Where can you chat with the founder of a multi-million dollar corporation and then shake hands with a dope comedian from Comedy Central?

In March 2015 I got to experience the phenomenon that is SXSW as a company marketer. Walking through the Austin Convention Center the energy surged. I felt the passion and excitement radiate through the walls.

In one room, Al Gore is making a speech and in another Jessica Alba is advocating her child product line.

Talk about versatility. During my trip I attended panels that hosted people like the Yale’s Chief Marketing Director, the creator of the mobile app Yo (valued at $10 million), and even Snoop Dog, each individual giving insight that you can’t find online.

Fast-forward to after hours where you are brushing shoulders with the cast of the HBO series Entourage.

Or funny men Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart at a hidden comedy club behind a coffee shop or at a cocktail party.

The entire trip was a download of knowledge that I needed three days to fully process once I returned home. SXSW is a melting pot of innovation. It is a place where the ingenuity of young minds is fused with the skill of veteran professionals.