From Seth Rogen’s laugh to B2B trends: my SXSW 2025 highlights

May 30

Contributed by Lisa Larson-Kelley, Founder & CEO

Whew! SXSW 2025 was a whirlwind of inspiration, innovation, and so much walking (thank you, Lime scooters—you saved my soles). From immersive brand activations to thought-provoking sessions, it was a festival that sparked new ideas at every corner. I ran into a my fabulous friend @Daniel Raymont and crashed the screening of his short film, spotted a few celebs (yes, Seth Rogen's laugh is that iconic in person), got to hang out with my lovely team member @Rosa Ayyad, and soaked up all the creativity Austin had to offer. As a B2B marketer and agency owner, I left with my wheels turning—energized by what's possible and how we can show up in smarter, more human ways. Still recovering—in the best way possible. Here are some of my notes/highlights from this year's festival:

Weeks when decades happen -- Quantitative futurist Amy Webb's look at where tech + mankind are headed - and her discussion of FOMA - fear of missing anything (and yes, some people waited over 3 hours to make sure they didn't miss it!) If you don't want to take the time to watch the whole thing, here's a great recap of takeaways.
B2B Marketing is shifting -- B2B Marketers need to deprioritize social and look at alternative ways to connect with prospects - the B2B creator economy is building trust with new and legacy customers, and podcasting is hitting its stride.
Crafting a perfect pitch is hard -- In the Pitch Camp workshop with @Jennifer Kilian and @Nathan Weyer, I learned the importance of adapting to your prospect's style, making sure everyone who attends the meeting speaks (or stays home!), and the need to have a big bold POV on the prospect's challenge in order to make an impression. "Slide drivel gets you nowhere."

And I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with fellow business owners at @Inc Founders House and @Fast Company Grill -- reconnecting with familiar faces from previous events, and meeting new founders who are up to some amazing things! Both houses served as a much-needed 'home base' in the midst of the chaos; providing enlightening and inspiring sessions. (Hoping to join for a one-day reprise in Philly coming up next month!)