Conference News: What I learned this week – February 1, 2019
Out for a Summer Drive: Its official, the final North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held in Detroit, has concluded. Last year NAIAS announced a transformational move for the show – starting in 2020 it will be held in the summer, beginning on June 8th. According to the event organizers, the re-imagined show will allow “participating brands to deliver dynamic exhibits and experiential opportunities outside of the show’s four walls for attending journalists, industry members and consumers and will provide new avenues to showcase the products and technologies on display.” The event still has plans to include The Gallery, an ultra-luxury automotive event, AutoMobili-D, an inside look at future mobility platforms, Press Preview, Industry Preview, Charity Preview and then concluding with a multi-day Public Show.
Plotting a Course to the US: Run successfully in Europe since 2016, Geo IoT World will launch an Americas edition in San Francisco next month. The first Geo IoT World US event will bring together “location, IoT and connected industries leaders with developers and start-ups to explore the latest Geo IoT use cases and business opportunities” from 26 – 28 March 2019. In addition to a two-day track on geo-aware IoT innovation in the Automotive/Smart Mobility areas, the programme will also focus on applications in key markets such as retail, industry, smart cities and more.
Speaking Opportunity: At the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) of Women In Computing Conference (2 – 4 October; Orlando), nearly 20,000 technologists at every career level meet to learn about emerging trends and to advance their professional lives. With meticulously planned topic tracks, top-of-their-game keynoters, and even impressive onsite childcare, this is not one to be missed. If you plan to submit a speaker, do yourself a favor and set aside at least a half hour just to review the topic track descriptions and abstract examples. As with that other well-known Orlando destination, you cannot spend too much time planning!
Lunchtime Learning: Unless you’ve made a name for yourself in entertainment, tech, or as an influential investor, tough luck getting an invitation to the exclusive Upfront Summit held each winter in LA. While you may not get the chance to rub elbows with the likes of Mark Cuban, Kerry Washington, and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, you can at least attend vicariously through these fireside chat and keynote videos. Issues like the future of work, cryptocurrencies, and empathetic leadership were just a few of the topics passionately addressed in 2018.
Coming Up Next Week: Coming up next week: The next generation of SaaS entrepreneurs learn from the veterans at SaaStr Annual Conference (5-7 February; San Jose). More than 12,000 execs, founders, and VCs gather to create a three-day community centered on mentorships, networking, and “BTDT” advice on scaling faster. At Digital Entertainment World (DEW), the “power of creativity and influence” takes center stage when creators, brands, and platforms meet on 4 February. DEW will be held in Marina del Ray. “Design in the Wild” is the theme next week when interaction design practitioners from around the world gather at Interaction 19 in Seattle (3-8 February). When Amazon, HBO, Google, and Microsoft headline the event partners, you know the heavy hitters will be there. And last but not least, the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Annual Convention gets underway 4 February in San Antonio, showcasing recent trends and solutions in ed tech.