Traveling to Houston, Texas has been on my bucket list for a while, so naturally, when I learned that AfroTech Conference was making its H-Town debut, I jumped at the opportunity to attend!
My initial curiosity about AfroTech was sparked by online buzz.
For years, I’ve watched countless videos of Black professionals sharing the highlights of the yearly conference that merges business, technology, and culture. This year, I finally had the opportunity to see what all the excitement was all about and attend one of the world’s largest annual tech conferences that brings together tech professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and creatives to network, learn, and celebrate Black innovation.
Below, read about my first time experience at AfroTech.
My Experience As A First Time Attendee
If you want to network, learn, and get inspired— go to AfroTech!
From the moment I stepped into the conference, I felt the synergy between tech and culture. As a woman on a mission, I came to the conference with a plan to learn as much as I could, network with professionals, submit my resumes, and have some fun while doing it.
When I say it was like a giant family reunion for professionals, I mean it! According to a report, this year’s event brought together 37,500 leaders and visionaries across four days to network and discuss groundbreaking ideas that will shape the future of business and technology. (Congratulations to Morgan Debaun and her team at Blavity for being able to pull off such a huge accomplishment!)
At every turn, I was afforded the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and college friends.
As someone who works in the social and digital space, it was great to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who have similar interests and goals. The conversations we all had with each other were so inspirational and motivating. I even made some new connections.
My Game Plan
Everyone has a different goal in attending this conference. If you’re a job seeker, then more than likely you want to spend time at the expo booths and networking. If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge on a wide range of topics, then pack a notebook because you will love the gems dropped during the live panels. And if you are like me, you do both!
I am a huge planner, so before attending the conference, I mapped out exactly what panels/sessions I wanted to attend in advance. A lot of the events and panels overlapped, so I found it helpful to be strategic with what was most important to me— networking and learning about new industry opportunities.
Thanks the AfroTech app, I was able to navigate the 4-day schedule from the comfort of my home. (I highly recommend planning ahead if you are a first-time attendee or you are easily overwhelmed.)
EXPERT TIP
At your earliest convenience, pick up your badges and scope out the convention center’s layout to see where everything will be located. This saves you a lot of time once the conference starts.
Thought-Provoking Panels
You’d be surprised how much technology is used in our day-to-day life. At the conference, I was able to fully understand how much tech plays a part in every industry.
One of the highlights of the conference was Colin Kaepernick‘s insightful panel discussion on AI’s role in revolutionizing the creator economy. He spoke about his groundbreaking platform Lumi Story AI, which empowers creators by providing them with the tools needed to independently create, publish, and merchandise their stories both digitally and physically. It truly gave us a glimpse into the future of digital storytelling.
Beyond The Keynote Stage
Beyond the main stage, I was captivated by the latest in tech. I spent at least 30 minutes at META’s booth trying out the brand’s innovative Ray Ban Smart Glasses. I was genuinely impressed by its ability to control devices with simple voice commands.
Simply say “Hey Meta” and you can instantly try its features, which include listening to music, going on IG live, and capturing high-quality photos and videos.
I was also mind-blown by the live demonstrations done by Google and NVIDIA, which showed how advanced AI tools are helping to reshape multiple industries through writing, planning, learning, and accelerated computing.
A Cultural Experience— The Food & Fun
I wouldn’t be a true foodie if I didn’t indulge in Houston’s vibrant culinary scene. Everything was delicious! I enjoyed delectable dishes at renowned restaurants like Trill Burger (by Bun B), Thirteen (by James Harden), Davis Street, Hudson House (River Oaks location), Lustre Pearl, Kirby and Chapman, Upper Kirby Bistro, and the newly opened Doves Restaurant. (My food recap is coming soon! Be sure to follow @BrownStyle on Instagram.)
For fun, I attended several parties that gave a glimpse of how H-Town turns up and turns out for a good party!
- ✨ The Blavity House Party was an entire mood as we enjoyed the lively performances of Bun B, Mike Jones, and Jagged Edge.
- ✨ 3 at Stories, a Rooftop hosted a fun “Jordans, Jerseys, and Jams” party. Everyone dressed up in a cute and casual fit and the DJ played a great mix!
- ✨ Creator of the Culture’s welcome party at Lustre Pearl was a mood. It was presented in partnership with The Arts of Movement, Out Of Office, Techsgiving, and RenderATL, and sponsored by Snap Inc., Coinbase, Fidelity, Grammarly, and the NBA Foundation.
- ✨THE FADE, presented by Toasted Life, was also held at Lustre Pearl on their rooftop.
- ✨ I also attended the Jerk and Jollof party at Noto Houston. During the event, we enjoyed Jollof and other foods while enjoying the vibes curated by Jae Murphy, Yannick Jones, and DJ Tunez.
My Takeaways
My first AfroTech experience was one to remember. The conference was a powerful celebration of Black excellence, innovation, and creativity. I love that each day catered to everyone’s unique needs— whether you’re a job seeker, a tech enthusiast, or an entrepreneur.
If you want to attend next year’s conference in Houston (October 21-27), I highly recommend start planning now to leverage the event’s diverse offerings. The early registration link is open now, which gives you plenty of time to ask your job to sponsor you. Remember sis, it’s all about being forward-thinking!
