Yes, SXSW Interactive is seven months away, but August will always be…panel-picking time, so let’s get out the vote! This year Blue State Digital has proposed several ideas with some amazing partners. Please help pick a peck of panels and vote for your favorites, which will increase the likelihood that we’ll see you in Austin come March 2016. Voting ends September 4, so please share the love and spread the word. Thanks!

What Winning Looks Like

How many organizations that start with a huge, audacious goal get to declare victory and pack up? In 2015 Freedom to Marry was able to declare “mission accomplished” when SCOTUS ruled marriage equality of the law of the land. What can we learn from this decisive victory, and others in the making?

  • Michael Crawford, Director of Digital and Creative, Freedom to Marry
  • Joe Rospars, Founder/CEO, Blue State Digital
  • Juana Summers, Politics Editor, Mashable

SXSW - What Winning Looks Like

Digital Transformation—It’s About People not Tech

The toughest part about leading a digital transformation isn’t technology or data–it’s people. Hear from experts who are leading digital transformations as they share insights into how to become more nimble and responsive in a people-focused, data-driven, mobile-first world.

  • Chris Maddocks, Managing Director, Digital, UNICEF (USA)
  • Nate Nickerson, Vice President for Communications, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Diane Quigley, Web and Mobile Apps Director, World Wildlife Fund
  • Andrew Paryzer, Managing Director, Blue State Digital

SXSW - Digital Transformation

Victory by Design

Obama’s Hope poster and rising sun. Hillary’s arrow logo and pantsuit tee. And of course: “Jeb!”
Politics has always been a visual sport, and the digital age has forced campaigns to create an unprecedented amount of content in record speed. What can strategists and creatives learn from the process?

  • Josh Higgins, Creative Director, Facebook
  • Matt Ipcar, Executive Creative Director, Blue State Digital

SXSW - Victory by Design

Open Up: Social Media in Cautious Companies

Even cautious companies can no longer avoid social media. Learn how to manage the risks without losing your soul. We’ll discuss goal-setting, training, staffing, risk management and mitigation, changing the institutional culture, and recognizing and leveraging surprise marketing opportunities.

  • Rich Mintz, Executive Vice President, Blue State Digital

SXSW - Open Up