CONFERENCE RECAPS

Each year #AWNewYork has a ton of tracks. And multiple sessions per track - times 5 days. Plus award shows and networking. If you’re worried it’ll be too overwhelming, this post might help. In it I’ll share some tips on how to get there, how to choose what to see and do, and how to make the most of the experience. Take the train Advertising Week often coincides with some UN summit or other. Which means a cab or car sharing service is NOT the way to go. Act like a real New Yorker and jump on the subway – or risk getting stuck in epic traffic.   Wear comfy shoes & layers There’s no way around it – you’ll have to walk all over hell’s half acre. And stand in lines. So put on your cutest kicks. And don’t forget to bring a sweater or scarf for when they crank up the A/C.                 Charge up Prepare yourself to be overstimulated because brilliance will be coming at you from all sides. You need to be fuele...

1. “BRANDS SHOULD REFLECT WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE IN…”  Dena Wimette, Sr. Global Innovation & Communications Manager at Ben & Jerry’s, started with this in her response to the question “How do you guys do such a good job addressing social issues?” In today’s social landscape, the age of CSR (corporate social responsibility) for the sake of getting a pat on the back is dead. According to former Obama campaign strategist Carri Twigg, “Corporate social responsibility was the thing 10 years ago, then it became sustainability strategy. The new business model of the future will be corporate social opportunity.” 2. WHAT WILL THIS NEW BUSINESS MODEL LOOK LIKE?!  Authenticity is KING! Doing work for social good starts by being good, like actually good. Companies with a solid foundation of core values naturally align with social issues that fit their brand. From an operational approach, Ben & Jerry’s incentivizes community outreach, encouraging employees to volunteer tog...

An immersive technology festival has something to teach you about the human condition. As I arrived at Snug Harbor on Staten Island for the Future of Storytelling festival (FoST), I was met with collegiate style banners in medieval typeface on a columned music hall. Not exactly communicating “tech conference” right off the bat amirite? But what the landscape lacked in ambience, it more than made up for in engaging content. Throughout the day I played games, watched 360 documentaries , explored virtual art pieces, listened to panels of experts discuss the present and future of experiential and digital media, heard my fair share of “it was working just a minute ago” , and even let my emotions guide me through a simulated riot. But the breadth of content I experienced shared one unifying theme: Empathy. Not just its existence within the industry, but its importance in meaningful communication. Only through listening and understanding the experiences of others can we...

On September 28th, 2017, The New School’s Tishman Auditorium hosted the seventh edition of NYC Media Lab Annual Summit . The event celebrated a year of experimentation and innovation in technology, as the result of the tireless work conducted by New-York-based college students came to life on the stage. Along the presentations, a number of noticeable guests from several industries exchanged opinions on technology and how this intertwines with the development of human society as a whole.   Software engineer veteran Ellen Ullman , who presented her book “Life in Code: A Personal History of Technology,” pointed out how social media have fulfilled the human desire to create a “museum of me,” in which we constantly celebrate ourselves by sharing an ideal version of us. Being outside the social media system would force people to reflect on their real nature, and trigger a feeling of loneliness. Radio host Manoush Zomorodi , who shared the segment with Ullman, argued that lone...