Jana Diab

Jana Diab

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Jana Diab is a Cairo-born, London‑based singer-songwriter whose work blends emotional vulnerability with a bold, genre‑fluid sensibility.

Raised in a home steeped in the arts — her mother introduced her to Theater and Broadway — Diab grew up absorbing the power of storytelling and performance.

Her music draws from the experimental, kaleidoscopic sounds of artists like Lorde, Half Waif, and Saya Gray, yet her lyricism is deeply personal: negotiating identity, ADHD, and the tension of living between cultures.

In 2023 she released her debut EP Season One via Interscope, and in November she followed it with an extended edition featuring additional tracks.

Most recently, on 17 October, she released her new single “Cipriani,” on U–nation Music, marking the next chapter in her artistic evolution. She also holds the distinction of being the first ambassador for the fashion house Miu Miu across the Middle East.

At 23, Diab continues carving a space that honors her heritage while defying easy categorisation — a voice for third‑culture youth finding clarity through art.

Wanderlust Wine Co.

Kayanne Peppa

Shot by: @Kynan_Productions, Edited by: @Kaptured.by.Kayanne

Shot by: @Kynan_Productions , Edited by: @Kaptured.by.Kayanne


BrunOG

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From the heart of Mexico City emerges BrunOG, an artist and producer who is reshaping the Urban Latin Pop landscape. With a solid trajectory within the industry, BrunOG has evolved from being a visionary producer—recognized even with a Latin Grammy nomination—to an established singer-songwriter with viral international impact. His image has always been synonymous with inspiration and aspiration.
BrunOG’s musical proposal is a sonic blend rooted in Urban Latin Pop, yet it boldly ventures into genres such as Reggaeton, R&B, Afropop/Afrobeat, Hyperpop, Latin, and Alternative Pop. This versatility, however, always maintains a distinctive urban stamp in his lyrics, flows, and metrics, exploring themes of heartbreak, nostalgia, passionate love, sensuality, and romance.
Milestones
Global Viral Success: At 30, his track “Nuestra Canción” became an international phenomenon, driven by its inclusion in the soundtrack of the film “Culpa Mía.”
Signing with Universal Music US Latin: In 2024, BrunOG joined the ranks of Universal Music US Latin, marking a new and exciting chapter in his career with multinational backing.


Joshua Ray Walker

Joshua Ray Walker
Stuff

Joshua Ray Walker’s music humanizes and honors outcast characters, particularly surprising ones. Last year, during intensive chemo treatment for stage 3B colon cancer, as Walker contemplated what he might leave behind, and the way the meaning we assign to items evaporates if we’re not around to hold their memories, he started thinking about a new kind of character. As he processed his treatment and considered his worldly possessions, Walker decided to write an entire album about the inner lives of inanimate objects. Equally inspired by a childhood salvaging stuff from estate sales with his grandparents, and an upbringing colored by frugality and attention to the utility of everyday things, the resulting album, Stuff, will be released October 17 via East Dallas Records/Thirty Tigers.

Reckoning with cancer treatment and his own mortality, Walker also grieved a creative life — that he had more left to give — potentially cut short. Much like the items abandoned at an estate sale, he knew he too had more worth. “Both my grandparents found value in things that had life left in them,” Walker says. “At the time of writing these songs, I was really hoping that I had a second shot, some more life left in me, and I think that I projected that on a lot of these characters.”

Stuff begins with the title track, setting the scene and the stakes for the album: “Why wait until it’s gone / to find out what matters,” Walker sings. “Heirlooms and trinkets and pretty things/ we’re all just stuff when you’re not around / sometimes what’s lost just can’t be found.” Each track imagines the internal monologue of a household item for sale on the lawn at an estate sale: a Barbie doll, pruning shears, a radio, a trusty suit, a half-used bottle of perfume, and even a basso profundo-voiced bowling ball afraid he’s about to be benched: “checking in at the pro shop for maintenance and repairs / how many frames do I have left doc? / Do I have some time to spare?”

Some items on Stuff, Walker knows personally, like the “Brick” his family kept around to prop doors open and table legs up, and to keep car tires from rolling during repair jobs. These bricks came from the neighborhood filling station — a 1940s-style full-service joint whose grizzled attendants always gave Walker a snack to munch in the back of his dad’s Chevy while they waited. The night after developers tore the station down under cover of darkness, Walker and his father returned to the rubble to steal a few bricks as keepsakes and tools. And “Perfume” is Walker’s sensuous, longing, personification of the half-empty bottles of Chanel No. 9 his grandma collected at estate sales and lined up on her vanity. She’s yet another in a long line of Walker’s signature heart broke characters, who implores, “do you still smell me on your sheets / and when you do, does your heart skip a beat?”

The world needs connection and empathy, now more than ever. Walker hopes that by relating to these inanimate characters, listeners will learn to better connect to living ones, too. “It's probably lofty to think that an album about bowling balls and Barbie dolls is going to make people think about their relationship with their neighbors or community,” he says. “But maybe subconsciously, if people can connect with these things that aren't even people, it'll make them a little better at connecting with people.”

Like his June release, Tropicana, Walker wrote Stuff during cancer treatment. For him, the albums constitute two sides of the proverbial coin. Hospitals are innately devoid of creativity, utilitarian and harsh by their very nature, and Walker found himself oscillating between a gripping need to escape — say to a beach in Tropicana — and contemplating his own legacy and the Stuff in his life. And, when he was briefly misdiagnosed with stage 4 cancer (later updated to a clean scan), Walker started to push himself creatively, resolving to release three albums (of which Stuff is the second) in whatever time he had left.

At times of reflection, human beings often return to the moments that shaped them. On Stuff, Walker draws from the music he listened to as a teenager — Bon Iver, Beirut, The Postal Service, and Ben Gibbard — and nostalgic, formative moments. On “Barbie” and “Telephone” — the album’s most pop-influenced tracks — childhood and teenage memories play through two of youth’s fondest objects. On “Barbie,” disinterested in the Barbie and Ken love story, Walker reimagines Barbie as an independent woman lusting after GI Joe. And over a beat worthy of a Friday-night roller rink party, on “Telephone” Walker memorializes the landline — once a focal point of American homes and teenage years — and the source of sleepover mischief and long, covert, late-night conversations.

“People put a lot of their personal opinions and meaning into art,” Walker says of the many details he included on the album. “Art isn't there for people to interpret so they can be...


Torture and the Desert Spiders

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Torture and the Desert Spiders is a NYC-based indie post-punk project based on the songwriting of NY-native Anna Kunz. The project, previously based in the north of England, has performed well over 400 shows since its inception, including a currently running 46+ week headline residency in NYC as well as shows for the BBC at the Cavern Club (Liverpool), at Webster Hall (NYC), for the British Arts Council with Mattiel (Hull), at Kendal Calling Festival (2022, 2023), and sold out shows at the Supersonic Club (Paris), The Windmill Brixton (London), and Night and Day (Manchester, UK).
The project has recently released two singles mixed by Alex Poeppel (Telescreens). Torture and the Desert Spiders next NYC show will be supporting Cab Ellis at the Bowery Ballroom on January 9th.


DAIISTAR

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BIO
DAIISTAR is an Alt-Indie band formed in Austin, Texas in the spring of 2020. The band takes their inspiration from the neo-psychedelic era of the 80s and 90s (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Spacemen 3, Primal Scream) and pulls it into the future with modulating synthesizers, heavy guitars, bouncing bass lines, and spiraling hooks, creating a narcotic blend of noise and melody. DAIISTAR recorded their first studio album produced by Alex Maas of The Black Angels and engineered by James Petralli of White Denim in the summer of 2021. The band signed to UK based label Fuzz Club Records with their debut album GOOD TIME released on September 8th 2023. The album is available on vinyl including a Levitation Exclusive Edition pressing, as well as CD and digital. DAIISTAR has performed at ACL, SXSW, Levitation Austin, Levitation France, Austin Psych Fest, Barcelona Psych Fest, KEXP, KUTX and has toured with The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Dandy Warhols.


Bleary Eyed

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Bleary Eyed was formed in 2015 by frontman Nathaniel Salfi (guitar & vocals) Since their inception in the DIY scenes of DC and Philadelphia respectively, the band has taken many artistic turns. Through that experimentation, they’ve had time to grow into the sound they were always meant to make, filling a unique space in the shoegaze genre with their sample-heavy hazey computer pop atmosphere. The band presents a positive energy with relatable lyrics with stacked harmonies from Reynolds and Salfi over densely layered sample filled instrumentals. The songs teeter from more pleasant pop songs to heavier fuzz tracks sometimes blending elements from both styles.

The band has released their 3rd LP entitled “Easy” on Born Losers Records. This is some of the band's best work yet, with more cohesive production and songwriting. Each song is a journey of its own exploring themes of vulnerability and self acceptance via the twists and turns of one's life.


Armen Paul

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Armen Paul is a multi-platinum artist, songwriter and instrumentalist. His latest collaboration, "Hope" received 3x platinum certification in 2025 (#1 on national radio, #3 on UK dance radio). He performed the song in July at Tomorrowland 2023 in Belgium. Armen’s solo work took off when Bella Poarch (#3 top TikTok creator worldwide) and Tony Hawk featured his song "Devil Knows" in their social content (accumulating +175M views on TikTok). His work has received notable acclaim on DSPs with +50M streams ('New Music Friday' in +10 countries, 9 Spotify 'Viral 50' Charts).

He’ll be releasing a collaboration EP produced by Moby in 2026 with a single collaboration with Don Diablo and remix from Brooks. Armen also has an upcoming single with Nicky Romero.

Armen’s music has been licensed by WWE, Adobe, Lyft, and Samsung, and he secured a sync in the feature film titled 'The System' starring Tyrese Gibson & Lil' Yachty (October 2022). His recent Eurovision placement “Survivor” qualified for the 2025 Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland for +160 Million viewers, aired on Peacock globally, and reached Spotify’s Top 50 Global Viral Chart and the Spotify Viral 50 Charts in 25 Countries.


Buckets

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Introducing Buckets: The Los Angeles-based fearsome foursome are a powerhouse of nostalgic indie punk. Piecing together shredding guitar, screaming gang vocals, and dynamic extremes from track-to-track, or even verse-to-verse, the Southern California outfit aren't shy about who they are or what they're all about. Consisting of members from across North America, Tanner Houghton, Sasha Massey, Mitch Rossiter, and Hiram Sevilla pull together their shared DIY ethos and vast experience in music to craft an emotionally powerful performance. From the studio to the stage, the group never disappoints.


Yoshi

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YOSHI es considerado uno de los artistas más completos y consolidados de México. Sus habilidades en producción musical, composición y dirección creativa, han resultado en un proyecto que orgánicamente conecta a través de una estética y mensaje únicos. Combinando distintos géneros y sonidos, ofrece una alternativa al mainstream latinoamericano con una propuesta que promete ser el nuevo pop mexicano. Ha trabajado con artistas como Alvaro Díaz, Latin Mafia, Jesse Baez, entre muchos otros.
Nominado 4 veces a Latin Grammy (Productor y Compositor) Nominado una vez a grammy (Compositor).


Kordelya

KORDELYA es una artista y productora mexicana de electro-pop y R&B, reconocida por unir lenguajes y culturas a través de sonidos y letras honestas, a veces vulnerables y otras veces irónicamente sarcásticas.
Con su álbum debut Mal Hecha, KORDELYA conecto con público al retratar, con orgullo, la imperfección de ella misma en cada canción. Su vulnerabilidad y autenticidad se reflejan tanto en su música como en sus videoclips cinematográficos, que dan vida a su universo visual.
A lo largo de su carrera, ha compartido escenario con artistas como Ximena Sariñana, José Madero y Leonel García. Además, fue invitada por Billboard como artista asociada en el programa Latin Women in Music, y se ha presentado en plataformas y medios como Telemundo Acceso Total Live, Azteca TV, TIDAL Living Room Sessions y Sofar Sounds Give Rise de Fujifilm Instax.


MITA

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MITA — The Alchemist of Latin Pop
Based in Mexico City, MITA is a producer, singer-songwriter, composer and DJ shaping a distinctive vision of contemporary Latin pop. Holding a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, she fuses intellect and instinct to read the collective pulse and translate it into refined yet playful Latin pop narratives infused with R&B, Kpop and tropical rhythms. A composer for Netflix and HBO, MITA moves fluidly between the club and the stage, delivering magnetic performances where connection, presence and storytelling place the audience at the center. Her debut album D.A.R (Desire, Love & Romance) frames love as a cyclical journey toward self-acceptance, positioning MITA as a multifaceted voice of modern Latin identity.


Pink Breath of Heaven

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Sasha Wrist

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Sasha Wrist is a bilingual singer-songwriter and vocal artist from Venezuela, now based in Los
Angeles. Her genre-bending sound fuses the grit of hip-hop, the pulse of electronic music, the
sensuality of R&B, and the emotional depth of Latin pop.

Her voice first gained traction in the global music scene through the viral success of her Splice
vocal packs, which have been downloaded and sampled by producers worldwide, incorporating Sasha’s vocals into standout tracks like “Famax” and “Perreo”.

In late 2024, Sasha released her debut album, LA CHAMA. More than just a debut, the album serves as a love letter to her Venezuelan roots. Tracks like “SUR,” “CORO,” “KRTELUO,” and “LLANEROS” explore her upbringing, resilience, and self-discovery.

Beginning in early 2025, Sasha made a sharp artistic pivot with the release of The Wrist
Wave, a melodic house EP with tracks like “Ya Te Borre,” and “IGOT2." She also collaborated with some of the world’s biggest phonk artists, Ariis, YB Wasg'ood, and Nakama, on their track “LUNA LA.”

Sasha Wrist's next project, titled "404:NJD" will release in February 15 and will bring her back to rap roots.


Bandana Cheyenna

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A prolific songwriter & soulful artist blending country, folk, & pop with witty, emotionally rich storytelling, "hippie songbird" BANDANA CHEYENNA is one to watch in today's music landscape. Already known as one of Nashville's hitmakers, their notable writing credits include Dasha’s global billion-stream hit “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)," Alexandra Kay’s viral track "Cupid's A Cowgirl,” & more. As an artist, Cheyenna has released two full albums, & most recently Act I of a four-part EP series, "The Artist's Pilgrimage," which was celebrated with a sold-out release party on Music Row. Cheyenna has appeared on radio home of the Grand Ole Opry WSM-AM, performed at Nashville's Pride Festival & legendary Bluebird Café, & is gearing up for a performance on Austin’s major TV network coinciding with their SXSW appearance. A winner of Female Song of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, & honoree at the 2024 & 2025 ASCAP Awards, their collaborative work includes artists & producers Gayle, Abby Anderson, Breland, Caylee Hammack, Dan Wilson (Chris Stapleton, Adele), Jonah Marais (Why Don’t We), MaRynn Taylor, Mickey Guyton, Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift), Tigirlily Gold & more.


Joe Harvey-Whyte

Joe Harvey-Whyte

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Joe Harvey-Whyte is one of the most innovative and exciting pedal steel players around. He has worked with a diverse range of artists including Liam Gallagher & John Squire , James Vincent McMorrow, The Magic Numbers , Susanne Sundfør , Billy Bragg , Tony Visconti , Nilüfer Yanya , Jody Stephens , Bullion , Mozart Estate, Alabama 3, Young Jesus & many more.

Aside from his work as a session musician Joe is also a multidisciplinary artist working at the cross section between ambient/experimental music, visual art and environmental sound. His solo work combines the sound of the pedal steel guitar with electronics and field recordings to make works that create a space for deep listening & reflection.

The 13th Floor

Glass Mansions

Art Decade Creatives - Austin Heavy Hitters


Water Damage

“Arguably the most exciting rock band to emerge from the American experimental underground this decade.” - Grayson Haver Currin, MOJO Magazine 2025

Drones are a powerful force, capable of whisking our thinking mind far, far, away. Austin-based collective Water Damage yields the same power whenever they pick up their instruments. Veterans from other projects (a.o. Swans, more eaze, Spray Paint, USA/Mexico and more), the band is not unfamiliar with the unshakeable power in drones; still, as Water Damage, they stretch out drone’s possibilities to their limits, bowing to the principle ‘Maximal Repetition Minimal Deviation’. Water Damage explore ecstatic oblivion, repeating basic riffs and rhythms until time seems to falter. Once an idea takes off, they pursue it forever; as Pitchfork said, their 2024 double LP ‘In E’ doubles as a “glorious mind eraser”.


Ben Flournoy

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I’m Ben Flournoy from Quincy, FL. When I was 10 years old, I saw Marty McFly play Johnny B. Goode in Back To The Future, and the world was never the same to me.

I got my hands on a guitar and never let go. At 15 years old I decided to dedicate my life to playing the guitar, writing music, touring and living the life of an artist.

I owe a lot to my heroes Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and John Mayer, but I’m here to forge my own path and creating my own sound.


Drea Dominique

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Born in Long Island, New York and raised in San Diego California, Drea Dominique has the flavor of both coasts. With her smooth R&B voice and fresh twist on the pop sound, Drea Dominique has what it takes to succeed and make an impact in the music world. Drea is garnering a great deal of attention with the release of her singles, "Stutter" and the remixed version with Domino Saints. They are the first of several singles coming from her upcoming project soon to be announced. Drea has also appeared in music videos for some of today’s most high-profile artists. She has done a variety of modeling work, from magazine publications to print ads. Drea is calling Miami, Florida home now and is currently introducing herself to the music industry.


Flor de la Frontera

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Born in McAllen Tx raised in the border with Reynosa Mx mixed cultured, rancher family with passion for folklore, music, outdoors and traditions
Been doing cumbia for couple of year initially in México giving the cumbia rythms a spicy twist with tropical, norteño, amazónico, tumbado, inmortal ®gional flavors


DJ Jester the Filipino Fist

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Pehuenche

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Lola Bates

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Lola Bates is not your traditional singer songwriter. Raised in the hills of Laurel Canyon, her musical roots connect deeply to nature, vinyl, and the historic lady of the canyon, Joni Mitchell, as well as other female rock and pop icons Kate Bush, Tori Amos and PJ Harvey. Bates is a classically trained pianist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer who weaves lush vocal harmonies through pop, rock, and folk styles in her original songs, all showcased on her upcoming debut LP, 'Love and Power.' The LP is set for release in spring of 2026, on Gravel and Echo Recordings, distributed by Virgin Music Group. Bates’ elegant vocal arrangements, cinematic songwriting and multi-instrumental prowess sparks the ears of engaged music lovers, lyrically following the journey of a woman exploring her inner power and strength to take agency of life, love and relationships. Recorded and produced in her Laurel Canyon studio, ‘Love and Power’ is a manifestation of Lola’s depth as a composer and producer, making this a fully realized 10-song album, in collaboration with co-producer Maxwell Joseph, Grammy award winning engineer, Robert Carranza, and executive producer Tyler Bates.


Valee

Valee is a Chicago-born rapper known for his minimalist delivery, deadpan charisma, and hypnotic approach to trap and street rap. Emerging from the city’s underground, he broke through with cult-favorite records like Womp Womp and Good Job, You Found Me, later releasing projects via Kanye West’s GOOD Music before continuing independently. Valee’s sound is defined by sparse beats, unconventional flows, and an anti-performative cool that has influenced a wave of modern rap aesthetics. He’s collaborated and shared stages with artists across the experimental and mainstream rap spectrum, earning a reputation as a tastemaker’s rapper with lasting cultural impact rather than trend-chasing appeal.


Ozer

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Ozer, San Francisco’s own, has been cultivating his lyrical voice since the age of six, first turning to music as a refuge from life’s challenges and later sharpening his craft through the influence of artists like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Nipsey Hussle. What began as inspiration evolved into intention as Ozer matured—transforming lived experience into honest, reflective songwriting grounded in execution, flow, and substance. Following the release of his latest EP Fog City, he has shared stages with Westside Boogie, Topaz Jones, Trayce Chapman, YGTUT, and more, solidifying his presence as a formidable and thoughtful emcee. A writer at heart and performer by nature, Ozer uses language as a lyrical canvas, drawing from the essence of real life to create music that resonates with clarity, purpose, and lasting impact.


Very Necessary

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Two Texas producers, Steelo Foreign and Roy Smith have recorded and produced for an impressive roster of talent, including Gucci Mane, Sada Baby, Smooky MarGielaa, Jazz Cartier, Bella Thorne, ThouxanbanFauni, Maxo Kream, Playboi Carti, OMB Peezy, Stunna4Vegas, Trae Tha Truth, Guapo, Chalie Boy, Warhol.ss, Billyracxx, and many more. Their extensive credits reflect their commitment to excellence and ability to work across genres.


Pyrex

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Pyrex Whippa (Kedrick Isaiah Cannady) is a Baltimore-born producer and rapper known for his atmospheric, dark trap beats as a prominent member of 808 Mafia and Metro Boomin’s Boominati collective. He has produced for artists like Future, Young Thug, and 21 Savage, launching his solo rap career in 2019 with projects like Sincerely, Rex.


Avanti Patel

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Avanti Patel is a multi genre Musician based out of Mumbai- A hindustani classical vocalist, playback singer, theatre maker & composer.
She started learning Hindustani Classical Vocals at age 5 and is currently training with Padmashri Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana.

Among her most recent projects is O Gaanewali, a theatre-concert-piece based on the lives and music of the Courtesans, Tawaifs and Women performers in India. O Gaanewali has been widely performed, with over 75 live shows across several Indian cities and festivals like Jashn-e-Rekhta, Magnetic Fields in Rajasthan, Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa,  and legacy venues like The Royal Opera House and Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai.

Avanti is currently producing her 2nd EP titled 'O Gaanewali Session 2', after the success of her debut EP released last year, titled ‘O Gaanewali Session 1’. Both EPs include the genres of Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal with a classic ‘old world meets contemporary’ style of production, available on all music streaming platforms and on Youtube.

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard


Blair Davie

Blair Davie is a singer-songwriter from Perth, Scotland.  Inspired by their love of emotional, heartfelt music from artists such as Dodie,
Dermot Kennedy and Bon Iver, Blair’s music is their way of presenting the most honest and passionate version of themself to the world.
Their music deals with coming to terms with their own bisexuality, loss and heartbreak; but also, the beauty that life can offer.

British Music Embassy @ Palm Door on Sixth Patio


eydrey

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eydrey is a 26-year-old bilingual artist emerging from the U.S.–Mexico border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Shaped by a bi-cultural upbringing, her music reflects the fluid exchange of language, rhythm, and identity that defines the region. Proudly Latina and proudly Mexican, eydrey draws from her roots to create music that reflects both her vulnerability and strength.

Her sound varies across regional mexicano and reggaeton— with bilingual lyrics that explore themes of heartbreak and healing. With a unique sound and a genre-fluid approach to music, eydrey is slowly but surely positioning herself as a compelling voice in the evolving Latin music landscape.


Willgood

Willgood has now been DJing long enough that the original plan to fund a nationwide automotive repainting initiative exclusively in red has been officially downgraded from “ambitious” to “symbolic.” What started as a financial experiment became a long-term commitment to dance floors, tasteful grooves, and basslines that behave like they know what they’re doing.

Still operating without formal mentorship (DJ Pagliacci remains legally unreachable), Willgood approaches DJing as a serious craft with unserious presentation favoring disco, house, and dance music that sneaks up on you, locks in, and refuses to rush. Still has the long term goal of being the 4th member of Being Dead. He loves Ferraris, not because they’re fast, but because they’re precise, opinionated, and allergic to subtlety.

The hat is gone. The red remains. Catch Willgood at SXSW doing what he does best: keeping it fun, keeping it moving, and quietly convincing you this was always the plan.


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She23 is an Austin-native singer, rapper, DJ and songwriter known for blending genres and building culture at the same time. Fusing hip-hop, R&B, and alternative influences, She is known for high-energy, club-oriented tracks and local performances. Active in the ATX music scene for over 15 years, She released the "2H3EO" EP in 2024 and is known for singles like "Goofy Goober" & "Chedda". You can also find She23 spinning some of your favorite hits at local venues such as Coconut Club, Traphouse and many more. Beyond the music, she curates and coordinates events that spotlight community, collaboration, and emerging voices. She23 has stepped onto official stages for SXSW, Dream Con, and AfroTech, continuing to make her mark as both a genre-blending artist and a force behind the scenes.


PONS

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IF YOU STOP YOU DIE -

Rock n’ Roll will never be a lazy game. PONS is here to set the record straight.

Channeling the wild, untamable spirit of the masters of the road that came before them, PONS brings a relentless, “NO MERCY” approach to DIY touring. Burning more calories in one night than most bands do in a year, PONS doesn’t play just music—they detonate on stage

Taking cues from the anarchic swagger of Iggy Pop and the electronic chaos of Suicide, frontperson Jack Parker spits the digital bile of our decaying, internet-saturated world straight in your face. It’s a new noise pop for the modern age.

With their dashing look and salesman’s eye, PONS has supported notable acts such as Gogol Bordello, Lambrini Girls, A Place To Bury Strangers, Laura Jane Grace, Geese, Vundabar, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, and more.

BEAR WITNESS TO PONS.


Girl Tones

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Girl Tones, of planet Earth, are a high-energy rock duo brought to life by two sisters named Kenzie and Laila. Both classically trained musicians, Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to drums in an effort to electrify sentient beings from this galaxy to the next. Their debut releases were produced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and released via his label Parallel Vision in partnership with Big Loud Rock.
Their first offerings have earned the praise of Rolling Stone, VICE, Consequence, PAPER, NME, DORK and many others with Flaunt saying, “Their sound is fluid, and yet with each release, they evolve as a harmonious group, developing their unique sound as one.”
Girl Tones has toured with Cage The Elephant across the globe, as well as The Velveteers, hey, nothing. and Silversun Pickups in North America. Making their unignorable festival debut at Lollapalooza, Shaky Knees, Austin City Limits and more, Rolling Stone said, “While the White Stripes — their most obvious comparison — were about controlled energy, Girl Tones are proudly imperfect.”
As the band jumps into 2026, they have no shortage of new music and new tour dates up their sleeves.


Era Wadi

Label Management, Distribution - US, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Producer/Studio Engineer, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Era Wadi is an artist, rapper, and songwriter based in Austin, TX. His early musical inspirations began from his father's collection of soul and rock vinyls of the 60s/70s and hip hop of the late 90s/early 2000s. Era Wadi continues to build up his own discography and is releasing music independently. His constant aim at originality and being authentically himself attracts new audiences and has an exciting new EP releasing this Spring. When he’s not making music, you will find him hosting The Wadi Show with his DJ, Lil Em on Twitch + YouTube, a platform for artists by artists that has become one of the top live streaming channels for entertainment. Era Wadi’s unique voice, relatable songwriting, infectious energy, and impeccable beat selection, insure Wadi will carve out his place as an innovator in this new and ever evolving era of culture.


Geto Gala

Geto Gala is an Austin-based hip-hop duo formed by vocalists Deezie Brown and Jake Lloyd. Known for blending Southern rap, "candy slab" tradition, and, in particular, the influence of DJ Screw, they released their debut EP in 2021 before dropping their full-length album, Major League, in 2025.


Unsafe Space Garden

Label Management, Distribution - US, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Unsafe Space Garden is a genre-bending outfit from Portugal known for their chaotic, theatrical and deeply immersive live shows. With a sound rooted in neo-psychedelia, experimental rock and a touch of surreal humour, the band pushes musical boundaries with fearless creativity and a clear artistic vision.

Described by European press as “a surrealist orchestra,” their concerts often blur the line between performance and ritual - unpredictable, cathartic and strangely uplifting. Their critically acclaimed albums Bro, You Got Something In Your Eye – A Guided Meditation (2021) and Where’s The Ground? (2023) draw comparisons to artists like Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart or The Flaming Lips, while forging a language uniquely their own.

More than just experimentalists, Unsafe Space Garden are storytellers - unpredictable, emotional and sonically adventurous. A live act designed to be seen, heard, and remembered.


Glassio

Gear Endorsement, Booking Agent - Worldwide, Sync/Music Supervisors

Glassio is the Dream-Pop–tinged Indie-Dance project of Irish-Iranian songwriter and producer Sam R. Blending melodic sweetness with brooding dance beats, his self-described “melancholy disco” sound has earned over 25 million streams and global acclaim. Since emerging with the viral 2016 EP Poptimism (whose single “Try Much Harder” hit No. 9 on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart), Glassio has toured internationally with acts like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Nada Surf, and Electric Youth, and released two acclaimed LPs—For the Very Last Time (2020, Downtown Music) and See You Shine (2022)—with songs featured on Netflix and HBO. Raised between the Middle East and California and later based in New York and London, Sam draws influence from New Wave, 60s chamber pop, and early-2000s electronica, channeling it into rich, cinematic pop. His upcoming third album, The Imposter (2026), written during his move from New York to London, fuses shoegaze, folk, and dream pop in a neo-noir exploration of self-confrontation and creative rebirth. “I wanted this album to make people ask if they’re living the life they’re meant to,” he says. “For me, this is about rediscovering who I am as an artist.


t-low

Brand Partnership, Other Artists to Tour With, PR/Publicity Agency, Producer/Studio Engineer

t-low is one of the most distinctive voices of the new German music generation. With a raw emotional honesty and a sound rooted in emo rap and alternative pop, he has become a defining figure in the post-Gen-Z youth culture of the German-speaking world. Born and raised in a small town in northern Germany, t-low emerged from SoundCloud culture and quickly gained nationwide attention with his unfiltered lyrics and melodic sensibility. His music explores themes of mental health, love, identity, and existential struggle delivered with a rare vulnerability that resonates deeply with his audience.

With multiple gold and platinum records, sold-out tours, and chart-topping singles, t-low has established himself as a generational voice in Germany. Yet despite his commercial success, he has consistently pushed boundaries and stayed artistically uncompromising. In late 2025, t-low will release his highly anticipated comeback album "REAL MUSIC", marking a return to his roots with a more introspective, emotionally complex sound. His showcase at SXSW 2026 is not about breaking into the U.S. market - it’s a statement.


Sarah Crean

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - Worldwide, PR/Publicity Agency, Producer/Studio Engineer, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Irish/Brighton-based artist Sarah Crean is an indie-pop singer-songwriter whose music combines emotional clarity with layered, melodic arrangements. Her 2023 EP Death by Laundry featured the breakout single “2:00am,” now streamed over 7.5 million times on Spotify, and earned support from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 1, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Nialler9, and Spotify editorial playlists. The first single from her upcoming album, “22 Angel,” has already reached 80,000 streams and was featured on New Pop UK.

Sarah has toured the UK supporting acts including Florence Road, U.S. Girls, and Bombay Bicycle Club, with highlights such as a performance at the O2 Forum London alongside CMAT. Now independent and on the verge of her debut album - created entirely by women and inspired by the myth of Calypso - Crean explores heartbreak, home, and everything in between. With the album due mid-2026, she is emerging as one of alt-indie pop’s most compelling new voices.


KING NO-ONE

Brand Partnership, Gear Endorsement, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, Booking Agent - UK/Europe, Booking Agent - Worldwide, Sync/Music Supervisors

With a name as regal as their ambition, KNO are reshaping boundaries as they set out to release their debut album in April 2026.

This charismatic trio built their reputation through relentless touring and a catalogue of singles that bristle with both confidence and vulnerability.

Glistening guitar riffs, punchy rhythms and poetic narratives ensure their sound is both urgent and heartfelt.

These narratives are channelled into lyrics that are as revealing as they are relatable.

The songwriting is a testament to their roots. Each track is a vignette of life, steeped in nostalgia, resilience and a yearning to belong. It’s music that’s as much about catharsis as it is about connection.

First single ‘Transgressions’ is a confessional anthem. Nostalgia and identity are painted vividly in the second single as the band retrace childhood, its warmth underpinning an unflinching honesty.

Yet it’s the title track which lies at the emotional heart of this debut. Empathy is portrayed as both gift and curse, a force that connects deeply to others’ pain, yet at times threatens to overwhelm.

It’s a debut album that’s as unguarded and unflinching as the band themselves, sure to resonate with anyone whose heart has ever felt too full.


Mariae Cassandra

Label Management, Brand Partnership, Distribution - Worldwide, Other Artists to Tour With, Booking Agent - US, PR/Publicity Agency, Publishing, Sync/Music Supervisors

Mariae Cassandra is an Australian singer songwriter from Perth, Western Australia, rapidly emerging as one of the country’s most compelling new voices. First capturing attention through her online songwriting videos and viral moments across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, Mariae’s ability to pair intimate storytelling with hook driven pop has resonated with a growing global audience.

In 2024, Mariae won triple j Unearthed High with her breakout single “MillIon Billion Trillion” - a heartfelt ode to friendship that showcased her knack for emotionally direct, timeless songwriting. The win marked a turning point, positioning Mariae as a standout new artist and accelerating her rise beyond digital platforms.

Throughout 2024-25, Mariae built strong momentum, touring nationally as support for WAFIA, Spacey Jane, The Buoys and boywithuke, signing to Select Music and her debut EP “Everything In my Backpocket” via AWAL.

In 2025, Mariae warmed up main stages for Charli XCX and beabadoobee at Laneway Festival, was named one of Live Nation’s Ones To Watch and showcased at BIGSOUND and SXSW Sydney.


SXSW Expo: Emerging Tech (Free & Open to the Public)

Manchester Ballroom

SXSW Expo: International Innovations

SXSW Expo 2025 - Photo by Melissa Bordeau Mark

SXSW Expo: International Innovations (Free & Open to the Public)

Precision Camera & Video and Fujifilm Presents: Free Professional Headshots

Showcasing a collective of industry disruptors, the Emerging Tech Expo features businesses spearheading the development of revolutionary technology. At the forefront of tech, these breakthrough exhibitors are shaping the future of tomorrow’s solutions. Plug into the network of visionary leaders that are pioneering the digital frontier. The Expo will be free and open to the public on Wednesday, March 18.

SXSW EXPO: EMERGING TECH (FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)


Free Professional Headshots Presented by Precision Camera & Video with Fujifilm

Precision Camera & Video, in partnership with Fujifilm, is offering FREE professional headshots! This is a great opportunity to get a sharp, high-quality image with expert guidance. Don’t miss your chance to elevate your professional look.

FREE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS PRESENTED BY PRECISION CAMERA & VIDEO WITH FUJIFILM


Looking to update your LinkedIn profile, business card, or marketing material? Swing by for a free professional headshot by Precision Camera & Video and Fujifilm. This is an awesome chance to get a sharp, high-quality photo. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to elevate your image with expert help!

PRECISION CAMERA & VIDEO AND FUJIFILM PRESENTS: FREE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS


Vibrant Wellness Exhibit Booth

Personalized health and longevity are no longer niche topics—they’re becoming cultural priorities that will define the future of medicine, wellness, and human potential. Our exhibit space brings together integrative medicine, nutrition, longevity, and lifestyle optimization to explore how cutting-edge science and holistic approaches are reshaping the way we think about aging and long-term vitality. From cellular function to optimizing hormones, nutrition, brain performance, and exercise routines, our clinical experts will share what’s next in the rapidly evolving field of longevity—and how diagnostics can help inform longevity roadmaps.
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Vibrant Wellness

Advanced Specialty Lab Testing for Personalized Longevity

Vibrant Wellness is an advanced lab that helps people better understand what’s happening inside their bodies. Our tests explore how genetics, lifestyle, and environment work together across the most critical health domains, including heart and brain health, hormone, gut, immune, and cellular function, food and nutrients, and environmental toxins. We pair standard-of-care clinical markers with innovative and emerging ones to provide a more complete view of health.

Unlocking Her Next Chapter | Fitness with Kayla Barnes

Unlocking Her Next Chapter | Fertility with Dr. Molly Maloof, MD

Female Voices Shaping the Next Era of Preventive Health

Unlocking Her Next Chapter | Food & Nutrition with Dr. Poonam Desai, DO


Mentor Session: Jamie Wood (Autonomic)

Jamie Wood

Founder, CEO

Jamie Wood is the CEO and Founder of Autonomic, a bio-technology and neuroscience based platform pioneering how individuals understand, measure, and train their own cognitive function. At the intersection of neuroscience, AI, and human performance, Jamie is building the future of brain health, empowering individuals to thrive amid today’s mental health crisis, digital overload, and rapidly transforming work environments.
A thought leader in brain performance innovation, Jamie’s work focuses on translating cutting-edge neuroscience into practical, scalable tools for cognitive resilience. Her platform supports high-performing individuals, executives, students, and emerging leaders, by delivering real-time, adaptive interventions that build habits proven to enhance focus, stress regulation, and mental clarity.
With a particular emphasis on the 18–24-year-old demographic, Jamie views this window as a critical moment to shift the long-term trajectory of cognitive health. Her work with Autonomic equips young adults with science-backed training to delay cognitive decline and boost adaptability, laying the groundwork for a sharper, more resilient future workforce.
Collaborating with world-class neuroscientists, AI technologists, and human performance experts, Jamie is shaping the next frontier of brain health, where mental fitness becomes as measurable, coachable, and essential as physical fitness. Her mission: to make brain performance training a cornerstone of economic innovation, workforce sustainability, and individual well-being.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Future of Work, Entrepreneurship.


Mentor Session: Pallavi Lobo (Thalus, Inc.)

Pallavi Lobo

Chief Product Officer

Pallavi (“Liv”) is the Chief Product Officer at Vericy, where she helps companies turn “Responsible AI” from a compliance checklist into a superpower for innovation. Before that, she wrangled databases at Cockroach Labs, steered financial products at FactSet, and cut her teeth building Norton AntiVirus at Symantec (yes, the one that saved your teenage computer). Her favorite work? Coaching teams and creating cultures where people feel safe, seen, and unstoppable. Off the clock, Liv is usually deep in a sci-fi saga, deadlifting something heavy, or out-nerding her family in the best way possible.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion", Entrepreneurship, Product Management/Development.

MENTOR SESSION: PALLAVI LOBO (THALUS, INC.)


Film Production Legal Essentials Workshop

Paul Szynol

Film Law Group, University of Michigan Law School, Itchy Dog Films

Attorney/Professor

For two decades, Paul has concentrated his legal practice on intellectual property matters, and has worked with award-winning filmmakers, artists, tech start ups, and tech multinationals. As an academic, he is particularly interested in the First Amendment and copyright, especially fair use.  He  teaches Film Law, Entertainment Transactions, and Art Law at the University of Michigan Law School. He's written about fair use for The Atlantic, and has appeared on CNN and CBS News Prime Time to discuss the doctrine's importance. Paul is also a filmmaker. His documentaries have been featured on the New York Times (Op-Docs), the Atlantic, The New Yorker, and Aeon, and have been shown at festivals internationally, including AFI Docs, Big Sky, Clermont-Ferrand, Doc NYC, Palm Springs, Slamdance, and Toronto International Film Festival (Kids). Paul is a graduate of Yale Law School and Columbia University. In the past, he played loud drums with loud bands in a bunch of loud places, including CBGBs. He also started coding in 7th grade, and he's still an occasional software developer (mostly Python and Java). He likes old jazz records, even older trains, and every dog he's ever met.

Guadalupe

What We’re Unlearning on Supporting Education Systems

Shaping Education in a Culture x Tech World

Independent Film Publicity: How to Earn Media Attention

In this two-hour session, we will crack open some of the legal mysteries of film production. How do you clear content for use in your film?  Do you need an LLC?  How do you structure financial relationships?  The presentation will be in human-readable English (i.e., not too much legal jargon) and provide you with a basic legal foundation before you embark on your next film project. The first 90 minutes of the workshop will be dedicated to answering key production questions, and the remainder of the workshop will be open to a discussion and a Q&A.

FILM PRODUCTION LEGAL ESSENTIALS WORKSHOP

Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll


Come to Your Senses: Designing Analog Tools for a Digital World

Alexander Poirier

Vice President

Alexander Poirier is a seasoned product-designer and analog advocate who builds thoughtfully crafted physical products in an increasingly digital world. With more than a decade of experience at Blackwing, he has led the design and development of tools that combine heritage, quality, and tactile experience, from initial concept to final production.

In his work, Alexander bridges the gap between analog traditions and contemporary demands: he guides design teams, cultivates partnerships, and stewards a creative vision rooted in intention and human connection.

Grant Christensen

President

Waller Ballroom A

Texas High School Shorts Screening & Q&A

From Who to What to You: The Weird AI-Infused Future of the Creator Economy

From Viral to Viable: Building IP as a Creator

How do you create analog products that resonate in an increasingly digital world? As interest in tactile, sensory experiences grows, designers are rethinking how physical objects engage us—through touch, sound, even scent. From the feel of materials to the rhythm of use, these sensory cues shape how we connect with the tools around us. In this fireside chat, leaders in analog design explore why slowing down matters, what it takes to craft products that invite presence, and how intentionally designed objects can offer a counterbalance to digital speed.

COME TO YOUR SENSES: DESIGNING ANALOG TOOLS FOR A DIGITAL WORLD


Mentor Session: Greg Nudelman (UC for AI)

Greg Nudelman

Distinguished Designer

Greg Nudelman solves the hardest problem in AI: creating products customers actually want to buy. Since 2009 (13 years before ChatGPT), he's led 34 AI initiatives generating $500M+ ROI for Fortune 500 companies (Cisco, IBM, GE, Intuit). His Snowball Design Sprint framework helps product teams validate AI concepts in days instead of months—preventing millions in wasted engineering. Author of 6 books, including 'UX for AI' (Amazon #1), 24 patents, 120+ keynotes across 18 countries. UXforAI.com

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Product Management/Development.

MENTOR SESSION: GREG NUDELMAN (UC FOR AI)


Mentor Session: Kartik Hosanagar (The Wharton School/University of Pennsylvania)

Kartik Hosanagar

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

John C. Hower Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Co-Director, Wharton Human-AI Research

Kartik Hosanagar is a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an AI researcher and the author of A Human’s Guide to Machine Intelligence. He co-directs the Human-AI Research Center at Wharton and is the founder of the AI startup Jumpcut Media, which is used by 200+ companies in Hollywood as a copilot for creative execs. His book proposes some of the earliest ideas on AI safety which he called the AI Bill of Rights, a term that was later adopted by the White House. He also serves on the U.S. Department of Defense’s AI Advisory Council. Kartik is a Fellow of the INFORMS Information Systems Society and a thirteen-time winner of the annual Excellence in Teaching award at the Wharton School.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship.

MENTOR SESSION: KARTIK HOSANAGAR (THE WHARTON SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA)


Mentor Session: Shan Boodram (Arya)

Shan Boodram

Chief Intimacy Officer

Shan Boodram is the Chief Intimacy Officer at Arya, the AI-enabled couples wellness platform. As a certified sexologist and AASECT-certified sex educator, Shan is one of the internet’s most sought-after voices on intimacy and relationships. Through Arya, she’s helping to remove the stigma, shame, and guesswork around kink, communication, and connection. She draws from over a decade of education and on-the-ground experience—including as a mother of two—to inform inclusive, empowering tools for modern love and sex.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Storytelling, Content Strategy/Production.


Build Community Through Storytelling

Colleen Schell

Founder

Room 410

Technology Convergence: Winning the Exponential Upswing

Leading the AI Future: How to Think Exponentially in a Chaotic Decade

CTRL + ALT + CREATE: How AI Is Reshaping the Creative Process

How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change: A Conversation with the authors of Somebody Should Do Something

The fastest way to create community isn’t networking.
It’s shared humanity.

In this highly interactive session, FABx founder Colleen Schell and guests guide you through a storytelling experience designed to take the room from strangers to a connected community. You’ll explore why story is more than entertainment: it’s a cultural technology that dissolves separation, builds trust quickly, and invites people to belong. Learn how to share your most potent story and walk away with a powerful tool for connection.

This isn’t a panel.
It’s an experiment in connection through sharing your story.


Mentor Session: Alex Anderson (Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis)

Alex Anderson

Senior Director

Alex is a comms strategist with over a decade of experience crafting PR, marketing and branding campaigns for a wide range of clients across TV/film,  podcasting, creative technology providers, new media/ creator economy startups, and much more. Based in Austin, TX, she is a film/ TV and media obsessive who can be located at AFS Cinema or Alamo Drafthouse, at a yoga class, reading Substack newsletters, or streaming TV, YouTube and/or a podcast (sometimes simultaneously). She attended UT Austin and is a Senior Director at SSM&L, a global comms agency with a dedicated office in Austin.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Storytelling, Content Strategy/Production.

MENTOR SESSION: ALEX ANDERSON (SUNSHINE SACHS MORGAN & LYLIS)

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


Mentor Session: Vanya Petrovic (Coca-Cola EP)

Vanya Petrovic

Global Director Digital Innovation

Vanya is a global digital transformation leader whose career spans three continents and 17 years at the intersection of business and technology reinvention. Raised in Australia and having lived in London for 12 years before relocating to Madrid, she brings an international perspective to how innovation is adopted globally.

Her work sits at the convergence of AI strategy, human-centred design and commercial execution. Having led transformation initiatives across Consumer Goods, Media, Retail, and start-ups, Vanya brings a pragmatic perspective on what it really takes to implement technology at scale—beyond pilots, hype, or theoretical promise.

Most recently, as a Global Director at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners covering 31 countries, she has shaped and delivered digital strategies for Procurement with a focus on emerging AI. Vanya began her career in management consulting at Accenture, delivering complex transformation programmes across Europe, Australia, and Asia.

She is also the founder and CEO of Travelhers Ltd., a London startup, connecting women globally and empowering safer travel through AI. She is driven by a belief that technology should improve lives - not just processes, a principle that runs through both her corporate and entrepreneurial work.
With degrees in Business and Political Sciences and a Business Strategy certification from INSEAD, Vanya brings a multidisciplinary lens to every stage she speaks on. She is a frequent conference guest across Europe, known for demystifying AI, challenging organisational inertia, and addressing the human realities behind digital transformation.

Vanya often draws on her experience as a third culture kid and speaks candidly about the people and culture side of transformations, the human dynamics behind change, why AI succeeds or fails, and what it takes to prepare people for the next generation of intelligent systems.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship, Future of Work.

MENTOR SESSION: VANYA PETROVIC (COCA-COLA EP)


Unlocking the Power of Community in the Post-Social Era

Sara Wilson

Founder & Principal

Sara Wilson is a journalist-turned-social-marketer who helps top brands build community-powered strategies for attention, relevance, and loyalty with Gen Z through her consultancy, SW Projects. In 2020, she coined “digital campfires” in Harvard Business Review to describe Gen Z’s shift from public social media toward more intimate communities. She has delivered talks for companies including Shopify, Microsoft, and McKinsey, and advises Fortune 500s on tapping into organic communities. Previously, she led partnerships at Instagram, edited at The Huffington Post, and wrote for top publications. Her work has appeared in AdAge, MIT Sloan Management Review, and The Drum, and she has been featured as a digital strategy authority in AdWeek, Forbes, and Fast Company.

Waterloo Ballroom 3

Hsu Untied: Beyond Numbers: Decision-Making in the Math Classroom

The Learning Geeks: How to Think When Machines Think Faster

Chalk & Gavel: Navigating the Tides of an Education Law Sea Change

Beyond Voting: Defending Truth in Education: AI, Equity, & Power

Forget Moments Marketing: Welcome to Worldbuilding

The marketing landscape is in chaos. As attention spans contract, audiences retreat to private digital spaces and ad costs rise, traditional playbooks are becoming obsolete. Sara Wilson identified this shift in 2020, coining “digital campfires” in Harvard Business Review to describe Gen Z’s move toward intimate communities. In this talk, she shares her community-powered marketing framework—shaped by years at Instagram and advising Fortune 500s—showing how prioritizing relevance over reach by tapping into organic communities drives attention, loyalty, and ROI.

UNLOCKING THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IN THE POST-SOCIAL ERA


How to Be Seen: Building Your Personal Brand

Katy Boos

CEO

Katy Boos is the founder/CEO of Remix Communications, an executive visibility agency that places its clients on top stages and as guests on podcasts. Clients include Adobe, Stitch Fix, Zoom and several successful start-ups. Before Remix, Katy co-founded a successful Silicon Valley agency before exiting to focus on thought leadership. Earlier she managed PR programs at Apple for Media & Entertainment and mobile products. Katy lives in Los Angeles, CA. She was selected as a TEDx speaker curator and coach, and has been a SXSW Advisory Member since 2022.

Alana O'grady

Alana O’Grady is Vice President of Public Affairs and Global Communications at Verkada, a multi-billion dollar Silicon Valley security tech company transforming how organizations protect people and property through the use of AI. Alana has deep expertise in crisis management and corporate reputation across the U.S. and Asia. Named among Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence and San Francisco’s Top 50 Women, Alana also serves on the Board of the Family and Children’s Law Center, and is Executive Producer of the film Mas Alla. Prior to moving to Silicon Valley, she lived and worked in Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York City leading communications projects for global companies.

Rio Grande Ballroom 1

You Are STILL the Brand: What AI Can’t Do for You

Sprints for Social Impact: Turn Time Pressure into Purpose

Vibe Coding: From Idea to MVP at Warp Speed

Look What You Made Me Do: Revenge as Creative Catalyst

Artistic Disruption for Business Innovation

Your reputation is your career capital. In this hands-on workshop, Alana O’Grady Lauk, a VP of Communications, and Katy Boos, a top thought leadership strategist, will guide you through why your personal brand matters, how to build it with confidence, and what visibility can unlock. You'll learn how to show up online and in real life in ways that feel authentic and sustainable. Expect real examples, actionable tools, and small group exercises designed to help you clarify your message, identify your platforms and target audiences, grow your presence, and speak with purpose.

HOW TO BE SEEN: BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


Owning Your Narrative: Global Strategies for Indie Artists

Pedro Kurtz

Director, Content & Operations, Americas

Pedro Kurtz is an experienced music industry professional with a comprehensive background in both indie and mainstream sectors. Currently serving as Director of Content and Operations for the Americas at Deezer, he acts as the liaison between HQ and the regions to align strategies, while focusing on leveraging user engagement, artist-fan connections, and relationships within the music industry, as well as creating original content and music strategies for partners. With over 10 years in the field, Pedro brings a holistic perspective to the music business, encompassing strategic content and relationship development alongside operational excellence. In addition to his role at Deezer, he serves as an ambassador for Glocalization studies.

Mark Feist

CEO and Founder

Mark J. Feist is a multi-platinum producer, songwriter, and music executive, and the Founder & CEO of Hitmakers Entertainment. His career spans more than three decades across global markets, contributing to 35M+ records sold and hundreds of millions of streams worldwide. He has written and produced for Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland, Céline Dion, John Legend, Natalie Cole, George Clinton, Tyga, The Game, and others. Feist began composing commercially at 13, achieved his first international success at 18, and by his mid-20s had delivered more than 40 gold and platinum albums across Asia before relocating permanently to Los Angeles. His U.S. breakthrough came with “I Love You” (MCA) for Keith Washington and Chanté Moore, followed by extensive major-label work throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In 2016, Feist founded Hitmakers Entertainment in response to structural weaknesses in the modern label model. He shifted from hit-driven execution to building artist ecosystems engineered for the post-streaming era—prioritizing catalog depth, ownership, algorithmic confidence, and repeat listener behavior over ad spend, radio dependency, or forced virality. Feist is the architect behind the complete ecosystem of recording artist Tash, whom he signed at 15 and developed over seven years. That ecosystem includes 83 released masters (with 100 future masters under contract), full master ownership, co-publishing participation, touring and merch participation, owned playlist infrastructure, and a global UGC-driven discovery engine across Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Instagram, and TikTok—built to scale organically without paid media.

Guji Lorenzana

Director, A&R and Client Development, Asia-Pacific

Guji Lorenzana is Symphonic Distribution’s Director, A&R & Client Development, Asia-Pacific. He is responsible for expanding Symphonic's artist roster and negotiating new business partnerships with APAC companies to grow its presence in the region. He previously served as a Music Content Specialist for YouTube Music, managing content for its Philippines region and building relationships with key industry partners. He then landed the role of Country Manager, Philippines, at Ingrooves Music Group, leading its expansion into the region and establishing partnerships with labels and streaming platforms. He continued this role as Ingrooves was acquired by Virgin Music Group, helping it to emerge as a key player in the region. He also helped Virgin establish its Thailand office.

Adel Hattem

CEO/Founder

Adel Hattem is the CEO and Founder of DMusicMarketing (DMM), an agency that develops both non-Latin and Latin talent in the Latin American market. With over 25 years in the music industry, Adel held senior roles at Universal, EMI, and BMG, helping shape the presence of global artists like Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, and Katy Perry in the region. Since founding DMM in 2013, she has led campaigns for artists like Mitski, Björk, Laufey, Radiohead, and Sofi Tukker, and works with top indie labels such as Beggars Group, Domino, and Secretly Group. Based in Miami with teams across Latin America, DMM offers dynamic, strategic solutions to help clients thrive in the region’s complex landscape and continues to expand as demand grows.

Capitol Ballroom E

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Tour Support 2.0: How Mental Health is Reshaping Live Music

From Streams to Strategy: The Label Services Evolution

Rock’s Biggest Promoter on the Future of Festivals

Music Nostalgia: The Secret Weapon in Modern Advertising

The international music business is far larger and more lucrative than many expect – just look at the broad worldwide impact of LATAM artists like Bad Bunny and K-Pop groups like BTS. The question is, how does an artist from these regions and beyond achieve this kind of success? The answer lies with music distributors, marketers, and data analysts, who have the tools to break talented artists both in their home countries and around the world. In this panel, experts will explain which resources and team members artists should bring onboard to generate international interest, and when.

OWNING YOUR NARRATIVE: GLOBAL STRATEGIES FOR INDIE ARTISTS


Radical Generosity at Scale: the 100% for Purpose Model

Susan Brandt

President and CEO

Since 1998, Susan Brandt has directed the worldwide operations of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the global children’s entertainment brand that owns and manages the intellectual property of Theodor Seuss Geisel. Under her leadership, the Dr. Seuss brand has expanded from books to include films, television, stage productions, theme parks, digital games, exhibitions, licensed products, and more, all while maintaining the integrity of the beloved stories and characters Ted Geisel created, and supporting the Dr. Seuss Foundation’s funding of early childhood education and literacy development programs. Susan graduated with a BA degree from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Master’s of Management degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Greg Curtis

Executive Director

Greg is the Executive Director of Holdfast Collective, Patagonia’s non-profit shareholder. In this role, Greg is responsible for philanthropically distributing all of Patagonia’s profits. Previously, Greg served as Deputy General Counsel for Patagonia for more than 8 years and led the company through its ownership transition in 2022. Prior to joining Patagonia, Greg was in-house counsel at a large multinational corporation and also worked for a number of years in private practice as a corporate lawyer. Greg serves as a board member for 1% for the Planet and is a graduate of Brown University and University of Connecticut School of Law.

Alex Amouyel

President and CEO

Alex Amouyel is President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation whose mission is to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to utilize 100% of the profits and royalties from the sale of Newman’s Own products in service of this mission. Under Alex’s leadership, Newman’s Own Foundation co-founded the 100% for Purpose Club, a community of impact-driven business leaders and companies working to support and inspire the next generation of organizations to donate their profits for purpose. Previously, Alex led MIT Solve as Founding Executive Director and served as Director of Program for the Clinton Global Initiative. Alex is the author of The Answer Is You: A Guidebook to Creating a Life Full of Impact.

Salon D

Who’s Funding the Future—and Who’s Getting Left Out

Thrive or Survive: Why Creativity is the Key to an AI-Future

The Story of Stories—The Million Year History of Storytelling

Skills You’ll Need To Succeed in the Post-AI Age

Through the Noise: The State of Science Storytelling

At a moment when many companies are scaling back their social impact commitments, this session will look at the rise of the 100% for Purpose model and a growing movement of companies committing 100% of their profits to good causes. Featuring business leaders and founders who have put purpose at the center of their mission, this panel will explore what it takes to successfully build a brand that exists to give, how generosity and business growth can work hand in hand, and what it would take for more companies to join the movement.

RADICAL GENEROSITY AT SCALE: THE 100% FOR PURPOSE MODEL


American Dream 2.0: How Cities Will Design Our Future

Andreas Addison

CEO, Founder

Andreas Addison is an entrepreneur, professor, and civic innovator with over 16 years of experience leading transformational change in government and business. He is the founder of Civic Innovator, a national consulting firm that helps city leaders implement bold ideas through human-centered design and systems thinking. A former two-term Richmond City Councilmember, Andreas spearheaded initiatives like participatory budgeting, regional transit expansion, right to counsel for evictions, and fare-free public transportation. He has taught social enterprise at the University of Virginia and worked with global partners including the National League of Cities, IBM Smarter Cities Challenge, and Code for America. Today, Andreas continues to shape the future of governance and innovation, bridging public, private, and community sectors to deliver real impact.

Rio Grande Ballroom 2

Pitching to Angels 101: Think Like an Investor

Play to Build: Prosocial AI for Human Connection

Brand Strategy Workshop for Emerging Tech Companies

Own Your Sh*t (and Your IP): The Creator CEO Playbook

Prompt to Publish - AI Tools for the Modern Content Creator

America turns 250 next year, but the original American Dream is broken and outdated. If Singapore can build for efficiency and Copenhagen for equity, what would an American city of the future look like? Civic Innovator founder Andreas Addison invites attendees into a real-time design challenge to reimagine the American Dream for the next 250 years. Grounded in personal story, Brookings research, and proven civic wins from working in City Hall to serving on City Council, this talk introduces a 7-step Civic Innovation process to help cities design for impact with new systems that work for us.

AMERICAN DREAM 2.0: HOW CITIES WILL DESIGN OUR FUTURE


Beyond Beautiful: A Data-Driven Framework for Design ROI

James Damron

Vp, Business Value Architecture

Pranshu Khanna

Sr. Director, Business Value Architecture

I am a Senior Director of Business Value Architecture at Merkle, helping clients build a bridge from uncertainty to value realization.  I specialize in Busines Case and Financial Model delivery to clients seeking Customer Experience strategic services. With 18 years of experience in data analytics and financial strategy, I specialize in building models & tools to help clients estimate the economic implications of loyalty programs and customer engagement strategies. I serve as a key strategic advisor to senior client leadership, analyzing complex customer datasets to extract actionable insights and translating quantitative findings into clear, compelling presentations for executive audiences.

Waller Ballroom C

From TikTok to Toolbelt: Preparing Gen Z for Work

Higher Ed's Losing Global Talent & the Bill Is Coming Due

It Takes a Region: Cybersecurity Pathways in Rural Alabama

Rethinking Discovery Algorithms for the Creator Economy

Great design is often treated as an expense rather than an investment because we lack concrete methods to measure its business impact. Drawing from proven data valuation methodologies, we'll introduce a practical three-component framework that translates design improvements into measurable business outcomes. We will reference real-world case studies and demonstrate how design decisions directly influence Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV) and Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), walking through an example showing how a typical e-commerce checkout redesign can generate exponential ROI.

BEYOND BEAUTIFUL: A DATA-DRIVEN FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN ROI


The RAI of Every Day Things - from Principles to UX Practice

Ellie Kemery

Principle AI Researcher + RAI Leader

Ellie has spent her career at the intersection of humanity, design, and technology. Her work deepens our understanding of people who use our products and helps teams to ethically build intelligent human-centered product experiences. She bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and lived experience, ensuring that we create products people trust, use with ease, and find genuinely valuable.

She is currently leading Responsible AI Research for SAP, and is advancing a culture of ethical practices with a focus on product inclusion, responsible human-centered AI, and sustainability. She leads a team that generates deep and actionable insight on these topics, establishes principles/guidelines and operationalizes best practices that guide and empower global product development teams.

Cecilia Ambros

Head of Content, Research and Product Design in ML/IA Operations, CCB

Ambros’ journey, rooted in her fine arts background, has taken her through diverse roles in digital advertising, enterprise software, consumer products, and strategic research. She is the Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase, leading Digital Design and Customer Experience for CCB ML/AI Operations. She previously held senior leadership positions at Amazon (including Head of UX Design for Grocery, Head of Design Research & Data Science for Alexa Devices and Global Executive Director for Amazon Ads). She served as Global Studio Director at Nike for NFL, Global Football, and Men’s Training. With a Master’s in Design Planning, Research + Strategy from IIT Institute of Design, a Bachelor of Tech from Farmingdale College, and certifications, she is committed to empowering the next generation.

TB Bardlavens

GM & Director, Product Equity at Adobe

TB Bardlavens is chaotic good in its purest form. He is a Gay, Black man from the Carolinas, a highly regarded social intrapreneur, and an advocate for equity in technology and design. He is a Product Executive, Cultural Strategist, Diversity, Equity, and Justice expert, Co-Founder, Writer, and International Speaker and Facilitator.

For more than a decade, TB has dedicated his career to dismantling systemic barriers, building and scaling teams, and launching innovative digital products for companies like Microsoft, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Adobe. As an accomplished product leader and strategist, he has been at the forefront of delivering more useful, impactful, and equitable experiences for billions of people globally.

TB’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the intersection between technology, design, and social impact make him an exceptional guide in our collective journey toward creating a more equitable and inclusive future.

Ruth Kikin-Gil

Responsible AI strategist, Principal UX Designer at Microsoft, Copilot for Security

Ruth Kikin-Gil is a design strategist who leads Responsible AI practices for Microsoft’s Security organization and a co-creator of Microsoft’s Guidelines for Human-AI interaction. In addition, she teaches design at the Human Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE) department in the University of Washington, Seattle. Her career focuses on product innovation across devices, input methods and platforms, including designing future experiences for Office, creating future scenarios in an incubation lab, and working on a strategy team. Prior to Microsoft she founded a design agency, worked in startups and as a consultant. She is a Bezalel academy of Art and design Alumna and earned her Interaction Design degree from Interaction Design Institute Ivrea (IDII) in Italy.

Salon D

Designing the Future of Human Performance

The Companies Building and Automating Space's Superhighway

What AI Agents Are Doing While You're Not Watching

The New Lab Partner: AI and Future Scientific Discovery

Humanoid Robots Are Clocking In: Meet Who’s Putting Them To Work

Responsible AI isn’t a buzzword—it’s a daily practice that drives the appropriate level of trust, mitigates risk, and powers better business outcomes. But what does it look like in product and design? It’s a practical, human-centered approach to designing AI systems that are safe, equitable, and effective. In this session, RAI leaders from Microsoft, SAP, Adobe, and JPMorgan Chase share real tools, UX strategies, and lessons from the trenches. Gain an understanding of RAI - and walk away with actionable best practices to apply now, whether you're leading solo or scaling across an enterprise.

RAI OF EVERY DAY THINGS - FROM PRINCIPLES TO UX PRACTICE


What AI Can’t Replace: People Skills in a Changing World

Vanessa Tanicien

Vanessa Tanicien is a leadership futurist who serves as the Global Director of Learning and Development at Peloton and is the CEO & Founder of Onu, a leadership and team enablement consultancy. Vanessa’s deep expertise is rooted in the hundreds of learning, team-building, and strategy sessions she's led for organizations like American Express, BlackRock, The New York Times, and Match Group. Vanessa has been featured in publications like MIT Sloan Management Review, First Round Capital, and Quartz. She is based in New York City.

Priscila Bala

Vice Chair

Priscila’s expertise is in getting great ideas to scale. She has spent her career building companies and helping others do the same. She is an entrepreneur, advisor, and former-VC investor who equips high performing teams to do amazing work. She has an MBA from Yale University with a research focus on negotiation, behavioral economics, and the psychology of career choices. She has won leadership prizes from Barclays, The Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Yale School of Management, and the St. Gallen Symposium.

Heidi Brooks

Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behavior

Heidi Brooks teaches and advises on the subject of everyday leadership: the everyday micro-moments of impact that shape our lived experiences. Creating more courageous communities—especially within organizations—is a particular passion of hers. Dr. Brooks specializes in large-scale culture change projects focused on individual and collective leadership effectiveness in organizations. Interpersonal Dynamics, the MBA elective she has taught for 15 years, is one of the courses most in demand at Yale School of Management.

Salon B

Innovating in Science & Tech When Budgets are Tight

How To Meaningfully Connect in a World That Has Gone to Sh*t

It's a Whole Thing: Gen Z Work Relationships in the Age of AI

Better Leadership Starts with Understanding the Stressed Brain

AI is changing how we work. But the people skills that help teams thrive, like communication, time management, and adaptability, are here to stay and more crucial than ever (92% of companies say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills). Learn what makes human skills like feedback, prioritization, and resilience durable in an AI-powered workplace as well as practical ways to grow these essential capabilities into scalable habits, starting with small behaviors that create a big impact.

WHAT AI CAN?T REPLACE: PEOPLE SKILLS IN A CHANGING WORLD


Medicated for Life? Antidepressants & Conflicting Science

Kate Knibbs

Senior Writer

Dr. Mark Horowitz, MD

Co-founder

Dr Mark Horowitz is a Clinical Research Fellow in Psychiatry in the National Health Service (NHS) in London, Visiting Lecturer in Psychopharmacology at King’s College London, an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at University College London and a trainee psychiatrist. He has a PhD from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London in the neurobiology of depression and antidepressant action. He is the lead author of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines, the first authoritative clinical handbook on how to safely stop antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs.

Salon C

Launch with 0 Investors: A Playbook for Crowdfunding in 2026

Missionary Misfits: Why Not Belonging Makes You Build Better

How to Raise $$$ From Angel Groups: What We Really Look For

The Next Five Years of Private Markets: What Founders Can’t Afford to Miss

Are antidepressants really that hard to stop? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Scientists can’t seem to agree on a definitive answer. And yet, Dr. Mark Horowitz has some 20,000 emails in his inbox from Americans who feel trapped on their meds. With insights from his clinical research at University College London, and his own harrowing journey tapering off antidepressants, Dr. Horowitz, the world leading expert in the science of safely stopping psychiatric meds, exposes the uncomfortable truths behind one of today’s most controversial topics in mental health.

MEDICATED FOR LIFE? ANTIDEPRESSANTS & CONFLICTING SCIENCE


Inclusive GenAI Red Teaming

Zaki Barzinji

Director, Building Bridges Program

Prior to joining the Doris Duke Foundation, Zaki Barzinji served as Senior Director for Empowered Communities at the Aspen Institute, where he oversaw a range of projects at the intersection of tech, policy, equity and justice for systemically marginalized communities. In the Obama Administration, he served as Senior Associate Director of Public Engagement and President Obama’s liaison to Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs and other minority faiths, working to ensure that perspectives rarely represented in national decision making were included at the highest levels. His career also includes serving as Senior Policy Advisor to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, leading state and local government affairs for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and consulting for community-based organizations such as the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a long-time partner and collaborator of the Doris Duke Foundation, and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services. Beyond his public service, Barzinji is a writer and storyteller whose creative work has been recognized by the Disney/ABC “First 10” TV Comedy Lab and the NYC Midnight Screenwriting Challenge. His writing and commentary appear in Politico, The Atlantic, BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, CNN, and other national outlets.

Cindy Joung

Consultant

Cindy Joung (she/her) is the Product Equity Lead at Aspen Digital.  She combines a decade of product management experience across media and entertainment with a mission to create inclusive, equitable, and representative products for all. Before joining Aspen Digital, Cindy was the inaugural Lead Product Manager for Product Inclusion at Snap, and prior to that, she founded and led the Product Inclusion team at Verizon Media. After graduating from Northwestern University, she began her career in the entertainment industry, weaving from film publicity to entertainment law before transitioning to digital media. Cindy is passionate about building communities; she founded Verizon Media's global Asian employee resource group and is the founder and advisor of the Gold House Book Club.

Brazos I-III

Division Defiance: Building Cross-Racial Solidarity

In Search of Hope: Teaching Climate Emotions Through Story

Beyond Borders: Diverse Alliances for Immigrant Wellbeing

Future-Proof Your Strategy: An AI Test and Learn Lab

Pitch Camp! How To Win Creative Pitches by Being More Human

As AI systems increasingly shape society, how do we ensure they truly serve everyone and don’t further encode societal biases? This structured workshop brings together community members to explore inclusive red teaming: a practice that probes generative AI models for bias and harm. Participants will learn what inclusive red teaming is, co-create prompts rooted in lived experience, contribute to an open-source prompt library, and connect with others who want to see a shared ownership of AI accountability. Let’s break things together—thoughtfully and equitably.


No Perfect Plans, Just Progress: Austins Housing Miracle

Felicity Maxwell

Executive Director

Currently: Executive Director of Texans for Housing, City of Austin Planning Commissioner
Previously: 2024 co-chair of YIMBYtown Austin, small business owner, United Nations-affiliated NGO

ED: LBJ School of Public Affairs /College of Communication at University of Texas at Austin,
Vanderbilt University

Council-Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri

Council Member, District 9

Zohaib “Zo” Qadri was elected to represent District 9 in 2022. He proudly represents the neighborhoods of Downtown, Rainey St., Old West Austin, West Campus, Hyde Park, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Mueller, Cherrywood, and more. Zo is eager to tackle Austin’s housing crisis, to fight for an expanded and equitable transit system, and to protect and uplift our most vulnerable citizens. Zo firmly believes that everyone deserves a voice and access to the abundance of opportunities in our beautiful city.

Awais Azhar

Executive Director

Awais Azhar is the executive director of HousingWorks Austin, where he works to advance housing affordability in the Central Texas region through research, educational initiatives and advocacy. He is also a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Community Advisory Council. He serves as the chair of Austin's Project Connect Community Advisory Committee. Azhar is also a member of the Austin Economic Development Corp. board and Capital Metro Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community Advisory Group. Azhar is a community and regional planning PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. He holds a Master of Science degree in community and regional planning and a Master of Public Affairs degree from UT Austin.

Alina Carnahan

Vice President of Advocacy

Alina is the Vice President of Advocacy for the Real Estate Council of Austin, a trade association for the commercial real estate industry in Central Texas. She directs and implements the organization's policy agendas at the state and local levels. Her expertise on housing policy is frequently sought after by local, statewide, and national media outlets, and she serves as a subject matter experts on industry panels and white papers. She previously managed media and community engagement efforts for the City of Austin's first land development code rewrite.

Room 201-202

Rewriting the Rules of Business: A Guide to Purpose & Profit

The Geography of Prosperity: A New Map for Resilient Cities

Saving Monarchs With Machine Learning and Computer Vision

Where Climate Science Meets Industry Innovation

In the last two years, Austin, TX, has implemented some of the most ambitious land use reforms in the country, unlocking new possibilities in one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most expensive housing markets. But the real story isn’t just about zoning changes—it’s about the unlikely coalition that made them possible. We will take you behind the scenes of Austin’s housing transformation, sharing how to piece together technical expertise, grassroots activism, and strategic positioning to drive major policy wins.

NO PERFECT PLANS, JUST PROGRESS: AUSTINS HOUSING MIRACLE


Defending Democracy: How Cities Rise Up When Feds Push Down

Kendra Brooks

Minority Leader, Councilmember at Large

Kendra Brooks is the Minority Leader of Philadelphia City Council. She is a Councilmember At-Large from North Philadelphia and the first Working Families Party member ever elected to City Council. She has a background in organizing for social movements, public school advocacy, gun violence prevention, and restorative justice, all of which inform her priorities as an elected official. Some of her recent accomplishments include the POWER Act, which grants new rights and protections to low-wage workers; the nationally acclaimed Eviction Diversion Program and the end of for-profit evictions in Philadelphia; the Reproductive Freedom Task Force and historic funding for reproductive healthcare providers; expanding mobile crisis teams for mental and behavioral health; and protecting neighborhood-led community gardens.

Francesca Menes

Francesca Menes, is the Managing Director, Membership & Organizing at Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab which works collectively to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. Francesca is a political educator, legislative and policy strategist, entrepreneur and former television host committed to creating spaces to educate, inform and engage our people on the issues that are important in their daily lives; helping them to understand the personal is political and democratizing knowledge. She is the daughter of working-class Haitian immigrants raised in Miami’s Little Haiti community. With more than 15 years of experience, Francesca has led successful coalitions, legislative, policy and advocacy campaigns with undocumented families, immigrants, refugees, students, Black and communities of color, resulting in the passage of local, state, federal resolutions, policies and laws on the issues of education, immigration, housing, wage protections and job security.

Eunisses Hernandez

City Councilmember

Eunisses Hernandez is a community organizer, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, and a lifelong District 1 resident. Born and raised in Highland Park, she led campaigns, coalitions, and commissions that transformed local and statewide policy before running for City Council in 2021. Since taking office in December 2022, Councilmember Hernandez has prioritized a Care First agenda that focuses on investing in community care, workforce development, social services, and harm-reduction programs that help make our neighborhoods safer and healthier places for all Angelenos.

Vanessa Fuentes

Mayor Pro Tem, Austin City Council, District 2

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes represents District 2 on the Austin City Council, where she champions health equity, working families, and local democracy. As the daughter of an immigrant and a military veteran, she brings lived experience to her fight for inclusive, community-driven governance. Since 2021, she has led efforts to expand affordable housing, increase wages, and protect reproductive rights. Fuentes is a leading voice on resisting state and federal overreach, defending local control, civil rights, and the dignity of all people.

Salon E

Turning Up the Heat: Climate Content That Clicks

Growing Intelligence: Youth, AI, and the Future of Ag

Mall Rats Reborn: How Hot Topic is Using Entertainment to Revitalise Retail

Culture Under Fire: Storytelling for Public Power

How to Win Friends and Overthrow Systems

As federal authoritarianism threatens civil rights, immigration, and economic justice, cities are stepping up to defend democracy. Join District 2 Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, and District 1 Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez as they share diverse, frontline perspectives in this conversation moderated by Francesca Menes, Managing Director of the Membership & Organizing Team at Local Progress. If democracy survives this moment, it will be because cities held the line.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: HOW CITIES RISE UP WHEN FEDS PUSH DOWN


Trust, Tech & Disruption: Brand Love When Stakes are High

Helen Melluish

Vp Of Marketing, Vrbo

Helen Melluish is Vice President of Marketing at Vrbo, where she leads brand, and integrated marketing globally across one of the world’s largest vacation rental marketplaces.

A seasoned marketing and operations executive, Helen has spent her career scaling consumer brands across e‑commerce, subscription, marketplace, and CPG. Before Vrbo, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Omaze, where she oversaw business development, marketing and product.

Helen previously worked as a fractional CMO and Chief Growth Officer, partnering with companies including Juice Media, FlexFits, and MasterClass. Earlier in her career, she led global brand marketing at eHarmony, and held marketing and communications roles at eBay/Shopping.com

Neil Golson

VP, Brand & Creative

Neil F. Golson is VP of Brand & Creative at Realtor.com, where he leads consumer and B2B marketing, brand strategy, and high-profile campaigns shaping how Americans think about homeownership. A builder at heart, Neil has scaled brands and revenue across tech, real estate, energy, and retail—working with companies like Tesla, Home Depot, and Coca-Cola. He focuses on turning insight into systems that compound: connecting brand, product, data, and culture into durable advantage.

Kate Rush Sheehy

Co-Chief Strategist

Kate leads the strategy department at GSD&M and spends most of her time with the Corona, Southwest Airlines, and White Castle teams building First & Only brands. She joined GSD&M from Expedia Group where she led global brand strategy and advertising for Vrbo and launched the brand in 17 markets. Prior to that, she helped open R/GA Austin, where she led strategy, helped make Crocs cool again and launched Fossil into the wearables space. After college, Kate also spent time in Austin’s start-up world before getting back to using the Advertising degree she earned from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jennifer Bridie

VP of Marketing

Jennifer is known for creating and leading dynamic Teams that drive Company growth and performance, and foster loyalty and engagement for one of the most beloved brands in the world. In her role, she is responsible for creating affinity and generating quality demand for the Southwest Brand and products with oversight of Customer acquisition strategy, media and sponsorship investments, and brand content and experiential. Prior to joining Southwest Airlines in 2013, she worked within the advertising industry, giving her a keen understanding of both the science and art that informs her perspective today.

She also gives back to her local community, volunteering with the National Charity League (NCL), Special Olympics of Texas, Feed My Starving Children, and other local organizations.

Waterloo Ballroom 4-6

The B Word: How to Get Creative with Marketing Budget

Meet Gen Alpha: Defying Predictions & Rewiring Marketing

Launching the Ultimate, Research-Driven Creative Power Playbook

Pride Preview '26: Marketers, LGBTQ+ & Where We Go From Here

In a world where travel is unpredictable, housing is uncertain, and consumers are pulling back, how do brands that serve high-consideration decisions earn trust and love? This panel features leaders from Vrbo, Southwest Airlines, and Realtor.com — three brands navigating economic volatility, shifting expectations, and technological change while staying emotionally resonant. We'll explore how tech platforms build human connection, why emotional loyalty matters more than ever, and how creative strategies can evolve to meet the moment.

TRUST, TECH & DISRUPTION: BRAND LOVE WHEN STAKES ARE HIGH


Kirill Sokolov

Filmmaker Kirill Sokolov is known for his unique vision with a mix of visceral horror and sharp humor.  His work includes 8 short films, 3 feature films, as well as numerous commercials and music videos. His first feature film made within the Hollywood Studio system is "They Will Kill You." "Why Don’t You Just Die" was his feature directorial debut.

"They Will Kill You" unleashes a blood-soaked, high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a young woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult's mysterious and twisted death-trap of a lair, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen, big screen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humor.

They Will Kill You

A high-octane horror-action-comedy in which a woman must survive the night at the Virgil, a demonic cult’s mysterious, twisted death-trap, before becoming their next offering in a uniquely brazen battle of epic kills and wickedly dark humor.

Cecilia levin

New Line Cinema, Nocturna, and Warner Bros. Pictures

Russell Ackerman
John Schoenfelder
Carl Hampe
Litvak and Sokolov

Andy Muschietti
Barbara Muschietti
Dan Kagan

Zazie Beetz, Myha'La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Patricia Arquette

Director of Photography: Isaac Bauman, Costume Designer: Neil McClean, Visual Effects Supervisor: Marc Smith, Music Supervisor: Andrea von Foerster, Casting Director: Richard Delia, Composer: Carlos Rafael Rivera