Every year, the Case Foundation and our partners love to share some of our exciting work and ideas that we find compelling from the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive stage. This past March, we celebrated the Case Foundation’s 20th anniversary at SXSW by hosting the #GetInTheArena lounge and presenting on four panels. We got to talk about Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Impact Investing, millennial engagement, social good and the important role citizens play in science in the 21st century. We worked with incredible speakers and learned invaluable lessons on innovation across movements.
This year, we submitted 14 panel ideas for the SXSW PanelPicker that discuss topics like diversity in entrepreneurship, women in Impact Investing, millennial engagement, open source technology, business journalism, user generated content, digital analytics and more.
We need your help getting them to SXSW 2018. Below you’ll find out about each panel and how you can vote for them. In addition to casting your vote, you can help these important topics be part of the discussion at SXSW by spreading the word with the social messages below and encouraging your friends and networks to vote as well.
See our panels below and be sure to vote before SXSW PanelPicker voting ends on August 25th!
Under Her Eye: Women Are Our Future
Women—nearly 4 billion strong—are our business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, global leaders, journalists, scientists, philanthropists and CEOs making their mark on the world today. Women multiply the impact of an investment made in them by building businesses that outperform, creating better lives for their family and cultivating strong communities. Explore why women are vital to long-term business and community success and meet dynamic female leaders championing other women.
Speakers
- Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President of Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- Jennifer Stybel, Executive Director, Rent the Runway Foundation
- Cindy Whitehead, Founder & CEO, The Pink Ceiling
- Stephanie Lampkin, Founder & CEO, Blendoor
Tweet this: Why are women vital to long-term business success? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s #SXSW2018 panel to find out: https://bit.ly/2wqwcSP
Gen Unaware: Can Millennials Invest for Impact?
The next generation of investors are bringing increased attention to the world of sustainable and impactful investing. As more investors and consumers put real focus on how companies stack up on environmental, social and governance criteria, these factors influence markets, and by extension, business. Learn new strategies that can turn you into an impact investor today.
Speakers
- Rehana Nathoo, Vice President, Case Foundation
- Jennifer Pryce, President and CEO, Calvert Social Investment Foundation
- Dave Fanger, Founder and CEO, Swell Investing
- Megan Hryndza, Founder & CEO, Mighty Deposits
Tweet this: Interested in learning about how Millennials can invest for impact? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel from @CaseFoundation https://bit.ly/2vGwBlQ
Building a More Inclusive Startup Culture
Leading women in tech continue to speak out about injustices in working with tech executives and investors, but gender and racial imbalances remain. Meanwhile, Paris, London and other European cities are pouring money into innovative startups. This panel will explore how government, big tech and investors can help build a more inclusive and innovative startup ecosystem. The panelists will also discuss getting past the unconscious biases of VCs that tend to invest in founders who resemble them.
Speakers
- Kenya Wiley, Founder and CEO, Fashion Innovation Alliance
- Janett Martinez, CEO, LOOMIA
- Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- Erik Moe, Artist and Writer, Erik Moe Creative
Tweet this: I’m hoping to discuss how to increase diversity in the startup world at #SXSW2018. Vote for my panel here: https://bit.ly/2vj28Zb
Get in the Arena: Fearless Changemakers Tell All
Meet the leaders, activists and social entrepreneurs who drive and inspire us to change the world. From igniting civic engagement, to creating sustainable oceans, and leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs of color, these social impact champions are catalyzing efforts to create transformative change. Join the Case Foundation as they explore the breakthrough organizations and individuals who are taking bold risks, and failing forward in order to produce exponential social returns.
Speakers
- Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President of Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- Derrick Feldman, President, Achieve
- Daniela Fernandez, Founder & CEO, Sustainable Oceans Alliance
- Adam Foss, Fmr. Assistant District Attorney, Prosecutor Impact
Tweet this: Want to know how social impact champions are living our #BeFearless principles? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel https://bit.ly/2vdyJkG
The Overlooked Future of Entrepreneurship: Latinx
The Latinx community accounts for more than half of the population growth in the US, but Latinx entrepreneurs represent less than two percent of venture-backed companies. Hear from Latinx entrepreneurs and the investors who back them to understand who they are, what they’re building and why investors should be paying attention to this important group of entrepreneurs.
Speakers
- Sarah Koch, VP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- Dyan Gibbens, President, Trumbull Unmanned
- Kristen Sonday, Co-Founder, Paladin
- Carolina Huaranca, Principal, Kapor Capital
Tweet this: Want to hear about the future of Latinx entrepreneurship at #SXSW2018? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s panel here: https://bit.ly/2vfMtJV
Creating a Movement through User Generated Content
User Generated Content (UGC) has quickly become a valuable form of marketing, and today’s rich analytics environment means we have more information than ever about how people are reacting to brands and using different platforms. But creating a campaign that leverages UGC across multiple channels—playing to each of their strengths—remains a challenge for many marketers. Join Nat Geo, ONE Campaign, NBCU and the Case Foundation to see how they are creating cross-platform campaigns centered on UGC.
Speakers
- Jessica Zetzman, Director of Digital Communications and Marketing, Case Foundation
- Monique Carswell, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Comcast NBCUniversal
- Kate Coughlin, Director, Audience Development , National Geographic Partners
- Meagan Bond, Creative Director, ONE Campaign
Tweet this: Want to learn how to create a movement w/ user generated content @ #SXSW2018? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s panel here https://bit.ly/2vdxO3t
Women and Wealth: The Drivers of Impact Investing
With news of the $41 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer, there’s a real opportunity to change the face of social impact. Wealthy women are taking over familial decision making, armed with a view of the world that blends profit and purpose. Young millennial women are also making waves to disrupt traditional structures and try their own hand at changing the world. This panel will examine the role women will play to truly tip the Impact Investing movement.
Speakers
- Rehana Nathoo, Vice President , Case Foundation
- Jackie VanderBrug, Managing Director, U.S. Trust
- Kesha Cash, General Partner, Impact America Fund
- Anna Marie Wascher, Founder, Flat World Partners
Tweet this: How are women driving Impact Investing? Help @CaseFoundation discuss at #SXSW2018 by voting for this panel on #ImpInv https://bit.ly/2wnK002
No Margin, No Mission: Building Social Enterprises
Social enterprise is not always not-for-profit and having a great idea is not enough to create a sustainable impact venture. Generating revenue via sales or fundraising is critical to the sustainability of social enterprises. Learn from experts on how to weave mission throughout the fabric of impact ventures, while transforming idea into viable businesses. Join Halcyon for this session to see how we do it!
Speakers
- Sheila Herrling, Senior Vice President for Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- William Eggers, Executive Director, Center for Government Insights, Deloitte
- Melissa Bradley, Professor, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
- Ryan Ross, Program Director, Halcyon Incubator, Halcyon
Tweet this: Want to know how a for-profit startup can be a high-impact social enterprise? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel: https://bit.ly/2vgqfZV
Build It & They’ll Come! Data Viz for the Dataless
Data visualizations are a great way to communicate a complex subject or issue, but how can you leverage this powerful storytelling tool with imperfect data? By being fearless! Using the Case Foundation’s Impact Investing Network Map as a case study, we’ll dig in with data science & impact investing experts to discuss leveraging available resources & creative problem solving to build a useful data visualization platform, while creating conditions and infrastructure to meet your eventual objective
Speakers
- Sheila Herrling, SVP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- Cathy Clark, Director, CASE i3 Initiative on Impact Investing, CASE at Duke University, Fuqua School of Business
- Rayid Ghani, Director, Center for Data Science and Public Policy, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago
Tweet this: How does the Network Map leverage data visualization with imperfect data? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel to find out: https://bit.ly/2fqyAoy
The $1 Million Club
Fewer than twenty African American woman have raised more than a million dollars in venture capital. What’s going on here? Meet some of those women and the investors who back them. Learn why they are building the next breakthrough businesses that will change America.
Speakers
- Sarah Koch, VP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
- Kathryn Finney, Founder/CEO, digitalundivided
- Cheryl Contee, Co-Founder, Fission Strategy and Attentive.ly
- Kellee James, Founder, Mercaris
Tweet this: <20 African American women have raised over $1M in VC. Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel that will discuss the issue https://bit.ly/2ujOo2I
Improving Digital Communications Through Analytics
In the fast moving world of digital communications, it can be hard to find the time to step back and evaluate what is working, what is not, and where there is room to innovate—but doing so has never been more critical. In this hands on workshop, take some time to learn how to build an internal Analytics, SEO and KPI’s (ASK) team, set up regular, smart digital experiments and report them out to senior staff in a way that is relevant, interesting and actionable.
Speakers
- Jessica Zetzman, Director of Digital Communications and Marketing, Case Foundation
- John Jones, VP of Interactive Strategies, Case Foundation
Tweet this: Want to learn how to step up your digital comms & analytics game @ #SXSW2018? Vote for this panel from @CaseFoundation https://bit.ly/2vd8muR
Next Frontier in Philanthropy: Open Source
As technology continues to be a pivotal element of social-change oriented activities, it is imperative that these efforts have access and tools to use open source software. Leaders from both the nonprofit and technology sectors explain why recognizing open source contributions made by individuals and organizations as a new form of philanthropy is crucial to the future of both sectors. This includes well-established projects but it also increasingly includes purpose-built technologies.
Speakers
- John Jones, Vice President of Interactive Strategies, Case Foundation
- Dave Hollander, Data Scientist, Foundation Center
- Andrew Means, Co-founder, The Impact Lab
- Daniel Doubrovkine, CTO, Artsy
Tweet this: #OpenSource is the next trend in philanthropy. Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel that will discuss how the 2 come together https://bit.ly/2uAeKJ5
Millennial Activism in the Trump Presidency
On Saturday, Jan 21, 2017 we witnessed a massive shift in social issue engagement. Millennials took to the streets with an energy, never before seen for this generation. Petitions began to drive online voice to real-life action, showing Millennials what issues affect them, how to contact reps and where to meet for protests. But what does all of this energy add up to? What do Millennials really care about and what action are they taking? Join a discussion on the research tackling these questions.
Speakers
- Sean Tennerson, Program Officer, Case Foundation
- Derrick Feldmann, President, Achieve Agency
- Clare Kenny, Campaigns Manager, GLAAD
- Abdi Soltani, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union or Northern California
Tweet this: How did the 2016 election affect Millennial activism? Vote for this #SXSW2018 panel that will look at the research https://bit.ly/2hDq0Dr
Covering America: Journalists Challenging the Business
Journalists are conquering stereotypes and busting myths everyday through their digital, online and print platforms. Meanwhile, newsrooms are taking increased steps to cover diverse audiences and the changing demographics of business in America. The Case Foundation leads the conversation on how news agencies are sharing stories that shatter the status quo. Seasoned journalists share how they are covering communities of color, inclusive networks and entrepreneurs who are the new faces of business.
Speakers
- Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, Case Foundation
- Esha Chhabra, Freelance Journalist
- Shadi Rahimi, Senior Producer, AJ+
- Megan Rose Dickey , Reporter, Tech Crunch
Tweet this: How are journalists’ stories changing entrepreneurship? Vote for @CaseFoundation’s #SXSW2018 panel to find out: https://bit.ly/2vLy23m