PRSA’s 2018 International Conference, taking place next month in Austin, TX is an event PR pros look forward to every year. We are excited about attending ourselves! Read below to learn about the all-star speaker line up and the top reasons to be excited about the conference:
It has an incredibly relevant theme
The conference’s theme, communications convergence, is especially appropriate this year as technology continues to advance. In the past decade alone, the PR industry has evolved extraordinarily, and we will continue to see changes as the industry transitions into a new era. In a PRSA survey, according to both in-house PR departments and agencies over 50% of people think there’s going to be considerable change in the business. Video marketing is a primary example: a whopping 85% of companies regard video as part of their marketing strategy. And between 2017 and 2018, the number of survey respondents that said they would invest in tech jumped from 8% to 23%. PRSA not only gathered this data but is going to use as the foundation for its conference.
The speakers
The speakers this year are hard to beat! Ranging from renowned marketing experts to best-selling authors, we know we’ll be front and center listening to every word:
Internationally Renowned Marketing Expert
Former Airbnb CMO Jonathan Mildenhall will kick off the conference on Oct. 7 as the first Keynote Speaker. A globally recognized thought leader in creative excellence and business strategy, his passion is connecting consumers with brands in a genuine way and promoting positive societal change.
Economic Analyst, Best-Selling Author
Economic analyst and best-selling author Robert B. Reich will also be speaking on Oct. 8. He currently serves as the Chancellors Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and Senior Fellow at Blum Center for Developing Economies. His most recent book, “The Common Good,” is a fundamental statement on the purpose of society which involves patriotism, truth and leadership.
Millennial Marketing Expert
The CEO and Chief Old Person of DoSomething.org, Aria Finger leads the largest tech company catering exclusively to young people and social change. She’s been an instrumental part of growing the organization from fewer than 100,000 members to over six million in 131 countries. She’ll be speaking on how she uses her cause-related marketing experience to spearhead partnerships with top brands.
Digital Marketing Pioneer
Consistently named one of the most influential marketers in social media, Ann Handley is a prominent influencer on LinkedIn and has more than 420K followers on Twitter. At the conference, she will be addressing why she describes herself as the “world’s first Chief Content Officer.” Handley was also named by IBM as one of the seven people shaping modern marketing and was cited in Forbes as a top thought leader.
You get to tailor your experience
At the conference, you have the opportunity to maximize your time by planning your professional development journey. The tracks include Marketing Communication, Leadership & Management, Big Data & Measurement, Reputation & Crisis Management, Tools & Techniques and Special Interests. By participating in these tracks, you’ll leave the conference with more knowledge about the PR world than ever!
We’re hosting the opening night!
Last but certainly not least, we’re thrilled to be hosting PRSA’s opening night reception: A Taste of Austin. We invite you to come to join us and experience everything that makes Austin so unique. Take in the sights, sounds and tastes of the city on Sunday, Oct. 7 from 9-7 p.m. to kick off PRSA’s conference of big ideas and bright futures in a genuinely Texan style.
Jolie Shapiro
Passionate about all things communications, Jolie found her dream job as a copywriter with Critical Mention, where she’s continuing her passion for writing and editing. With a background working for high-profile clients in the financial, hospitality and technology industries, she’s excited to bring her experience to Critical Mention. When she’s not writing you can find her at music festivals, hiking or snowboarding.
