Throngs of people are descending upon Austin, Texas to attend South by Southwest (SXSW Interactive and SXSW Film start today). What started more than 20 years ago as a small indie festival and conference has expanded into a ten-day extravaganza featuring some of the brightest minds in emerging technology, music, and film.
Among those taking the stage will be four presenters from LS&Co. — they’ll share their perspectives on a range of topics including sustainable design, retail technology and social change. Stop by their presentations if you’re in town. Or, for live event updates, follow us on Twitter @LeviStraussCo for live event updates.
→ Designing for Tomorrow: Changing the Design Landscape for Social and Environmental Good
Tuesday, March 17 | 2:00PM – 2:45PM
California saw a record-breaking drought in 2014, but the headlines were more far reaching than the state of California alone. Water scarcity is a critical global issue today and for years to come. It’s not an insolvable crisis, and today’s companies can play a major role in turning the crisis around. Join Levi Strauss & Co.’s VP of Global Product Innovation, Paul Dillinger, as this session explores how the original jeans creator uses constraints to achieve sustainable and scalable innovations to improve their iconic products. The conversation will also explore the human side of sustainability by looking at social innovations in how Levi’s® jeans are made around the world.
Hashtag: #SXgood
Learn more: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_OE03902
→ Retail Tech: What Does the Future Have In-Store?
Monday, March 16 | 9:30AM – 10:30AM
Customer expectation is rapidly accelerating. It outpaces the ability of retailers to keep up. And mobile? Uhh, not only did iOS8 redefine what “mobile” even means (btw your phone isn’t mobile… you are. It’s just in your pocket), BUT almost every retailer and their mother has started producing wearable tech. What does this mean? Well, stores are no longer the end-all-be-all. Their value is their influence on the path to purchase. Stores, my friends, are a touch point. A channel. And they’re changing so rapidly that the boundaries of stores, delivery, and even “associates” are changing by the day. So we’ll get into it. How to gather the same data in store as online. How to gather new data (e.g it’s possible to measure your heart rate with infrared from 30’ away), and how to intelligently cut through the noise of all the emerging tech in the retail space so you hear about what’s worked, what’s failed, and leave with a framework for how to assess your retail strategy moving forward.
Hashtag: #SXstyle
Marc Rosen, EVP & President of Global ecommerce at LS&Co. will join panelists from Target, Rebecca Minkoff, and eBay.
Learn more: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_IAP35138
→ Be Fearless Breakout Session Hosted by the Case Foundation
Tuesday, March 17 | 11:30AM – 12:30 PM
Does your organization make big bets that can change the world? All too often those of us in the social sector are confronted with chronic challenges that require BIG solutions. However, those big solutions require taking risks, being bold and failing forward… Being fearless. That all sounds great, but we know the reality is… it’s hard to Be Fearless.
To help you on your organization’s Be Fearless journey, the Case Foundation is hosting a working group for practitioners from foundations and nonprofits to explore how you and your organization can integrate strategies and tactics to create greater impact and more meaningful social change.
Daniel Lee and Jason McBriarty of the Levi Strauss Foundation will join Sarah Koch of The Case Foundation and Tom Nelson of Share Our Strength.
Hashtag: #SXgood
Learn more: http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_OE03720
Feature image credit: Chris Piascik via FlickrCC
