Celebrating the 2020 A-LIST

Posted on 10/13/2020 by Austin Chamber

A-LIST is celebration of business innovation and entrepreneurship, brought to you by the Austin Chamber and SXSW.

We introduce visionary founders and the exciting new companies they create to the most important audiences in Texas and beyond.

On October 7-8, the Austin Chamber and SXSW hosted A-LIST: Up Close & Personal, a three-part series of virtual award announcements and conversations with stellar speakers on timely issues.

Keynote - Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott is an American fashion designer. She is the chairman, CEO, and lead designer of Kendra Scott, LLC. In 2017, she was named Ernst & Young's National Entrepreneur of the Year.

In her keynote address, Kendra spoke to the strength and support she has found in the Austin community, emphasizing:

“Success is not something you can achieve alone.”


The conversations in all three sessions revolved around how a sense of community is even more critical as Austin's homegrown companies continue to innovate, adapt, lead, and succeed.

Innovating during challenging times

Challenging times require innovative and effective leaders, and during this time, Austin leaders have adapted with determination and creativity. They’ve shown us how to engage and focus in order to move the ball forward in their industries. They’ve shown us what’s possible with a strategic leader at the helm.

In this session, we heard from Keynote Kendra Scott and chatted with Austin’s top tech innovators who share how they’re responding to today’s chaos and opportunities.

We also welcomed the Spotlight Award winners who exemplify an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and community spirit as well as Tech & Inno Award winners with 11-50 employees.

Panel discussion
  • Kiwi Camara

    Founder & CEO
    DISCO

  • Julia Cheek

    CEO & Founder
    Everlywell

  • Tamara Fields

    Austin Managing Director
    Accenture

  • Eric Starkloff

    President & CEO
    NI

Leading through adversity & our path forward

We’ve seen first-hand the importance of leadership during times of adversity. Authentic leaders inspire a community and their teams by standing up with passion and purpose. They are focused on finding a way forward, and they understand the need for transparency and empathy with their teams.

In this session, we featured local leaders who have made a tremendous impact during times of constant change and uncertainty and continue to inspire the community and their teams by standing up with passion and purpose.

We also welcomed the Tech & Inno Award winners with 51-199 employees.

Panel discussion

Growing a thriving team and business with persistence

Leaders must be persistent and determined to grow a thriving team and business. Exceptional entrepreneurs grow out of drive, grit and adaptability. You could call them “glass eaters” or “pragmatic innovators.” They excel in creativity and resiliency and find ways to scale their teams and companies.

In this session, we sat down with key local tech leaders on how they've developed their companies in a time when their leadership has been needed the most, and how they've found new ways to scale their teams with creativity and resiliency.

We welcomed the Ace in the Hole Award winner who stands out above the others, the Top Tech Team Award winner who has launched or updated a product in the past year and whose innovative approach has caused market disruption, and the Tech & Inno Award winners with 1-10 employees.

Panel discussion

2020 A-LIST

Ace in the Hole Award winner
Spotlight Award winners
Top Tech Team Award winner
Tech & Inno Award winners - 1-10 employees
Tech & Inno Award winners - 11-50 employees
Tech & Inno Award winners - 51-199 employees
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