South by Southwest (SXSW) has announced its first wave of speakers for the 2017 event, which is scheduled to run March 10-19, 2017. While the speakers cut a wide swath across the tech, film, music, television, business, sports and journalism fields, most reflect the cross-collaboration SXSW is known for: multi-hyphenate luminaries and emerging talent working across industries and platforms.
Speakers at SXSW 2017 will include Keynotes Jennifer Doudna and Jill Soloway. The Featured Speakers will include Dan Lyons, Mary Lou Jepsen, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Candice Morgan, Adam Savage, Nadya Tolokonnikova, Ingrid Vanderveldt, Gary Vaynerchuk and Amber Venz Box.
New for 2017, the Interactive, Film and Music badges will now include expanded access to more of the SXSW Conference and Festivals experience. Attendees will still receive primary entry to programming associated with their badge-type, but can now enjoy secondary access to most other SXSW events.
“When SXSW Music added Film, and Interactive, it was relatively easy to understand and differentiate between the three components of music, film and technology,” said Roland Swenson, SXSW Co-founder. “Today, these elements are very much intertwined and the lines that once separated them have become blurred. The popularity of our convergence programming, and the increasingly cross-industry nature of our SXSW speakers and registrants, make this a natural progression as we look to the future. Next March, SXSW provides a unique environment to explore where all three intersect, while providing maximum flexibility for all, with access to even more engaging and diverse programming.”
2017 Speakers include:
Keynotes
Jennifer Doudna (Interactive) – Geneticist and pioneer co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9, a groundbreaking new technology for editing genes; and
Jill Soloway (Film) – Creator of ‘Transparent,; which has won two Golden Globes and five Emmys, including one for her directing. Jill’s first feature, ‘Afternoon Delight,’ won the 2013 Directing Award at Sundance.
Featured Speakers
Mary Lou Jepsen – Founder and Chairman of Openwater, whose goal is MRI resolution imaging in a wearable, previously held executive roles at Facebook, Oculus, Intel and Google;
Dan Lyons – Author of the New York Times best-seller, ‘Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble,’ and a former writer on HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley,’ which had its world premiere at SXSW;
Earvin “Magic” Johnson – NBA legend, professional sports team owner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, motivational speaker and Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises;
Candice Morgan – Head of Diversity at Pinterest, leading strategy and programs to enhance diversity and inclusion;
Adam Savage – internationally renowned television producer, host (formerly ‘MythBusters’ and ‘Unchained Reaction’), maker and public speaker;
Nadya Tolokonnikova – Russian conceptual artist, political activist and member of punk rock group Pussy Riot;
Ingrid Vanderveldt – Self-made businesswoman, investor and media personality, Founder and CEO of Empowering a Billion Women by 2020;
Gary Vaynerchuk – Entrepreneur, four-time New York Times best-selling author and CEO of VaynerMedia. Gary is also a prolific angel investor and co-founded VaynerRSE, a $25M investment fund; and
Amber Venz Box – Co-Founder and President of rewardStyle and the cross-channel consumer shopping service, LiketoKNOW.it.
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together.
Written by: Karen Benardello