SXSW Sessions That Rock: March 20
The Forrest Four-Cast: January 6, 2020
For SXSW 2020, some of the most intriguing panels and presentations occur in the days that follow the event’s opening weekend. Today we examine 10 particularly compelling sessions that are currently scheduled for Friday, March 20.
A Better Futurism: Turning Fiction into Fact. Join two preeminent thinkers from Argodesign and Quartz in a lively, interactive discussion to hear their very different takes on how to talk about what tomorrow might look like. This session is part of the Fantastic Future track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 16–21.
AI & the Future of Free Will. This panel explores agency in a world powered by smart technology. It will discuss how algorithms nudge society’s behavior, the neuroscience behind our tech relationships, and free will in an age where tech giants understand us in the most intimate ways. This session is part of the Fantastic Future track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 16–21.
Artemis Generation: NASA’s Next Giant Leap. The Artemis Program is one of NASA’s most exciting new initiatives, sending the first woman and next man to walk on the surface of the Moon — and building a sustainable presence to prepare for missions to Mars and beyond. This session is part of the Space track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 18–20.
Blazing Trails: Marketing in the Cannabis Space: Experienced industry experts explain how to drive organic growth and move past the limiting restrictions of advertising platforms to best market your cannabis brands. This session is part of the Cannabusiness track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 18–21.
Can Regulation Boldly Go? Space Law X Star Trek: Does science fiction impact real world policy? Three experts in security, technology policy, and space law examine the Star Trek universe against America’s constantly shifting domestic space policies and existing international agreements. This session is part of the Space track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 18–20.
Cannabis in Canada: What We’ve Learned: At this panel, Leafly, Spiritleaf, Tilray, and 48North will illuminate the evolving cannabis landscape In Canada from the perspectives of technology, production, retail and public policy, and what other countries can learn from their experiences. This session is part of the Cannabusiness track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 18–21.
Emerging Trends in Design, Culture & Leadership. Join Stephen Gates (Head Design Evangelist at InVision) as he shares the biggest trends that will affect your work, products, culture, and leadership in the coming years. This session is part of the Design track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 16–20.
Old People are Cool, Design for Them Sucks: These days, good design has thankfully made its way into just about every category of products and services. The last hiding place for consistently terrible design might be the things made to serve the 55 million Americans over 65. Why is design for older people still so ugly, thoughtless, and bleak? This session is part of the Design track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 16–20.
Reimagining Artist Partnerships in the Digital Age. Rather than binding artists to archaic recording contacts, a new model is emerging where entertainment companies can invest in talent in a way that is mutually beneficial for all parties. Rosa Asciolla of Spotify and Sarah Stennett of First Access Entertainment explain this new model. This session is part of the Future of Music track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 16–21.
Sales and Marketing Alignment. Attendees of this Hubspot-led workshop will develop the processes and content strategy necessary to close leads into customers. Some of these processes include defining and segmenting leads, outlining the hand-off procedure, and creating a sustainable approach for long-term alignment. This session is part of the Professional Development track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 16–20.
Show Me the Money: Self-Release Music & Get Paid: Despite there being many more ways for artists to monetize their work, nearly three-quarters of independent artists earn less than $10,000 a year. Join Dani Deahl of the Verge and Diego Farias of Amuse to learn the best practices to build, grow your career and support yourself as a DIY artist. This session is part of the Creating and Monetizing Music track at SXSW 2020 which runs March 18–21.
Other standout sessions scheduled later in the week at SXSW 2020 are as follows:
Monday, March 16
Tuesday, March 17
Wednesday, March 18
Thursday, March 19
Saturday, March 21
Learn more about all the incredible panels and presentations on tap for March 2020 in Austin by browsing the SXSW online schedule. Attend these sessions, take advantage of all the incredible networking opportunities and make new connections at the SXSW Trade Show by purchasing a badge to the event.
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; posts also focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
