Featured Speakers

Featured Speakers are massively-creative innovators who leverage the SXSW platform to present mind-expanding ideas that are re-shaping today’s world and tomorrow’s universe.


Featured Session: Michael Pollan and Tim Ferris – SXSW 2019 – Photo by Katie Marriner

Featured Session: Michael Pollan and Tim Ferris – SXSW 2019 – Photo by Katie Marriner

About Featured Speakers

 

Spanning the many tracks and themes of the SXSW Conference, Featured Speakers offer attendees the knowledge, leadership and inspiration to shape their professional careers and personal lives in our ever-evolving path forward.

Hear talks from some of the biggest and brightest names of our time during Conference Featured Sessions. Alumni speakers include Elizabeth Banks, Mary J. Blige, Erin Lee Carr, James Cameron, Mark Cuban, Dominique Crenn, Ava DuVernay, Cynthia Erivo, Mick Fleetwood, Melinda Gates, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Bill Hader, Taraji P. Henson, Barry Jenkins, Matthew McConaughey, Mark Mothersbaugh, Desus Nice and the Kid Mero, Indra Nooyi, Amber Ruffin, The Russo Brothers, Baratunde Thurston, Werner Vogels, Chris Webber, and many more. Watch video highlights below.

Stay tuned for SXSW 2022 programming announcements throughout the season.

For more high-profile speakers at SXSW, browse the Keynotes page.

EXPLORE SXSW ONLINE 2021 FEATURED SPEAKERS

Watch Now

Franklin Leonard and Ava DuVernay at SXSW Online 2021

Disruption Through Diversity with Ava DuVernay

Mick Fleetwood on Going Viral

A Conversation with Taraji P. Henson

Ocean Storytelling with James Cameron

Carole King on Inclusive Leadership

Amy Webb

SXSW Online 2021

“Our goal is not predicting — it is preparing for what comes next.”

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Amy Webb - SXSW 2019 Featured Speaker - Photo by Mike Jordan

A$AP Rocky

SXSW 2019

“I wouldn’t step into anything just for the sake of conquering it. Most of the time it starts with a vision, and it’s all about execution for me.”

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A$AP Rocky – SXSW 2019 – Photo by Diego Donamaria

J.J. Abrams

SXSW 2016

“We want to see stories that are unique, that have points of view that might not be expected.”

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J.J. Abrams at SXSW 2016 – Photo by Judy Won

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

SXSW 2019

“I don’t think that our government is irredeemable. If I did, I wouldn’t have run for office.”

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - 2019 - Photo by Adam Kissick

Stacey Abrams

SXSW 2019

“We have to stop allowing identity to be weaponized against us.”

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Stacey Abrams - Photo by Danny Matson

Anthony Bourdain

SXSW 2016

“Making TV should be fun. It should be a creative expression…Everybody should be pushing it and having a good day at work.”

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Anthony Bourdain - Photo by David Tait

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