The three-day event invites innovation-hungry future makers to taste and shape tomorrow through the visions of leaders, entertainers, creators, makers, and each other
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fast Company, the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, will return to SXSW with its annual Fast Company Grill in Austin, Texas, from March 8–10, at Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill (201 Brazos Street). This exclusive hub will be open daily with panels, demos, and interactive experiences, giving audiences a window into the wide-open future of business, tech, entertainment, and beyond. Fast Company is thrilled to have Canva returning for the second year in a row as presenting sponsor of the Grill.
Across three days of onstage programming, a diverse array of speakers will unpack the timely topics shaping today's high-growth brands alongside high-impact networking moments, delicious bites and beverages, meet-and-greets with editors, and musical acts including singer-songwriters Paravi and Garrett Talamantes.
"What sets the Fast Company Grill apart is its ability to turn the high-energy, creative atmosphere of SXSW into focused, impactful conversations. It brings together the best of creativity, disruption, and new ideas—and distills it into an intimate setting where executives can learn and grow from new perspectives," says Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan.
Business experts and prominent visionaries who will lead the diverse array of programming include:
- Carey Mulligan, Executive Producer and Actress, The Ballad of Wallis Island
- Paul Feig, Director and Producer, Another Simple Favor
- Tarana Burke, Author, Activist, Founder of the "Me Too" Movement
- John Jelley, SVP, Product and User Experience, Peacock and Global Streaming NBCUniversal
- Taylor Montgomery, Chief Marketing Officer, Taco Bell
- Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft
- Carla Vernón, CEO, The Honest Company
- Dan Murphy, SVP of Marketing, Liquid Death
- Andy Dunn, Founder and CEO, Pie
- Fara Howard, Chief Marketing Officer, GoDaddy
- Matthew Prince, Cofounder and CEO, Cloudflare
- Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer, E.l.f. Beauty
- Ev Williams, Cofounder, Mozi
- Stu Alderoty, President, National Cryptocurrency Association
- James Kuczynski, Senior Creative Director, Duolingo
- Eswar Veluri, EVP and Chief Technology Officer, Equinox
- Mélanie Masarin, Founder and CEO, Ghia
- Danielle Guizio, Owner and Designer, Guizio
- Kat Hantas, Cofounder, 21Seeds Infused Tequila
- Tom Ballhatchet, VP of Creative, Yoto
- Joon Choi, President, Weverse
- Brad Charron, CEO, Aloha
To view the full event schedule or to request an invite to attend, visit https://events.fastcompany.com/grill_2025.
"We're proud to offer Fast Company's partners such a vibrant opportunity during SXSW to showcase their brands and to engage directly with leaders and innovators from an array of sectors and industries. It's a coveted stage where they can present strategic visions in an intimate, highly engaged setting alongside groundbreaking speakers and renowned talent, allowing partners to solidify their rightful standing as innovative difference-makers in business and culture," says Damian Slattery, senior vice president of marketing at Fast Company.
Fast Company is thrilled to acknowledge a record roster of 13 Grill partners, who will take part in thought-leadership panels, custom experiences, and a host of on-site activations.
Canva returns to the Fast Company Grill as the presenting sponsor, bringing thought-provoking discussions to the Canva Enterprise stage. On Saturday afternoon, Kristine Segrist, VP of consumer marketing, will explore the fusion of art, science, and AI, followed by Rob Giglio, chief customer officer, on Sunday morning, discussing how to build brand love in the AI era. Step inside the FC Grill and visit Canva's immersive activation to discover your brand ID and take home a custom-made hat.
"Canva and Fast Company share a deep-rooted love for innovation, design, and technology. After last year's success, we're excited to be back partnering with the iconic Fast Company Grill at SXSW to deliver an even bigger three days of game-changing sessions, experiences, and networking," says Rob Giglio, chief customer officer, Canva.
Further immerse yourself in a world of extraordinary success stories at the Audible Listening Bar, where visitors can grab a pair of headphones, unwind, and listen to excerpts from the latest Audible Original podcast, The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and enlightened as Barris and Gladwell interview luminaries of entertainment, sports, business, politics, and more about the unconventional paths and pivotal moments that shaped their remarkable journeys.
Purdue University joins the Grill in 2025 as Fast Company's Brands That Matter program partner. Its session will open with a discussion between Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan and staff editor Jeff Beer, who oversees Brands That Matter, the Fast Company editorial list that honors brands that have cut through the din to deliver their message while establishing broader cultural relevance. As a four-time Brands That Matter honoree, Purdue will participate in a panel titled Innovating What Matters: Driving Pharma Forward.
Huge will host a Grill Happy Hour on Sunday, March 9, open to all attendees to mix and mingle, and musical artist Paravi will perform a live set.
Lumen Technologies will present a panel on the Pillars of AI: The Executive's Playbook for Data Deployment.
National Cryptocurrency Association will host a compelling discussion that aims to shatter cryptocurrency myths and make sense of the ever-evolving landscape.
Novo Nordisk will combat medical misinformation in a panel titled Weighing the Truth: Separating Science from Sensationalism.
Project Management Institute joins the Grill to present a compelling conversation between industry leaders, Unlocking AI's Potential: From Attractions to Tech and Everything in Between.
Texas A&M University presents a profound panel on how leading voices and teams are stepping forward to build a brighter, safer world, A Force for Good: Visionaries Redefining the Future. For three days, attendees will enjoy visiting the university's expansive activation, The Marketplace of the Future, to learn more about Texas A&M through stories of breakthroughs in the Sustainable Food movement, featuring compelling advancements across land, sea, and space. The university also hosts the Grill's closing party on Monday evening, March 10.
Violife will invite guests to experience the NEW Violife Sweet Cream Coffee Creamers, along with their fan-favorite dairy free Cream Cheese block, and a crave-worthy selection of nondairy snacks—all deliciously bold and 100% dairy free.
Whalar Group will present a panel with truly creative thinkers and leaders titled Creativity Unbound: How Brands and Creators Are Leveling Up With AI.
Williams will lead a compelling discussion surrounding AI's reinvention of the business landscape on Next-Gen Leadership for an Evolving World.
Wise's thought-leadership panel will focus on the challenges and opportunities for small businesses looking to stay competitive and expand in a global marketplace.
For those unable to get to Austin for SXSW, Inc. is also partnering with Cheddar Media, the go-to broadcast resource for finance, tech, and all things innovation, to bring event programming and exclusive interviews with Fast Company Grill speakers. Interviews will air during the Power Players program and will be available on streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube TV, and more.
The Fast Company Grill is open to invited guests and credentialed members of the media only. To register, please visit https://events.fastcompany.com/grill_2025.
About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com.
Press Credentials
Press credentials for this event are available to credentialed members of the media only. To request press credentials or for media requests, please contact Alyssa Carroll, head of communications for Fast Company and Inc., at [email protected].
Media Contact
Alyssa Carroll, Fast Company, 1 800-248-0308, [email protected]
SOURCE Fast Company
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