SXSW Sessions SXSW

Gen Z has created a seismic shift in the way we consume, communicate and transact, forcing traditional media and entertainment companies to completely rethink the way they conduct business. With its deep roots in gaming and known for its loyal Gen Z fanbase, FaZe Clan recognized early on that gaming was a dominant entertainment and cultural driver for this generation. The company has also been at the forefront of the booming creator economy, establishing a community around gaming and youth culture. CEO Lee Trink dives deep with Axios media reporter, Sara Fischer on how to reimagine media and entertainment for Gen Z and his vision for becoming a leading modern media platform.

Imagine if you could push the boundaries of what’s possible, where you’re inside a world making meaningful choices that push creativity and innovation beyond undiscovered boundaries. Join Vicki Dobbs Beck, VP, Immersive Content Innovation at ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive entertainment studio and connected experiences innovator Val Vacante in a discussion on intrapreneurship, resilience, the importance of creativity and lessons learned when pioneering the future. Hear real-world examples behind some of their most beloved experiments, innovations and award-winning work with fresh perspectives on what it takes to innovate, the impact of the ever-evolving emerging technology landscape and how next generation connected experiences will be powered through choice and participation.

Entrepreneurs are everywhere today, but opportunity isn’t. In part, this is because many founders have historically had little access to venture capital, experienced mentors, and pools of talent. Although the situation is slowly improving, new research shows VCs still mostly back founders from their own networks. Techstars CEO Maelle Gavet argues that the only way to fix this is for investors to adapt to undiscovered founders’ circumstances. From tailoring accelerator programs to skeptical, hard-to-access communities, to supporting people who may not have the network, capital or operational idea to start a business, and developing older talent – all too often dismissed as ‘past it’ by investors – Gavet reveals what flies and what fails when bridging the founder opportunity gap.

The State of Texas recently announced its intention to try to investigate and potentially take transgender children away from their parents, and block them from lifesaving healthcare. CPS has started to go into families’ homes. This is part of a coordinated national effort to erase LGBTQ people from classrooms, sports, daily life, and their own families. A panel of activists and Texans living through these attacks will discuss why this is happening and how anyone can help build a world where transgender people are safe and able to be themselves.

As gamers, you want to be immersed. In the sights, the sounds, the action. You want to deeply experience the game, not just as an observer, but as the main character. Technology and gaming companies are coming together like never before, innovating to level up the action in new ways and keep you on the leader board. Join gaming expert and tech influencer Kate Yeager as she sits down with Don McGuire, chief marketing officer, Qualcomm Inc., and Craig Levine, co-CEO, ESL Gaming, as they discuss the metaverse, esports, and the future of new and premium gaming experiences.

Learn how companies such as Amazon and Google use purposeful constraints to prime and channel innovation. This session will teach you how, and to what, you should be saying “no” to in order to focus your time, influence and resources on what matters to you most. You will learn how to save space for inspiration so that you can engineer serendipity and creativity with a fraction of the effort and resources. You will learn to confidently seek out and say “yes” to the right things centered around your values and talents and unlock untapped abilities within yourself. You will leave this session feeling empowered with a playbook for how to get what you want out of your life and career.