ATTN:'s Top 3 Takeaways from SXSW

After a well-deserved rest after SXSW, ATTN:'s Amber Kazalbash and Bothaina Saleh share their favorite experiences and insights from the conference and what was most meaningful to them as women in media.

As an Austin local, Amber is more than familiar with the SXSW rodeo, but something was different this year.? “As a woman in the industry, this year’s focus on intersectional talks and panels featuring women of diverse backgrounds and career journeys, inspired me to make more impactful work and show up as a more authentic marketer.”?

Aside from being personally inspired, Bothaina left SXSW feeling excited about the possibility of the heights she could help her clients take their brands. Her biggest takeaway? “There's something incredibly special about taking a step back from the day-to-day with clients and spending time together in such an innovative and creative environment. It helps in reaffirming our shared goals and inspires us to dream bigger together."

Here are Amber and Bothaina’s top three takeaways:?

1. Intrinsic Value Matters Most

One of Amber’s favorite sessions featured the inspiring Noor Naseer , VP of Media Innovations at Basis Technologies . “She described our jobs as marketers as more important than patrons of hype. She unpacked our importance in shedding light on true brand innovation, especially when “with hyped products, there’s always room for markups.” She posed that we need to share the mindset of investors, questioning the true intrinsic value that products play in moving culture forward today.”??

1. Health is Wealth, Especially for Women

This year, there was a lot of programming around health: physical, spiritual, and mental. Bothaina visited the Snap Inc. Sanctuary and got a B12 shot and tried ear seeding for the first time. “In speaking with others at the Sanctuary, we discussed the importance of prioritizing health, especially as women in the WFH era. Maintaining work-life balance is not only good for your own health, it’s good for the health of your work and professional trajectory.”

1. You Are Free to Play Within Your Purpose

Amber attended “Play As A Brand Strategy,” where leaders from Adobe , Lyft , 华特迪士尼公司 and Cogs & Marvel shared their wisdom on how play not only helps us learn, but helps us create connections between disparate ideas, communities, and worlds. “The insight that your purpose is your playground struck a chord with me knowing how challenging it is for brands (who often don’t root in purpose) to foster these connections with their audiences.”??

Thank you Amber and Bothaina for sharing your experiences and takeaways after representing ATTN: at #SWSW. We can’t wait to see how the broader team utilizes the insight they’ve brought back!