Social Media Week has turned into a huge conference featuring talks from many of New York Tech's best and brightest. With the event set to kick off next week, we thought we’d dig through the more than 90 events and pull out the very best of the best. This is by no means a definitive list (you can find that here), but rather a curated list of the ones you cannot miss.
Tuesday, February 23rd at 12:30 p.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage, 242 W 41st Street
Snapchat is the biggest thing that marketers over the age of 23 don’t understand. This event will let you meet the marketers that are already successfully leveraging the platform. No matter what you think about the platform, you have to admit that you’re a little curious what all the fuss is about.
Tuesday, February 23rd at 4:30 p.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage, 242 W 41st Street
The Economist is going to be leading a panel of media and legal experts about the role of data, trust and transparency in marketing. The discussion will be moderated by Mina Seetharaman, the Economist’s Global Director of Content Strategy. Panelists will include bigwigs from Edelman, Xerox, The Huffington Post and Goldman Sachs.
Leveraging Creativity, Technology, and Culture: Reality Through VR-Tinted Goggles
Wednesday, February 24th at 9:30 a.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage, 242 W 41st Street
The age of virtual reality is just about here. Companies like Google, General Electric and The New York Times are using VR technology to change the way stories are told and the way consumers experience these brands. This panel discussion will be led by Meredith Kopit Levien, CRO at the New York Times. The panel will include Jake Silverstein, the editor of the New York Times Magazine; Katrina Craigwell, Director of Global Content and Programming at GE; and Aaron Luber, Google VR/Cardboard Partnerships.
Building A Great Social Presence The Resourceful Way
Wednesday, February 24th at 11 a.m.
SVA Theater (EDU Stage), 333 W 23rd Street
If anyone knows social media, it’s the people at BuzzFeed. This event will be an interactive presentation by BuzzFeed’s social media experts Rachel Christensen and Summer Anne Burton. They’ll be talking about the unconventional steps that BuzzFeed took to build one of the world’s largest social followings. Yes, there will be a quiz.
The Power of Storytelling In A Fragmented Media Environment
Thursday, February 25th at 9:30 a.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage, 242 W 41st Street
National Geographic, a 128 years old publication, is a pioneer in the way publications use modern media. Claudia Malley, National Geographic’s Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, will be sharing how the company navigated to the forefront of a fragmented media environment.
2016 Election Throwdown: Campaigns Vs. Reporters Vs. Everyone Else
Thursday, February 25th at 11:30 a.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage, 242 W 41st Street
It doesn’t get more timely than this. With the election cycle in full swing, this panel will discuss how the relationship between campaigns, social media and the public is changing — again. The panel will include Joe Rospars, who was the chief digital strategist for Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns; Emily Bazelon, a Staff Writer for The New York Times Magazine; and Garance Franke-Ruta, the Washington Editor for Yahoo News.
GIFs As Branded Language: The Future of Advertising
Friday, February 26th at 10:30 a.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage, 242 W 41st Street
Giphy has turned a search engine for GIFs into a company valued at $300 million. If the GIF is going to be the new soundbite, it only makes sense to learn something about the medium. Adam Leibsohn, Giphy’s Chief Operating Officer and Toby Daniels, the founder and Executive Director of Social Media Week are going to get into the details of how GIFs have become a part of modern speech and storytelling.
The Millennial Guide To Being A Boss - Lessons From Forbes 30 Under 30 Members
Friday, February 26th at 11:30 a.m.
TimesCenter FWD Stage,424 W 41st Street
A whole new generation is preparing to become the boss, and chances are, they’re not all that prepared. This panel will discuss leadership lessons from millennials who are leaders in top companies and startups. The panel will be moderated by Mike Monroe, the Vice President of Marketing at Forbes Media, and include Forbes 30 Under 30 list makers like Josh Bruno, Cofounder and CEO of Hometeam; Neil Parikh, Cofounder and COO of Casper.
Have a tip? Let us know or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
