Conference News: NRF Goes for Two; World Web Forum Sold; Speak at RSAC
NRF Two-fer: The National Retail Federation will go for two in 2021! They will host a virtual event on 12-14, 19 and 21-22 January as well as an in-person event from 6-8 June 2021 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. The virtual event will feature “robust content combined with a digital expo” and the New York gathering will “convene industry leaders to exchange visionary ideas, build partnerships and experience the newest technology.” Learn more about the topics that will be on the agenda here.
The Mountains are Calling: The Worldwebforum is known for bringing an impressive list of tech and business leaders to Zurich each January. Although the 2021 event won’t happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the “pilgrimage to the mountains” will continue, under new ownership, in 2022. That is because Worldwebforum founder Fabian Hediger has sold his company to software group Appfire. He will continue to manage the company and conference but with the resources to make it better than ever. According to the press release, the Worldwebforum community now reaches across the globe, “with deep executive networks within Silicon Valley, the European tech ecosystem, and a growing representation of emerging leaders from India and South East Asia.”
Speaking opportunity: RSA Conference 2021 (17 – 20 May) has opened its call for speakers form with a deadline of 18 September. As we wrote in an earlier newsletter, this will be a hybrid event, featuring an in-person experience in San Francisco as well as an immersive virtual experience online. If you have a cybersecurity topic idea that falls within one of the conference tracks, submit via the appropriate form before the deadline. Remember to follow the guidelines and tips for submission that the conference offers!
Lunchtime Learning: The Variety Streaming Room is a digital repository for previous conversations that “span private screenings of upcoming projects in film and TV, exclusive Q&As with creators and talent and relevant B2B discussions with industry thought leaders.” When they said industry thought leaders, they aren’t kidding: Past Variety speakers include the likes of Insecure EP/producer/creator/writer/star Issa Rae, the creators & stars of The Crown, and the venerable Jeff Goldblum.
Coming Up Next Week: Brandweek Summit offers a fully reimagined virtual experience 14-17 September, its speaker lineup a mix of senior marketing execs across consumer and B2B brands. At the online TechCrunch Disrupt SF (14-18 September), attendees will learn about two major areas of focus: the founders and investors shaping the future of disruptive technology and the ideas and startup experts providing insights to entrepreneurs. Internet of Things (IoT) Innovation North America gets underway on the web 16 September and is designed for CTOs, engineers, operations managers, and other technical professionals looking to harness IoT and related technologies for their organizations. IoT NA provides a mix of content and 1-1 networking opportunities. And at the World Knowledge Forum (WKF), delegates will either participate online or onsite in Seoul, with heavy hitter speakers (like UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Founder of Alibaba Group Jack Ma, to name just two) slated to present.