I knew South-by-Southwest (SXSW) was going to be different. The schedule revealed the normal offerings you’d expect: keynotes by such people as the humanitarian chef Jose Andres, Ryan Gellert of Patagonia, and the actor Tilda Swinton, panel discussions about technology and filmmaking, and networking happy hours sponsored by companies such as Edelman, Vimeo, and L’oreal (among hundreds of others). But a deeper exploration revealed that this is not your standard conference. Signs on the convention center floor heralded panel discussions on “tracks” such as Workplace Revolution, Psychedelics, Energy, and the Media Industry. There were fascinating talks on topics ranging from corporate diversity and culture (at the German House) to virtual production on LED-wall sound stages (at the Australia House.)

At the Creative Industries Expo on the main convention center floor, a twenty-five foot holographic dancer lorded over us all, standing next to a booth touting a development service for screenwriters, which was next to a booth designed to showcase new technologies and recruit for the CIA.

A five-minute walk from the Expo led you to a huge 3D Dorito which infused your nostrils with Cool Ranch (really), and another ten-minute walk from that led to a warehouse with a full-on immersive experience based on Showtime’s hit show Yellowjackets, complete with hors d’oeuvres that were definitely not made from people.

The Convergence of Tech with All Things Creative

Officially, South-by (as the cool kids call it) is a festival that celebrates the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture – and I can tell you firsthand that it delivers on that celebration. I’ve been to film festivals and film markets and business events and trade shows and tech conferences, but I’ve never experienced all of them in one city with one pass within 5 days.

It was, quite literally, overwhelming. Seeing and hearing and experiencing everything proved to be an impossible task, and my only suggestion for next year is that they incorporate a cloning booth so one can attend everything simultaneously. (Although I hear that might be on the slate…)

What I was able to see, however, was informative and inspiring. The Expo, especially, proved to be much more engaging than a standard industry floor, due to the sheer breadth of products and services and technologies on display from every industry. The panels were – as you would expect from presenters of this level – well worth the time.

This is how we roll

One panel in particular sticks out, because I actually ended up being one of the camera operators at the last minute. This panel was being presented by a potential client with whom I was chatting, and – after describing our services – they mentioned that one of their camera operators had backed out at the last minute for a panel that day, so they could have used us. Given that I have spent years working for TeamPeople as a camera operator filming panels and conferences, I volunteered to fill in and run his 2^nd camera (at no charge…) – and their relief was palpable. They were also pleasantly surprised to see that even the people we have on the ground at a festival and conference are able to operate cameras on a moment’s notice…which is just how we roll over here.

It All Comes Down to Storytelling

I found myself engaged in some fascinating conversations – about technology, media, finance, or just life in general – with some of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I met brilliant filmmakers, ingenious designers, savvy financiers, and entrepreneurs who are re-inventing drone taxis or redefining the travel industry or creating new products for immersive virtual meetings.

One of those entrepreneurs with a fascinating story is Alexandra Schrecengost, friend of TeamPeople and Founder and CEO of Culture With Us , a relatively young company which offers virtual and hybrid team experiences for business. Alex was named as a 40 under 40 Tastemaker by Wine Spectator in 2021, and she was invited to be a private mentor for people who were interested in learning more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as it applies to Entrepreneurship. As a diverse business owner and accomplished entrepreneur, there are few people more suitable to mentor on that topic. The opportunity to meet with people like Alex was yet another interesting offer from the festival, and also stands as a testament to the wonderful diversity on hand at SXSW.

Given TeamPeople’s focus as a service for companies needing creative roles and production, it was interesting to be exposed to so many other types of companies and ventures, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by just how much there is to celebrate in the convergence of all of these industries. By the end of my time at SXSW, I came to understand why this is the case, and why SXSW works:

It’s because – at the end of the day – the entire conference is about storytelling. Everyone in attendance has a story to tell, whether it’s about a new trend or a revolutionary product or (in the case of filmmakers) a literal story. A festival like this just drives home the point that the singular thing that makes us human is our need to tell and hear these stories. I was thrilled to be at an event that celebrates this in such a fun and delightful way, and I got the sense that many of my fellow storytellers and story-lovers shared that same sense of joy.

A Celebration of Humanity

I also found myself incredibly grateful to be part of an industry, and a company in TeamPeople, whose purpose is to celebrate this part of our humanity. It’s easy to fall into cynicism, and to only see the business and capital and competition at a festival like this, but a bit of digging and some late-night conversations will reveal a diverse, thoughtful community of people who all just want to tell and share each other’s stories.

It was enlightening, empowering, and fun, and I’m very much looking forward to returning next year.

Are you looking to share your story? Whether you are sharing entertainment, news, documentaries, educational or corporate video content, we know the people and the processes to get the job done right. We have talented teams deeply ingrained in the storytelling community who can help convey your message, and rosters of production vendors to bring your story to life. Contact us – we’d love to hear about your story!

To view our Partner blog, click here

Gaming is a booming, $149 billion global industry that’s grown rapidly since the onset of COVID-19. According to an article in the WSJ , some reasons include, “bringing back lapsed players, attracting newcomers and driving already heavy gamers to play more often.” Because of this rapid growth, gaming’s spend is projected to exceed 1.59 billion in 2020 – a 9.3% increase from the year before! As the world turns toward gaming as a means of entertainment and socialization, it’s no surprise that skilled talent in the industry is in high demand.

With the increased need for top-notch talent, we looked for ways to benefit the gaming industry and aspiring job-seekers. This year, TeamPeople partnered with the International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA-F) to diversify, support, and grow the gaming workforce. 

One Common Goal

As the gaming industry grows and evolves, organizations across the globe are taking matters into their own hands to foster change. The IGDA-F is a US-based public charity organization whose mission is to diversify and promote inclusion in the game development community. They believe that diversity of all kinds will lead to better and more successful products and companies, as well as happier and more successful game developers. Their annual programs support developers from around the world and reflect a broad international focus.

In response to COVID-19, the IGDA-F switched their annual, in-person GDC Scholarship programming to a virtual 2020 Grantee Online Program. Since May, we’ve been sponsoring the program alongside some of the world’s largest gaming brands, such as Xbox, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Iron Galaxy Studios, Zynga, and Audiokinetic. Our common goal is to provide people across backgrounds with the resources needed to position themselves within the industry and, ultimately, land video game-related jobs.

Building A Skilled & Diverse Gaming Workforce

It’s no secret that improvements surrounding diversity and inclusion are long overdue within media and entertainment. As it turns out, hiring a diverse team can benefit both companies and talent alike. For companies, hiring a  diverse group of employees can increase retention, boost productivity, and create an environment of mutual respect. For employees, diversity can increase workplace satisfaction, economic empowerment, and opportunity. Despite these benefits, 28% of developers say that studios don’t invest anything in staff inclusion and diversity issues. That’s why we stand with the IGDA-F in recognizing that it’s time for change and action.

One of the best ways to support this change is to provide underrepresented communities with the resources and skills needed to land gaming-related jobs. The IGDA-F’s 2020 Grantee Online Program helps individuals from around the world build gaming skills and learn from industry veterans/mentors. Since our mission at TeamPeople is to help talent pursue their passions and do what they love, we saw the IGDA-F’s program as the perfect opportunity to instate ourselves as a resource to the grantees.

As sponsors, we provide a support structure for diverse, early to mid-career game developers once they choose from three tailored skill trees: Leadership Skill Tree, Video Game Skill Tree, and Entrepreneurship Skill Tree. From there, we help them navigate in-person and virtual networking, the job search, interviewing, career development opportunities, and much more. Despite the nuances of each grantee’s background, areas for improvement, and the skill tree they pursue, these individuals are the next generation of gaming industry leaders. We’re thrilled to be a part of their career progression and see how they make a difference in the industry throughout their careers!

Creative Pursuits Podcast Meets Gaming

The ball doesn’t stop rolling with the 2020 Grantee Online Program. TeamPeople is also a sponsor of Creative Pursuits , the podcast that explores the intersection of art, communications, and technology. In August, the podcast set out to discuss gaming in a two-part series that we’re excited for the world to hear.

In the first episode titled Level Up: Diversity And Equity With Gaming Advocate Nika Nour , host Alex Crow interviews Executive Director of the IGDA-F, Nika Nour (@Nika ). She’s a diversity leader within the video game industry and oversees the IGDA-F’s 2020 Grantee Online Program. Nika’s mission is to advance inclusion efforts and open doors for minorities aspiring to get their foot in the gaming workforce. Throughout the episode, Nika shares her most profound experiences and insights as a female gamer and diversity advocate. She also discusses what it was like navigating grade school bullying as a young female gamer in the 90s, the 2008 economy, Capitol Hill, Gamergate , #MeToo, and recent reckonings with racism and sexism in the video game industry.

Listen in on the first episode of the two-part series featuring Nika Nour below, and stay tuned for part two of the series! For more insights and inspiring stories, be sure to follow Creative Pursuits on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram .

Raising the Bar in Gaming

Nika’s story and the IGDA-F’s mission inspires us to continue raising the bar for diversity within the gaming workforce. Through programs like the 2020 Grantee Online Program and platforms such as Creative Pursuits, we can promote the next generation of aspiring game developers and amplify leaders like Nika.

Ready to develop your diverse and inclusive team of game developers and industry experts?  Let’s raise the bar together! TeamPeople is working at the intersection of creative and digital to be your strategic partner. We’ll work with you to design a solution that best fits your team and operation. We hire talent across backgrounds to provide our clients with fresh talent and unique perspectives. Check out our gaming capabilities and strike up the conversation .

To view our Partner blog, click here

In early 2020, TeamPeople joined forces with the International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDA-F) . Together, we set out to diversify the gaming workforce and provide individuals across backgrounds with the tools and resources needed to better position themselves within the gaming industry and, ultimately, land video game-related jobs! 

The IGDA Foundation’s 2020 Grantee Online Program

In response to COVID-19, the IGDA-F switched their annual, in-person GDC Scholarship programming to a virtual 2020 Grantee Online Program. Since May, we’ve been sponsoring the program  alongside some of the largest gaming brands in the world, such as Xbox, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Iron Galaxy Studios, Zynga, and Audiokinetic!

Building A Skilled & Diverse Gaming Workforce

The 2020 Grantee Online Program  provides individuals from underrepresented communities around the world with opportunities to build gaming skills and learn from industry veterans/mentors who can steer them towards career success. Since our mission at TeamPeople is to help talent pursue their passions and do what they love, we saw the IGDA-F’s program as the perfect opportunity to instate ourselves as a resource to the grantees.

As sponsors, our responsibility is to provide a support structure for diverse, early to mid-career game developers navigating in-person and virtual networking, the job search, interviewing, and career development opportunities. Grantees represent a wide span of countries, including Africa, Australia, Canada, Chile, Eastern Europe, Estonia, Europe, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States. Each grantee can customize their experience and seek help in critical areas they need it the most by choosing between three tailored skill trees: Leadership Skill Tree, Video Game Skill Tree, and Entrepreneurship Skill Tree. Despite the nuances of each grantee’s background and the skill tree they pursue, these individuals are the next generation of gaming industry leaders, and we’re thrilled to be a part of their career progression!

TeamPeople & IGDA Foundation Panel: Finding A Job During COVID-19

In addition to sponsoring the 2020 Grantee Online Program, we support the program by providing mentors to the grantees for one-on-one guidance in the form of presentations, workshops, Q&A sessions, and hand-outs.

One actionable way we’ve done this so far is through a virtual panel discussion on finding a job during the pandemic. In August, two of our top-notch recruiters went live during a virtual Zoom discussion in front of 25+ grantees from the program to share tips, tricks, and insights on navigating the tricky undertaking of job-seeking amid a pandemic. Check out the full panel discussion here:

Meet the Panelists from TeamPeople’s Talent Acquisition & Recruiting Team:

	Mandee Neubauer is TeamPeople’s Talent Acquisition Lead! She has 7+ years’ experience in recruiting and talent placement, She knows all of the in’s and out’s behind what it takes to get your foot in the door in the workforce and land your dream job. Mandee’s an ANA Certified Staffing Professional and has recruited for a plethora of big-name brands, including several well-known gaming brands.
	Robyn Johnson is TeamPeople’s Talent Acquisition Specialist! She’s an experienced recruiter and human resources professional with a demonstrated history of working in multiple industries, including Media Production, Food & Beverage, Legal Services, and Non-profit. She’s currently involved in key initiatives for TeamPeople clients who are making a splash in the gaming world.

Creative Pursuits Podcast Meets Gaming

The ball doesn’t stop rolling with the 2020 Grantee Online Program! TeamPeople is also a sponsor of Creative Pursuits , the podcast that explores the intersection of art, communications, and technology. Recently, the podcast set out to discuss gaming in a two-part series that we’re thrilled to support.

In the first part of the two-part series titled Level Up: Diversity And Equity With Gaming Advocate Nika Nour , host Alex Crow virtually interviews IGDA Foundation Executive Director, Nika Nour (@Nika ). She’s a leader in diversity and inclusion within the video game industry, and her mission is to advance inclusion efforts and open doors for minorities apiring to get their foot in the door in the gaming workforce. Throughout the conversation in this episode, Nika shares her most profound experiences and insights as a female gamer and diversity advocate. She also discusses what it was like navigating grade school bullying as young female gamer in the 90s, the 2008 economy, Capitol Hill, Gamergate , #MeToo, and recent reckonings with racism and sexism in the video game industry.

Listen in to the first episode of the two-part series featuring Nika Nour here, and stay tuned for the upcoming part two of the series!

Raising the Bar in the Workforce

Nika’s story and the IGDA-F’s mission inspires us to continue raising the bar for diversity within the gaming workforce. Through programs like the 2020 Grantee Online Program and platforms such as Creative Pursuits, we can promote the next generation of aspiring game developers and amplify the voices of leaders like Nika.

Ready to develop your diverse and inclusive team of game developers and industry experts?  Let’s raise the bar together! TeamPeople is working at the intersection of creative and digital to be your strategic partner. We’ll work with you to design a solution that best fits your team and operation. We hire talent across backgrounds to provide our clients with fresh talent and unique perspectives. Check out our gaming capabilities and strike up the conversation here.

To view our Partner blog, click here

“Everyone should go to CES, at least once” is often heard throughout the 2.7 million sq. feet of the Consumer Electronics Show, held annually in Las Vegas, NV. The Consumer Electronic Show  (CES) is the largest conference for consumer electronics products in the United States. Drawing over 180,000 creative and technical leaders from companies around the world, many people believe that not going to CES is the equivalent to starting the year off as slow as Las Vegas’s McCarran airport’s security line on a Sunday morning. In 2019, CES attracted 175K+ attendees and supported 4.5K exhibiting companies and 1K speakers.

If you can push past the awe of being at the center of technology and innovation, the real question is, where should I start in planning my CES adventure? Having been to CES for the past few years, I’m here to share my insights to help you make the right decision for you and your company.

Set your goals

If your New Year’s resolution is to increase your industry knowledge, dive into the session schedule and exhibitor list. Highlight the most significant trends, sessions, and booths that would be beneficial to explore and align with your business goals. With an open mind, you might find the right combination of sessions and products that could collectively drive change to move your business forward.

If your goal is building relationships with new and prospective clients, reach out and see if they will be attending. If asking directly isn’t an option, check out their social media accounts. If the list is long enough, CES could provide a unique opportunity to start, or continue the conversation, and move them forward through the pipeline. By planning and booking meetings in advance, you can help build out your CES schedule and increase the ROI before the event even starts. Plus, you will be more prepared for a successful meeting.

Learning

CES is a massive show with 15 conference tracks on a variety of topics, all jam-packed with the latest insights. From immersive technologies and robotics to autonomous vehicles and smart home gadgetry, the range of topics is extensive. Additionally, CES has hundreds of speakers representing companies on a global scale, both large and small, from across virtually all industries. Check out the speaker list and see who might align with your target accounts. If you end up attending, sit in the front of their session and see if you can strike up a conversation before or after the session. It can be tough to stop busy executives, but the forum for sharing information and ideas is what CES is all about, so many are very receptive.

Trending

The CES show floor will have over 4,500 exhibitors showing off the most cutting-edge technology and innovation. If you’re there to take it all in, you will come away with a personal, visceral reference for what the future might hold. Taking in each exhibit’s size, location, and attendee engagement can give you a first-hand glimpse at the emerging trends and might even give you a leg up on your competition.

Networking

Like all conferences, CES provides unique networking opportunities both built into the event schedule and just in the sheer volume of attendees. The number of brands that are present at CES increase dramatically year after year, and the representative ranges from C-suite executives to the talented teams of designers and technicians. Whether you’re standing in line for a keynote or exploring the show floor, you never know who you will run into at CES. It might just be your next big client.

Cost

Once you’ve carefully and strategically considered all the reasons why you should go and how you plan to spend your time at CES, you need to weigh in the cost of attending. On top of your conference pass, there will be travel expenses, hotel rooms, and meals, which add up pretty quickly, especially in Las Vegas. Hotel rooms and flights tend to double and triple their standard booking rates, so book early! And don’t forget to include extra spend for “wining and dining” your prospective clients.

To view our Partner blog, click here

A few short weeks ago, TeamPeople hosted a webinar entitled, “Immersive Media, Are You Ready?”.  With AR, VR and video 360’ being all the rage, we took a deep dive into what it takes to produce compelling content and if these technologies will become essential to a brand’s success. We posed these questions to our panelists, Raven Petuchowski, Renee Beck and Loreta Tarozaite, three trail-blazing women leading technology teams from all sides of the country.

To ensure that everyone started with the same level of understanding, we began our webinar by first defining the difference between immersion and engagement. Engagement takes place when a story or marketing message provokes some sort of action amongst the audience. Immersion takes place when the audience forgets it’s even an audience at all. Immersion blurs the lines between story and marketing or storyteller and audience.

Covering everything from personal experiences to advice and lessons learned, our panelists delivered valuable content. To view the webinar and slide presentation, click here .

Here’s what we found:

Content is King No Matter What Technology Is Used

Immersive experiences present endless opportunities, but is it right for your brand? Loreta emphasized that these new technologies should be used to our advantage to tell the story.  Forcing your brand’s story into the latest and greatest technology platform, doesn’t automatically create great content.  You need to choose the technology that brings your story to life. It may be VR, AR or Video 360, but it also may be a video, creatively designed infographic or other strategically-designed method. When deciding on the best tool or platform, choose what makes sense from a content and consumer perspective rather than just because ‘it’s the coolest new tech’.

Is the Risk Worth the Reward?

Tapping into immersive media can be an expensive undertaking. With technology investments, productions costs and distribution methods, the costs can be high. Plus, you need to find the individuals with the right skill-sets to create the high-quality content. Despite the hesitation of many big-named corporations, a Deloitte study reports more than 150 companies, in multiple industries including 52 of the Fortune 500, are testing or have deployed AR or VR solutions.  For some industries, such as education, the path to “reward” is much less foggy and uncertain.  As Renee pointed out, education has a longstanding history of being a very passive.  AR and VR has the ability to radically change the way we learn. Experiencing something first-hand, can create a learning experience far more effective than listening to a lecture or reading a textbook.

Getting Buy-In

After being highlighted by our panelists and discussed in our audience Q&A session, getting buy in from top decision-makers is a common obstacle. Our panelists agreed that building something from scratch and creating a demo for your senior leaders is a game-changer. They recommended partnering with a company or person that really does it well and can help showcase the value it can bring to your mission.  A well-developed demo will do wonders to your pitch. Seeing is believing, after all. The same goes for selling it externally.  In order to have mass adoption, you need to put it in the audience’s hands.

The Consensus

Collective immersive content experiences are estimated to become a 140 billion-dollar business by 2020 .  In many ways, our panelists agree that it will be imperative to leverage these new technologies to stay competitive in the future.  Whether its AR or VR, the answer remains to be seen, but what it comes down to is the experience.  Gone are days of static webpages and a quantity over quality approach. To succeed, you need to be disruptive and experiential.

Is your team looking to tap into immersive media, but need help getting started? We’re here to help! With our database of highly-skilled talent, we’ve created and implemented immersive experiences for our clients across the nation and abroad. Send us an email, we would love to hear about your ideas!

Meet the Panelists

Raven Petuchowski

Executive Producer for TeamPeople @Allstate

For the past nine years, Raven has led TeamPeople @ Allstate’s multimedia team to coordinate, produce and manage a wide range of interactive media projects. She’s the executive producer of a diverse team of more than 100 professionals creating high-end interactive audio and video projects and global events.

Renee Beck

Director, Video & Technical Operations @2U

Renee is a passionate media executive with 20 years of comprehensive experience in all facets of content creation. With previous experience leading teams at National Geographic, TV One, The World Bank and today, 2U, she’s worked her way up through various industries.

Loreta Tarozaite

Sr. Video Producer @Western Digital

First stepping foot in the cable industry as a news anchor and reporter in her home country, Lithuania, she entered the industry in a very non-conventional way. With 18 years of experience, Loreta has worked in various producing, directing, editing, and content generation capacities for companies including SanDisk and Western Digital.

To view our Partner blog, click here