping in-store.
At the center of this revolution is
the continued need for purveyors
to stay up to date on a seamless
buying experience, smart in-store
advertising and packaging that
provides buyers with information
they demand such as ingredients,
history and how it can best be used
to its fullest potential.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP34122

Building a Better
Breakfast
Sunday, March 15,
12:30PM - 1:30PM
Driskill Hotel, Driskill Ballroom
#sxsw #SouthBites
Breakfast has long been seen as the
most important meal of the day. But
with an ever-growing population,
innovations need to be made in the
global food system to account for
higher demand. Josh Tetrick, Damir
Kaul and Andrew Zimmerman will
provide their unique outlooks on how
this can be done.
Well take a look from the view of
the entrepreneur (Josh Tetrick),
the investor (Samir Kaul) and the
culinarian (Andrew Zimmern),
and the three will be moderated by
sustainable food writer, Jane Black
(NYT, Washington Post, Slate).
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP31681

16

Changing the World


through Food:
A Love Story
Sunday, March 15,
3:30PM - 4:30PM
Driskill Hotel, Driskill Ballroom
#sxsw #SouthBites
Renowned chef and restauranteur
Michael Chiarello and philanthropist
Eileen Chiarello bring their love for
each other, food and sustainability
on a mission to change the world.
They will discuss how they have
cultivated success through food,
each other and by making a
difference in communities across
the nation.
Join the Chiarellos for a candid
conversation about how love shaped
their commitment to flavor, farming
and a sustainable food futureand
the blood, sweat and tears it took to
get where they are today.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP42722

Monday 16 March

72 Ways Food Can


Change the World

Food Criticism
in the Digital Age

Monday, March 16,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

Monday, March 16,


5:00PM - 6:00PM

Driskill Hotel, Maximilian

Driskill Hotel, Driskill Ballroom

#sxsw #SouthBites

#sxsw #SouthBites

Food and nonprofit successes


converge in the story of Hot Bread
Kitchen and how poverty and
nutrition can be tackled by one
everyday food. Eater Editor-in-Chief
Amanda Kludt spoke with Jessamyn
Rodriguez about her success in
providing careers to immigrant men
and women by turning their breadmaking abilities into businesses.

Citizen journalism through


Instagram, Yelp and Twitter have
made restaurant reviews accessible
to any diner. In this new digital age,
food critics discuss the impact of
instantaneous feedback and how it
continues to shape the future of food
critique and criticism.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43026

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43704

17

By Aleisia GibsonWright, SVP, Health


MSLGROUP

#MSLHealth
Under normal circumstances,
thinking about attending a
conference for work could lead to
a serious, deep, guttural yawn,

right? Yes, but this is no ordinary


conference, its SXSW, one of the top
industry trend events in the world.
There will be no yawning for me.
Airline ticket in my purse, bottled
water in hand, bag of pretzels in my
coat pocket and a vision of complete
immersion in the beautiful world of
BIG DATA in health again one of
this years trending topics has me
alive with excitement.

How big data is used in preventative


medicine is key to why Im so
interested in the topic. Its like the
ability to analyze other people
like myself similar family health
history, ethnicity, test results and
all that medical stuff to determine
what could happen to my health
in the future is justoh, riveting.
Follow me to find out what I really
thought about the session.

What am I most looking forward to?


Big data. Its frightening, scintillating
and perplexing, particularly in the
health space, as technology is still
burgeoning. It has applications
that range from provider-specific
business intelligence to scouring
an entire states health records to
pinpoint people at risk for certain
ailments. Many believe big data can
help target early warning signs and
improve patient safety.

During my time at SXSW, Ill stop


and take a moment to appreciate
the awesomeness of this industry
and the breadth of topics we get to
understand and influence. And while
Im in Austin, I will definitely make
time to appreciate the Tex-Mex
and BBQ.

The Health and


Medtech TraX
18

If youd like to meet up with me for a


dip of guac and refried beans, a rack
of something savory or to just to talk
about the conference, tweet me
@aleisiag #MSLHealth.

Session picks
from our experts
Saturday 14 March

Patient Power: A Data


and Mobile Health
Revolution

Digital Health and


Consumerization
of Healthcare

Why HIPAA Wont


Save You: Protecting
Data Privacy

Saturday, March 14,


9:30AM - 10:30AM

Saturday, March 14,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

Saturday, March 14,


5:00PM - 6:00PM

JW Marriott, Room 203-204

JW Marriott, Room 203-204

JW Marriott, Room 203-204

#sxsw #PatientPWR

#sxsw #DigiHealth

#sxsw #SXSWHIPAA

It has been estimated that as much


as 90% of all data in the world has
been generated in the past two years.
While big data has dramatically
changed the way we live our lives
from shopping to social interactions,
the big data revolution is just
beginning to touch the most sacred
aspect of our lives: our health. This
panel will discuss the current state
and future of the big data revolution
in health and personal wellness, as
well as the challenges to building a
data-driven health system.

The explosion in technology over


the past decade has transformed
the world we live in, and nearly
all successful businesses today
leverage new technologies to their
advantage. Yet due to its regulatory
and competitive complexity, the
healthcare industry has been a
notorious laggard in incorporating
the benefits of the digital revolution.
Recent years, however, have seen
numerous innovations on the digital
health front and, finally, the move
towards a consumerized healthcare
system that gives patients more
control over their care. Re/code
Senior Editor James Temple will
moderate a panel to discuss these
issues with Beth Seidenberg, partner
at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers,
and former chief medical officer of
Amgen, Mike Lee, founder and CEO
of MyFitnessPal, and Ray Bradford,
founder and CEO of Spruce Health.

Every day, people are collecting,


sharing and leveraging health
information sometimes without
even realizing it. From fitness
tracking tools to info shared
through social to online search and
purchases made online, a wealth
of health-related data is being
generated about each of us that, if
used wisely, could improve health
outcomes. But while much has been
said about the opportunities, few
people give much thought to the
digital footprint they leave behind
a footprint that includes data and
information not necessarily protected
under existing regulatory guidance
(HIPAA). By bringing together key
stakeholders who can talk to the
needs of patients, manufacturers
and entrepreneurs, we aim to tackle
both the promise and the risks of
maximizing the wealth of health
information generated online.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP42614

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP41752

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP36508

19

Session picks
from our experts
Sunday 15 March

Finding a Breast
Cancer Cure: What
Needs to Change
Sunday, March 15,
5:00PM - 6:00PM
JW Marriott, Room 201-202

Is Big Data the Next


Wonder Drug?
Sunday, March 15,
5:00PM - 6:00PM
JW Marriott, Room 203-204
#sxsw #HealthData

#sxsw #BCCure
Breast cancer is the second largest
cause of cancer death among
women in the U.S., invading the
lives of millions of women and their
caregivers. How can the breast
cancer community from consumers
and physicians to researchers, health
plans and tech companies create
change? What do we need to do to
help find a cure? In this session,
breast cancer survivor, advocate
and blogger Ann Silberman, along
with digital health media expert
David Kopp, will lead an interactive
discussion exploring what needs to
change in breast cancer care and
treatment today, the emerging role
digital innovation will play in helping
find a cure and how we can all help.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP40477

In a world where we track our


sleep, steps, sex, vitals, DNA and
almost everything imaginable is
data the panacea we hope itll be
for our health? Or is it another fad,
a placebo, a sugar pill that makes
us feel psychologically, but not
measurably, better? Now that weve
begun collecting data on ourselves,
how do we use it to improve our
future health? And what happens
when data is extended from the
individual to the collective body?
What are the societal implications?
Find out what comes after the
quantified self in a panel with Walter
de Brouwer, founder and CEO of
Scanadu, a NASA Ames Research
Center-based company aimed at
making this the last generation
to know so little about our health;
and Eric Topol, M.D., director of
the Scripps Translational Science
Institute, who is using digital and
genomic technologies to reboot the
future of medicine.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP42194

20

Monday 16 March

Bionic Pancreas:
Getting Closer
Monday, March 16,
11:00AM - 12:00PM
JW Marriott, Room 201-202
#sxsw #BioHealth
Insulin-dependent diabetics live
daily with a pancreas that is not
functioning properly. A healthy
pancreas secretes both insulin
to counter high blood sugar and
glucagon to counter low blood
sugar. The standard of care to date
has been the injection of insulin
to manage high blood sugar and
the ingestion of carbohydrates to
manage low blood sugar. This is
akin to managing the temperature
in your house with a space heater to
add heat and opening the windows
to cool things off. It works, but
not very well. This session will
discuss the industry and academic
partnerships underway to create a
bionic pancreas that combines novel
medical devices and formulations
of insulin and glucagon to mimic the
function of the pancreas outside
the body.

Tuesday 17 March

Crossing Over:
The New Guard
of Healthcare

Turning Big
Healthcare into Hubs
of Innovation

Monday, March 16,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Tuesday, March 17,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

JW Marriott, Room 203-204

JW Marriott, Room 203-204

#sxsw #hcnewguard

#sxsw #bigHCideas

This panel will provide a robust


discussion around the experience/
journey of entrepreneurs from nonhealthcare backgrounds into the
highly regulated healthcare industry.
We will focus on why they made
the leap and explore the benefits
and challenges of crossing over
to healthcare, while establishing
best practices and setting targeted
expectations for first-time founders
in the digital health space.

Patients and providers face


challenges at our healthcare
institutions on a daily basis. These
organizations are ripe with real
problems, real providers and real
patients. This makes them the
perfect test environment and partner
for entrepreneurs with new ideas and
novel approaches to achieve impact.
By creating meaningful connections
between entrepreneurs, providers
and patients, innovation can happen,
the spread of new ideas can be
accelerated and we can begin to fix
our broken system.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP42350

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP32793

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP36516

21

The Social
Media
and Privacy
TraX

To maximize your SXSW social


and privacy sessions, keep these
points in mind:

1. JW Marriott
is your friend.

By Mark McClennan,
SVP, MSLGROUP
#MSLPrivacy
For those interested in social and
privacy, SXSW takes a much
different approach than the typical
security or fraud conference. SXSW
organizers have put together a series
of more than 100 sessions of interest
to communicators and marketing
professionals in those markets and
anyone looking at using big data to
optimize communications or prepare
for potential data security issues.
These are key issues that many
communications professionals
struggle or live with daily. Some
sessions get in the weeds, others
look at macro trends and their
impact on society.

Almost all Social and Privacy


sessions will be held at the JW
Marriott Austin on 2nd Street.
This new hotel that opened in
February is about three blocks
east of the Convention Center.

2. Size up the rooms.

We looked at the floorplan and the


rooms are not created equal. Salon
7 has room for 610 attendees, so
sessions there should be relatively
easy to get into. Salon 8 only has
room for 210, so plan to get there
early to avoid being shut out.

3. Tune in to simulcast.

SXSW simulcasts keynotes across


its venues. So if you want to catch
an afternoon session, avoid the
crowds at the Convention Center
and watch from the JW Marriott.

22

4. Going to the sessions


isnt enough.

The sessions are great, but the


conversations before and after
are where I typically get the
most value. Plan to stay after the
sessions you care most about and
dont use your pre-session time to
catch up on email. You just might
miss the best connections and
insights.

5. The social
backchannel is strong.

In previous years, I noticed the


social backchannel discussions
around the security and privacy
sessions were very strong.
Follow the hashtags for great
opportunities to connect with
people you want to meet while
keeping up on all the social and
privacy sessions.

Session picks
from our experts
Friday 13 March

Saturday 14 March

Security of Things:
Who Will Save Us?

Rethinking Privacy in
the Internet of Things

Friday, March 13,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Friday, March 13,


4:00PM - 4:15PM

JW Marriott, Salon 4

Austin Convention Center,


Ballroom C

#sxsw #SXSWSaveUs
Two years ago, the Internet of
Things was just beginning its rise
as one of the most buzzed-about
topics of the technology world.
Now, smart homes are a reality, our
phones and wearable computers are
the command line of our lives, and
a slew of new, connected gadgets
hit the marketplace every year (even
toilets arent off limits). A parallel
shift is happening in the security
world, as threats and attackers
become more sophisticated,
cyberespionage becomes a realworld concern, and a new data
breach makes headlines practically
each day.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP32078

Future Crimes
from the Digital
Underworld
Saturday, March 14,
3:30PM - 4:30PM
JW Marriott, Salon 4

#sxsw #unboundid

#sxsw #updatenow

One of the hottest trends that will


hit organizations in 2015 is the
rise of the Internet of Things. With
the mass boom in online profiles,
companies will very soon be
dealing with millions to billions of
ID challenges and creating a need
for consumer identity management
(CIM). Traditional enterprise identity
management software struggles
to deal with more than 100,000
separate IDs. (Think about ithow
many companies have more than
100,000 employees, so why should
their ID management solutions
operate at web scale?) When you
add new technology like the Internet
of Things and the huge amount of
device profiles and attributes created
per sensor (like Hue lights or Nest
thermostats), the number of data
points and identities can reach the
billions pretty quickly.

Criminals are often the earliest


and most innovative adopters of
technology. Theyre already stealing
identities, draining online bank
accounts and wiping out computer
servers in the blink of an eye, but
thats childs play compared to whats
coming next.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP41649

23

From one of the worlds leading


authorities on global security,
Future Crimes takes readers deep
into the digital underground to
illuminate the alarming ways
criminals, corporations and even
countries are using new and
emerging technologies against
you, and how this makes everyone
more vulnerable than ever thought
possible.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP31867

Session picks
from our experts
Sunday 15 March

What Keeps the


Internets Leading
CPOs Up At Night

Fingerprints Are
Usernames, Not
Passwords

Cyber-Insecurity:
Youre not as Safe
as You Think

Saturday, March 14,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Sunday, March 15,


9:30AM - 10:30AM

Sunday, March 15,


11:00AM - 1:30PM

JW Marriott, Salon 8

JW Marriott, Room 404

JW Marriott, Room 307

#sxsw #privacypro

#sxsw #biometrics

Pre-registration required

As data hoarding continues to


become an integral part of society,
companies are looking to chief
privacy officers to help manage data
protection and privacy concerns.
Demand for data security and
privacy professionals has grown
exponentially and organizations
are recognizing the need to better
manage privacy and examine
how they handle data within their
organization. This panel will include
CPOs from some of todays top
companies debating the current
challenges and opportunities in the
privacy landscape and what they see
on the horizon. From online tracking
and mobile technologies to dealing
with surveillance issues, hear from
these leaders on where the most
challenging privacy issues of the day
are going.

As biometric sensors find their


way into your consumer devices,
you will be tempted by your device
manufacturers and app providers to
use them for authentication. While I
wont tell you, Dont do it, we will
discuss the consequences of using
biometrics for authentication, rather
than identification. There are plenty
of inventions that turned out to be
bad ideas, or are simply misused.
Without a course correction in the
consumer world, biometrics are
rapidly headed in that direction.

#sxsw #HackerU

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP37091

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP36987

Facebook knows everything about


you, but what does that mean?
Edward Snowden exposed that
the NSA was tracking ordinary
citizens; why should you care? In
this workshop, youll learn why
you and your company should
be concerned about your online
security, and where you are
vulnerable to having your data
exposed. Hint: its everywhere
from your computer to your phone,
even to your baby monitors. Led
by Amadeus Stevenson, CTO
of Decoded, the global company
giving professionals a high-level
understanding of code, cybersecurity
and more, attendees are going to
hack themselves - yes, themselves.
Armed with a greater knowledge
to keep both their personal and
professional information safe from
prying eyes, they will gain a deeper
understanding of the holes in the
fabric of our modern world.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39855

24

Sunday 15 March

Tuesday 17 March

Data Discrimination:
Exploring Big Data
and Bias

Data (in)Security:
MIT Scientists
Tackle Privacy

Follow the Money:


Cyber Crime and the
Black Market

Sunday, March 15,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

Sunday, March 15,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Tuesday, March 17,


12:30PM - 1:30PM

JW Marriott, Salon 7

JW Marriott, Salon 8

JW Marriott, Salon 4

#sxsw #DataBias

#sxsw #CSAILPrivacy

#sxsw #SXstolen

Data analytics give businesses


and government powerful new
tools. Analyzing data troves allows
companies to spot inefficiencies
in supply chains. Police can
track where crime is spreading.
Retailers can tinker with pricing
based on user data. But do these
advancements have potential pitfalls,
too? Could retailers discriminate
against customers based on their
age, race and income by creating
specific profiles of people through
data? Will people end up deprived
of opportunities if search engines
automatically show them different
results based on what an algorithm
knows about them? Will algorithms
be used to change pricing for people
in rich neighborhoods versus poor
neighborhoods?

In recent years, no technology issue


has drawn as much debate as data
privacy, from revelations about
government surveillance to major
corporate data breaches. The topic
has spurred tough questions about
the balance between access and
privacy and how to use data to help
solve problems without sacrificing
anonymity.

What exactly happens when a


cyber-criminal steals your credit card
number? Believe it or not, in a matter
of a couple hours your personal
information could have taken a trip
to multiple countries before being
sold on the black market. When it
comes to cyber-crime, the Internet
is a global ecosystem and hackers
know no borders. Come take a
behind-the-scenes look as we follow
a stolen credentials international
journey through the black market.
See for yourself how cyber-crime
isnt a single issue impacting one
country, but rather a global issue
impacting consumers, corporations
and governments around the world.
In what country will our stolen
credential end up? Join us to
find out.

Those are all questions that


Washington regulators are
pondering now. This panel will
address the ethical and legal
questions about Big Data analysis
and discuss ways to avoid an age
of digital inequity as more data is
collected, stored and analyzed about
us than ever before.

A panel of CSAILs leading thinkers,


including cryptography expert
Shafi Goldwasser, RSA algorithm
co-inventor Ron Rivest and former
White House adviser Danny
Weitzner, will discuss their work
on the subject and the biggest
challenges for todays data scientists
and privacy advocates.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43058

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP36963

If anyone can tackle these issues, its


the team at MITs Computer Science
and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
(CSAIL). Since the labs founding
50 years ago, its researchers have
been at the hub of the technology
revolution and key players in
developing innovations like the
personal computer, Ethernet and the
World Wide Web.

25

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP41706

The Work
and Career
TraX

By Brian Burgess,
Global Co-Director,
MSLGROUP Employee
Practice

#MSLWork
After 20 years of attending many
conferences about marketing and
communications, last year I dipped
my toe into SXSW. While it was a
bit overwhelming in scale, it was
endlessly informative and exciting.
Last years experience changed my

perception that SXSW is for the


extremely techy, webby, Twittery
people focused on changing the
world with digital and social media.
In reality, its a bunch of diverse
human beings with insatiable
curiosities, experiences and points
of view. Its a Petri dish for diversity
and inclusion. Its not so much about
digital and social itself as it is about
how humans adapt behavior in the
digital age.
MSLGROUPs global Employee
Practice, works with organizations
around the world that grapple with
the same issues how to get their

26

employees heads, hearts and hands


in the game around business
strategy, brand delivery and
navigating change. Every single day.
Were most excited to hear the panels
that focus on change because the
pace of change.
Our tip: find speakers with diverse
backgrounds business owners,
leaders inside larger companies,
authors and academics, futurists
and behavioral scientists.

Session picks
from our experts
Friday 13 March

Saturday 14 March

How to Build a
Following around
Your Idea

Fear, Shame, Empathy


& More Ways to
Change Behavior

Friday, March 13,


12:30PM - 12:50PM

Friday, March 13,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Austin Convention Center,


Ballroom G

Austin Convention Center,


Exhibit Hall 5

#sxsw #StandOut

#sxsw #danpink

Too many people believe if they


keep their heads down and work
hard, their ideas will be recognized
on their merits, but thats simply not
true anymore. To make a name for
yourself and gain traction for your
best ideas, you have to capitalize
on your unique perspective and
knowledge and inspire others to
listen and take action. Former
presidential campaign spokeswoman
Dorie Clark, a regular contributor
to Forbes, HBR, and Entrepreneur,
explains how to identify the ideas
that set you apart and how to
promote them successfully.

In this entertaining and provocative


session, Daniel Pink best-selling
author of Drive and To Sell is
Human, and host and co-executive
producer of NatGeoTVs Crowd
Control will look at the science
and practice of behavior change.
Hell show how subtle changes in
environment can dramatically affect
what people do. And hell explore
the power (and limits) of techniques
from fear to gamification to empathy
to distraction. Youll leave with some
smart tips on changing the behavior
of those in your workplace, school
or home.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP34457

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP42182

Driving Results
through Culture
Saturday, March 14,
12:30PM - 12:50PM
Austin Convention Center,
Ballroom G
#sxsw #CultureEng
For 25 years, S. Chris Edmonds
has helped leaders create safe,
inspiring work environments where
employees thrive. He will share
insights from his new book, The
Culture Engine, and outline how to
change your teams culture through
an organizational constitution.
Leaders of organizations typically
invest greater time and energy
managing products and services
than they do managing their culture,
yet culture drives everything that
happens in their organizations,
good or bad. An organizational
constitution specifies the teams
purpose, values and behaviors,
strategies and goals. Managing to
these vital elements helps create
a workplace of cooperation and
respect, not one of competition
and frustration.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43005

27

Session picks
from our experts
Sunday 15 March

Evolving Employee
Advocacy with Scale
and Impact

No One Understands
You, and What to Do
About It

Company Culture Is
the Only Competitive
Advantage

Saturday, March 14,


5:00PM - 6:00PM

Sunday, March 15,


9:30AM - 10:30AM

Sunday, March 15,


12:30PM - 1:30PM

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Zilker Ballroom 3

JW Marriott,
Room 408-409

JW Marriott,
Room 407

#sxsw #EmplAdvcy

#sxsw #HowTheyCU

#sxsw #CultHeart

Employee advocacy marketing


is here to stay. The idea that a
companys employees, customers
and most loyal fans can generate
measurable, impactful results is
one digital marketers have adopted
across the globe.

We think we know how we


come across to other people - but
surprisingly often, were wrong.
Decades of research shows there are
very weak correlations between how
others see us and how we believe we
are seen.

Adam Keats, vice president, Strategic


Partnerships, at Dynamic Signal,
and Marcy Massura, SVP, NYC
Digital Practice Lead at MSLGROUP,
will dissect the natural progression
the industry has recently taken
and explore how companies - both
big AND small - are implementing
solutions that allow them to drive
measurable business results from
these marketing efforts.
Presented by Dynamic Signal.

On the bright side, other peoples


biases are predictable, not random.
We can anticipate how we will be
seen, once we understand how
perception really works. People
can never see you as you are
our brains are just not wired for
objectivity. But after this session,
you will finally be able to see what
others see - and many of your
past difficulties, frustrations and
misunderstandings will begin to
make sense.

You know culture eats strategy for


breakfast, but did you know its your
start-ups most powerful weapon?
Join Culture LabX co-founders Josh
Levine and Lindsay Wolff Logsdon
for an in-depth discussion about
company culture, why its critical to
companies who need to scale, why
its so damn hard to define and what
makes it the most underutilized
competitive advantage in business
history. Get a seat in the room or
take a back seat in the market.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43504

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39071

28

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP38012

Sunday 15 March

Learning to Work
in the Future
Sunday, March 15,
3:30PM - 4:30PM
JW Marriott,
Salon 5-6
#sxsw #futurism

Monday 16 March

Rise of the Employee:


Leveling the Power
Balance

Cultures of Advocacy:
People, Product and
Change

Sunday, March 15,


3:45PM - 4:00PM

Monday, March 16,


12:30PM - 1:30PM

Austin Convention Center,


Ballroom C

JW Marriott, Salon 1

#sxsw #eepower
Based on his experience as IDEOs
planetary futurist-in-residence, Alex
Steffen (co-founder of Worldchanging
and author of Carbon Zero) shares
his strategies for how to stay fluent
in the use of new ideas and skills
when the pace of change keeps
increasing.
If your success and creativity are
based in part on your ability to stay
current and grow new skills, this is a
talk you need to hear.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43334

Fifty years ago, most people worked


for the same companies their entire
lives. They had no idea what they
could or should earn, and many likely
felt scared to ask questions.
Now that the majority of people have
multiple jobs throughout their careers,
employers pay more attention to
employee engagement, satisfaction
and personal development to retain
talent.
In this session, ZenPayroll CEO
and co-founder Joshua Reeves will
explore why weve entered the age of
the employee, and how the imbalance
of power in the workplace has shifted.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39832

29

#sxsw #advocate
Its one thing to face the hard
challenges of finding better ways
to work and create. Its another
thing to turn a goal of evolving into
actions and ideas that colleagues,
customers and clients can rally
around. This panel will propose
creating cultures of advocacy,
explore what innovation even means
for an organization and whether
it should even be a priority and
propose strategies for pushing past
the barriers of territoriality and
trepidation.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP42643

The Branding and


Marketing TraX
intersection with brand marketing.
Each year, the worlds best marketers
and biggest brands come together
with technologists, artists and
musicians in Austin, Texas with the
goal of changing the world.

By Denise Vitola, NA
Consumer Practice
Director, MSLGROUP
and Matt Dickman,
SVP, Global Digital
& Social Strategy
Director, MSLGROUP

#MSLBranding
The pace of change will never be
slower than it is today.
That single statement is the
perfect backdrop for the 2015
SXSW Interactive Festival and its

Facebook has, in a matter of five


years gone from dorm rooms to
board rooms. Social networking
innovations in China are both
connecting Chinese people to the
rest of the world and putting U.S.based networks on notice. Mobility
is both empowering the masses with
access to information and forcing
companies to think about marketing
in new, untethered ways.
Commerce is becoming more
mobile-centric form tap-to-pay to
mobile e-commerce. The power to
buy is in the palm of our hands and
that revolution is not being led from
the U.S., but China.
PR has been at the forefront of the
change that is enveloping brands
30

and the marketing function. Our


roots in an earned approach to
marketing and understanding that
consumer engagement is crucial
now and in the future, PR has a
critical seat at the table in defining
the future.
As owned, paid and earned media
intertwine, and each becomes
underpinned with social elements,
the next five to ten years will be
even more dynamic. Much of that
future will be built upon technology
platforms from the way we engage,
the places we buy and the manner
in which we create insights from
immense stockpiles of data,
technology is the core.
SXSW is the place to be in order to
see and experience this change first
hand. The brand marketing track
looks at the present with a firm eye
on the future and nobody is looking
back.

Session picks
from our experts
Friday 13 March

Digital Diversity:
How Culture Impacts
Digital

Do You Know the


ROI of WOM? Do You
Want To?

Friday, March 13,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

Friday, March 13,


12:30PM - 1:30PM

Hyatt Regency Austin


Zilker Ballroom 2
208 Barton Springs Rd

Hyatt Regency Austin


Zilker Ballroom 2
208 Barton Springs Rd

#sxsw #FBDiverse

#sxsw #ROIofWOM

In the U.S. alone, there is a new


majority of people in seven of the
nations 15 largest cities. The change
in these cultural dynamics provides
new opportunities for businesses.
To understand the role culture plays
in the lives of three major groups:
U.S. Hispanics, Asian Americans
and African Americans, Facebook
and Ipsos Media CT have partnered
together. In this presentation, our
teams will illustrate how culture
influences attitudes, behaviors and
priorities and how that influences the
way people communicate online. We
will also describe the expectations
of multicultural consumers, plus
explore how brands can engage with
people in culturally relevant ways.

Many marketers recognize that word


of mouth (WOM)/earned media,
online and off, is the most effective
form of advertising, but precisely how
effective is it? Up to now, theres been
no industry-wide, definitive study to
answer that question, but the Word
of Mouth Marketing Association
(WOMMA) has changed all of that
with its new Return on WOM study.
We now know the ROI of WOM
marketing and, more importantly,
how it can be maximized for brands
across a variety of categories.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP35452

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP41339

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Building an Army
of Brand Advocates
Friday, March 13,
12:30PM - 1:30PM
Hyatt Regency Austin
Hill Country ABCD
208 Barton Springs Rd
#sxsw #brandarmy
Tech companies may be cutting
edge when it comes to technology,
but when it comes to mobilizing an
army of brand advocates they have
much to learn. Join senior executives
from Virgin America, Change.org,
and World Wildlife Fund to see how
some of the worlds most innovative
brands are engaging customers
in strategic brand advocacy, and
cultivating brand evangelists.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39274

Session picks
from our experts
Saturday 14 March

Brands: Connective
Personalization for
Tissue between People the People
and Tech
Saturday, March 14,
Friday, March 13,
5:00PM - 6:00PM
Hyatt Regency Austin
Zilker Ballroom 3
208 Barton Springs Rd

CrossFit: A Passion
Brand and Fitness Cult

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Saturday, March 14
12:30PM - 1:30PM

Hyatt Regency Austin


Zilker Ballroom 2
208 Barton Springs Rd

Hyatt Regency Austin


Zilker Ballroom 3
208 Barton Springs Rd

#sxsw #incontrol

#sxsw #SXCrossFit

When companies overstep their


boundaries with tactics that invade
privacy, the results have been
potentially disastrous government
investigations, consumer group
complaints, and *gasp!* user
abandonment. So how can marketers
reach consumers in a targeted
manner without compromising trust?
By putting the consumer back in
control. When done right, privacy is
maintained, and the consumer gets
exactly what he or she wants, at the
right time, in the right location and
on the device of choice. At the center
of the privacy debate is the mobile
device, the crux of the modern
consumers life.

From a simple garage gym to


one of Ad Ages hottest brands,
CrossFit is rapidly redefining how
companies push their messages,
their consumers and their impacts.
With a 50% annual growth rate,
CrossFit is more than the next big
thing in fitness its the new wave
of grassroots marketing.

#sxsw #connective
Brands are now just as likely to
invest in everyday tools, services
and life-hacks as they are traditional
marketing campaigns. The most
trusted brands are already behaving
like lifestyle and wellbeing partners.
If youre the kind of person who
thinks advertising is a dirty word,
maybe this panel will change your
mind. Leo Burnetts Global Head of
Social and Mobile James Kirkham
and Contagious North American
editorial director Nick Parish will
step into the immediate future to
identify miraculous innovations
that will quickly be brought into the
mainstream by brands.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP40402

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP40201

32

CrossFit Brand Chief Jimi Letchford


is a highly recruited wrestler,
decorated U.S. Marine Infantry
Officer and original CrossFit
member, hand-picked by founder
and CEO Greg Glassman. Letchford
keeps the brand on message
and on the radar of fitnessand
marketingminds the world over.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39912

Sunday 15 March

Excuse Me!: Do
Marketers and Chat
Really Blend?
Saturday, March 14,
2:00PM - 3:00PM
Sheraton Austin
Capitol Ballroom
701 E 11th St

The Future of Native


Advertising
Sunday, March 15,
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Hyatt Regency Austin
Zilker Ballroom 2
208 Barton Springs Rd
#sxsw #newnative

#sxsw #MPost
When messaging apps first exploded
last year most analysts saw little
role for advertisers in these havens
of chat, disposable and private
messages. Now even ad-averse
leaders like WhatsApp are looking
for ways to bring brands into the
conversation. But is this the right
environment for marketing? Do
chatters really want to be distracted
from one another here? And what
have advertisers gotten from early
partnerships with Kik, Tango, LINE
and SnapChat? Both marketers
and message app providers explore
whether chat really is a new medium
they can bank on.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43691

Elevated Creativity:
Visually Exploring
Culture
Sunday, March 15,
12:30PM - 1:30PM
Hyatt Regency Austin
Zilker Ballroom 2
208 Barton Springs Rd
#sxsw #creativeAI

Suddenly, native advertising is


everywhere. In your searches, your
favorite publications, and social
feeds. But really, native has been
around for a long time. Part of
the reason native advertising has
exploded recently is that consumers
are hard to pin down. Marketers
must be more strategic with their ad
creation, meanwhile, social platforms
must prove they can be profitable
businesses and publishers are
desperate for new revenue streams.
Native advertising is the future, but
it will look very different than what
we see today. In this panel we will
discuss the future of successful
native advertising and why it
will benefit both advertisers and
consumers.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP40560

33

Too often creativity and data


are seen as rivals, with artificial
intelligence the villain in the
plot against human artistry and
autonomy. But data can be more
than target profiles, user clicks, and
discreet surveillance.
By visually mapping culture, we
can create an elevated space for
creative thought and insight. This
data-sphere becomes a place of
inspiration, where human ingenuity
and data-driven technology
meet, using a more collaborative
Augmented Intelligence to trigger
new ideas like never before.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP35106

The Content and


Distribution TraX

By Erin Lanuti, SVP,


Paid Media and Cross
Channel Strategy,
MSLGROUP

#MSLContent
Bill Gates first coined the term
content is king back in 1996. In
2014, the word content reigned
supreme and organizations made
significant investments in building
infrastructure to create, manage,
distribute and measure their efforts.
But as quickly as marketers invest,
the content ecosystem changes. As
platforms emerge and evolve, so do
content and distribution strategies.
At MSLGROUP, we view content
through the lens of a cross-channel
strategy. Grounded in a deep

understanding that earned media


is among the most credible content
for generating purchase intent, we
help our clients see the value in
putting targeted paid media around
earned placements. By utilizing costeffective paid media vehicles like
native content discovery, influencer
marketing and paid social, we can
extend the reach and value of PR
and more effectively measure its
business value. When complemented
with programmatic ads, we can
serve our placement to the right
targets on the right devices.
34

Session picks
from our experts
Friday 13 March

The Art and Science


of Shareability
Friday, March 13,
12:30PM - 1:30PM
Hyatt Regency Austin,
Texas Ballroom 4-7
#sxsw #shareable
Join Dao Nguyen, BuzzFeeds
publisher, to learn how the site
uses art and science to understand
shareability, distribution and how
to integrate strategic data-driven
research to grow audiences online.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP44541

Saturday 14 March

Content Marketing
vs Don Draper:
The End of Ads

Use Your Words:


Optimizing Content
for Growth

Friday, March 13,


2:00PM - 3:00PM

Saturday, March 14,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

Sheraton Austin,
Capitol Ballroom

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Texas Ballroom 4-7

#sxsw #MPost

#sxsw #usewords

From branded entertainment and


viral video to native advertising
and social media presence, the
real innovation, creative energy
and money in digital marketing
seems headed away from traditional
advertising. It is all about content
now. Brands are publishers,
entertainers, resources. Sponsors
dont interrupt digital media
experiences; they help build and
enhance them. They need to reach
out to niche audiences in countless
smaller channels with custom
content that is relevant to that
consumer. So, is advertising as we
know it a relic of 20th century mass
media? Is there still room for the
big idea in this world of fragmented,
personalized experiences? Is Don
Draper obsolete?

Should you urge people to join


your service or bark at them to sign
up, army style? What about your
tagline...how can you possibly sum
up everything you have to offer in
just a handful of words?

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43197

35

In this mobile-first world, where


screen-estate is limited in the
extreme, you need to make every
word count.
Come find out how to write the kind
of short, sweet messages that mobile
demands, hear a few of Pinterests
wordsmithing success stories and
learn how to choose the right words
for your own audience.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39980

Session picks
from our experts
Sunday 15 March

Can Anyone Really


Trust User-Generated
Content?

The Art and Science


of Data-Driven
Storytelling

Data-Driven Strategy
vs Editorial Gut
Instinct

Saturday, March 14,


12:30PM - 1:30PM

Saturday, March 14,


3:30PM - 4:30PM

Sunday, March 15,


11:00AM - 12:00PM

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Texas Ballroom 4-7

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Big Bend

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Zilker Ballroom 1

#sxsw #NoFakeUGC

#sxsw #artofdata

#sxsw #datadriven

People have more access toand


more frequently rely uponthe
recommendations of their peers than
ever before. The feedback of others
we believe to be like us has the
power to make or break goods and
services. This begs the question:
does the market have an obligation
to safeguard the authenticity of usergenerated content? Join Bazaarvoice
CEO Gene Austin as he discusses
the dark side of social media, the
impact of inauthentic behavior on
businesses and consumers and what
each of us can do to create a web
worthy of our trust.

Data is setting a new world order


for everyone from designers, to
developers, to brands, to advertisers
and publishers - but converting
data in its many forms into an
engaging story isnt always as
easy as it may seem. In a core
conversation with Liz Lukas, CEO
North America of Decoded - the
global company giving professionals
a high-level understanding of
data, code and more - and James
Ball, Special Projects editor for the
Guardian Media Group, explore
how the Guardian is harnessing
data and data scientists to turn
out groundbreaking news stories,
including decoding NSA documents
and more.

Personal taste and intuition used


to rule editorial strategy for media
brands. Today, armed with live
data feeds, in-depth analytics
tools and constant user feedback,
content planning and brand strategy
have become a sort of editorial
Jenga game, carefully balancing
performance and results with the
pressures of an hourly news cycle
and emerging trends.Womens media
brands Refinery29, Glamour and
Poshly share how they utilize data
to program contentfrom frequency
of publish and editorial franchises to
overarching brand strategywithout
giving up editorial instinct and risktaking entrepreneurial spirit.

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP41634

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP39548

36

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP35051

Monday 16 March

Transmedia
Storytelling in the
Age of Proximity

How New Media


Business Models Can
Save Journalism

News or Not?
Navigating Native
in the Grey Zone

Sunday, March 15,


12:30PM - 1:30PM

Sunday, March 15,


5:00PM - 6:00PM

Monday, March 16,


9:30AM - 10:30AM

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Texas Ballroom 2-3

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Texas Ballroom 2-3

Hyatt Regency Austin,


Texas Ballroom 4-7

#sxsw #TechCities

#sxsw #mediabiz

#sxsw #NativeNews

Cities are changing rapidly. Citizens


and consumers are relying on their
mobile devices for more services
and have higher expectations
from their governments. Brands
and businesses are looking to
engage with consumers in new and
meaningful ways - merging digital
and physical lines of business.

While society can prosper without


many disrupted businesses,
journalists and the media play
a critical role holding societys
decision-makers to account. Yet as
they transition to digital, revenues
have been dramatically undermined.
Newspapers have closed and jobs in
journalism have dried up. Now they
face an even more rapid transition
to mobile, where digital dimes are
turning to mobile pennies.

The latest media evolution has


occurred on the paid side, where
prestigious media outlets have come
to embrace content communications/
marketing. FORTUNE, Forbes and
even The New York Times have all
built native advertising platforms.
For brands, native has become
a transformative play in their
communications as paid media
is being called upon to deliver the
kind of third-party endorsement that
used to be earned. Navigating this
complicated and still-developing
world of content communications
and marketing requires
original thinking and strategic
communications innovation.

We will explore how cities and


business are moving to take
advantage of these technologies and
the opportunity to better engage with
citizens and customers.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP35960

Join insiders from The New York


Times, Vice, First Look Media and
Dutch media startup Blendle as they
dissect and debate the competing
models that will define the media
business of the next decade.
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP40554

37

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/
events/event_IAP43795

Manage Your
Career at 2015
SXSW Interactive
Face-to-face conversations are the best
way to give your job search a boost. Even
if youre not looking right this minute, those
connections could come in handy someday.
So freshen up your resume, pack your
business cards, update your portfolio,
organize your digital career links and
add the SXSW Job Market presented by
Publicis Groupe to your Austin itinerary.

Publicis Groupe is a global leader in marketing, communication, and business


transformation. We invite you to join us at the SXSW Job Market to learn about
exciting opportunities with our leading agencies, including Saatchi & Saatchi,
Leo Burnett, MSLGROUP, ZenithOptimedia, Performics, Razorfish and DigitasLBI.

Join us and grow your skills and


career for both today and tomorrow.

38

Parties at SXSW
Interactive
Big parties are cool, but to spend more
time partying and less time waiting, try
going at off-peak times. Be open to where
the night takes you; theres a lot more
going on downtown than the big official
parties. Our SXSW Interactive party
recommendations are:

Interactive Opening Party


Friday
Pi Day of the Century
Saturday (a great example of the
fun, quirky side of SXSW; celebrate
"Super Pi Moment" on 3/14/15
at 9:26:53am)
SXSW Film + Interactive
Fusion Party
Saturday
MashBash at SXSW
Sunday
Interactive Closing Party
Tuesday (Kudos to you if youre still
going strong on Tuesday after a
party every night.)
There are many unofficial parties
at SXSW too look on Twitter for
handles like @SXSWPartyList and
@sxswparty that aggregate party
information and tweet it out.

Photo by Tye Truitt

39

Hungry?
Austins restaurant scene is a swirl of activity,
with cool new eateries popping up everywhere.
In February, CultureMap Austin reported more
than more than 50 restaurant and bar projects
slated for 2015. Here are a few picks from the
new entries as well as some old faves.
Breakfast / Brunch
Counter Cafe
The second location of this downtown
favorite is open at 1914 E. Sixth St.
They serve down-home diner
creations with a gourmet twist for
breakfast and lunch, 7:30 am-4:00 pm.
South Congress Caf
The greatest brunch spot in town is
right on the South Congress strip.
Dont leave without trying their
famous Bloody Mary!

Ciscos
Its been there for more than 50 years
and the dcor shows it. Who cares?
The migas and biscuits are to die for.
Juan in a Million
This local favorite has served
fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos,
chalupas and now-famous breakfast
plates since 1980 and the menu has
changed little since then. Why mess
with a good thing?
40

24 Diner
Forget cookie-cutter diner
stuff. They offer daily
blackboard specials with
ingredients from local farms.
The best chicken and waffles
in Austin.

Photo by Jason Rosenberg on Flickr

Lunch
Torchys Tacos
Chicken, pork, fish, and veggie
theyre all there, plus taco of
the month specials. Go and be
surprised!
Franklin Barbeque
Check em out for brisket, ribs, pulled
pork, turkey, sausage and more.
Dont be scared away by the line; its
worth the wait. Make a note: theyre
closed on Mondays.
Perlas
Known for their seafood and oyster
bar, this is the top patio spot in town
for people watching.
Fricanos Deli
Daily specials and nothing but fresh
food are hallmarks of this local gem.
Its right by UT, so get a sandwich to
go and walk up Guadalupe Street.
FoodHeads
Theres a long list of specialty
sandwiches, soups, salads and
sides, all made from scratch. Multiple
tea flavors too.
Hula Hut
If youve never had Mexican food
with a Tiki twist, Austin is the place
to try it. Ask for a table on the back
patio overlooking the lake.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Burgers and beer are the specialties,
but while youre there, treat yourself
to a Chocolate Stout or Red Velvet
Cake shake.

Dinner, Food Trucks


and Happy Hours
Fixe
This modern southern creation
opened late last year in the new IBC
Bank building on West Fifth Street.
The early word is very good.
Luckys Puccias
After a successful Kickstarter
campaign, this popular trailer opened
a brick-and-mortar at 1611 W. Fifth St.
in mid-January. In addition to the
puccias (Italian wood-fired flatbread
sandwiches), pizzas are on the menu.
Take note, the trailers only open until
3:00 pm Monday through Thursday.
Gourdoughs Public House
The newest location of Gourdoughs
Public House opened in late January.
Just in case you need booze and
donuts without leaving 78701.
La Traviata
Elegant dining is the way this Italian
bistro describes itself. We highly
encourage a visit (closed Sundays).
Eddie Vs
Downtown Austins nicest seafood
restaurant. We recommend the Tuna
Tartare, Hong Kong Style Sea Bass
or Bone-in Filet. And leave room for
the Bananas Foster Flamb.
Reservations suggested.
Curras Grill
This may be the best Tex-Mex in the
city. Order the avocado margarita.
La Condesa
This contemporary take on Mexican
cuisine is located in the 2nd Street
district. Try the seasonal salsa.
41

Vespaio
This is Italian food at its finest.
Vespaio on South Congress serves
authentic antipasti, pizzas, pastas,
entrees and decadent desserts.
Uchi+Uchiko
Uchi is closer to downtown and
Uchiko is larger, but both offer
Japanese small plates and sushi.
Paul Qui (winner of Top Chef Season
9) is the executive chef at Uchiko.
Moonshine
When you crave classic American
comfort food, this is your stop. The
Pecan Crusted Catfish and White
Chocolate Bread Pudding are staples!
Second Bar + Kitchen
Clean, contemporary dcor paired
with seasonal ingredients and local
artisan products create a cool vibe
for a casual night out.
Lamberts Downtown Barbeque
Now this feels like Texas. Classic
favorites made fancy with an
inventive twist.
Barley Swine
If you have a car and can get a
reservation, this unique culinary
experience is not to be missed. The
Chefs Selection menu is $75 per
person.
Our other favorites include Stubbs
BBQ, Iron Cactus, Gueros, Hudsons
on the Bend and the scallops from
Wink. If youre feeling adventurous
(and have transportation), make the
trek to The Salt Lick for the
barbecue; youll thank us!

Photo by John Tornow on Flickr

Do you want more


SXSW tips? Tweet us!
@msl_group
@MSLGROUPNA
#MSLSXSW
#MSLFood
#MSLHealth
#MSLPrivacy
#MSLWork
#MSLBranding
#MSLContent

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