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The iconic musical film, “Dreamgirls,” was full of memorable songs. However, the ending came with the farewell tune, “It’s Hard To Say Goodbye.” Now that AFROTECH has ended, those lyrics land differently in real life.
Austin, TX, was hit again with over 20,000 attendees taking over the city with unique goals to elevate their professional careers while also building their social network.
The power of Black excellence was on full display, with entrepreneurs, technologists, and corporate baddies taking control of their future and thriving in joy the entire time. Each day, ticket holders tapped into immersive experiences that were empowering, thought-provoking, and culturally relevant.
The strategically curated schedule had everyone full from AFROTECH speakers, including heavy hitters such as Issa Rae, Congresswomen Maxine Waters, Timbaland, and Robert F. Smith.
This year also hosted the Health, Women’s, and Sports summits. Each summit stage offered perspectives on the intersectionality that exists across all industries. AFROTECH may be heavy on tech innovation, but there is always something for everyone, regardless of their background.
Aside from influential speakers and impactful sessions, AFROTECH doubled down on the play-hard concept for all of you who have worked hard all year.
AFROTECH Music was top-tier this year, featuring prominent Hip-Hop voices such as Rick Ross and Jadakiss. And when people were not at the music stage, plenty of official entertainment partners were lined up to keep the vibes going the entire conference.
Nov. 1-5, 2023, is now etched in history, but it’s not the end of the AFROTECH experience. The conference will be back next year, and if this year was any indication of how it can level up, missing the 2024 experience would be a huge mistake.
In the meantime, draft those Reels, upload the pics to your IG page, edit your TikTok video, and follow up with all the amazing people you met this week. Don’t forget to tag us in the post.
We had a time and the conference has ended, so it’s farewell for now. But this is not goodbye. See you next year for a bigger and better experience!
Lover of Culture. Curator of Motivation. Advocate for Equity.
Josh Rodgers is a writer and content creator originally from Memphis, TN. Along with AfroTech, Josh’s work can be seen on Blavity News, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, and Buzzfeed. When he isn’t writing, he can be found on the mic as the co-host and founder of The Jigsaw Podcast – a platform dedicated to helping Black millennials attempt to navigate the craziest puzzle piece ever created, life.
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