Web 2.0 Expo Should Think Outside-the-Box
The Web 2.0 Expo NYC has rolled back around this year but has an interesting new theme with it: The Power of Less.
The Power of Less doesn’t just mean making do with fewer staff and a smaller budget. It means that constraints drive creativity, whether in business models, design paradigms, or platforms. It means the power of the small screen, the thin client, the streamlined interface. It might mean the power of small teams, or even going solo. It’s also the paradox of power: sometimes the best way to gain power is to give it away, which is why during these challenging times, we are learning that nothing builds brands like a nurtured community. It’s also the power of data: of data-centric business models, and the power of data to inform our decisions and to focus us on what matters.
Speaking of what matters, we’re also talking about the power of less bureaucracy, less spin and breaking down silos. We are the industry that’s shown that transparency, participation, collaboration add up to increased efficiency. The power of less is the power of creative destruction. It’s the power to change the world.
Sounds like pretty good stuff there. I have not been fortunate enough to go to any Web 2.0 events (Expo and certainly not the Summit) and bet that is the case for most of us here. Note: I say most because I know for fact some of you have been 
And I am certain nearly all of us have not had the opportunity to speak their either. Part of what I love about the Web is the freedom it gives us to connect with individuals inside and outside our interests. While it gives us that power the diversity the web is made of is almost never represented at these conference (in attendance nor in presentations). This is the main reason why I am writing this post. I really think it is important for us to feel the same level of comfort when submitting to speak at conferences like the Web 2.0 Expo as we feel when submitting to speak at “our own” conferences. And this year we are lucky since the deadline has been extended (I am still in awe it is almost June). So if you can take time out to submit either a solo talk or panel (it can last anywhere from 50mins. to 3 hours) please do so. It is important that we are represented at events like these and represented as thought leaders not just as attendees. Tracks that you can speak on are:
- Landscape & Strategy
- Marketing & Community
- Design & UX
- Development
- Web 2.0 at Work
- Government 2.0
- Mobile
- Social Media
The deadline to submit has been extended to May 29th at midnight so get to it…I’ll join you! 
H/T @anildash for putting the call out.
Category: News, web 2.0 | Tags: web 2.0, web 2.0 expo, web 2.0 expo nyc, web 2.0 summit
About the Author Angela Benton is the Founder and Publisher of BlackWeb20.com. Her experience spans a variety of industries including consultative relationships with companies such as UPS, Bizjournals.com, Realestate.com, and Lendingtree.com.
See all posts by Angela.
I'm happy to see this post as well and applaud your continuing to carry the banner and raise the torch and all of that good stuff. As one of the few African-Americans or women, who does get to represent at conferences like these, I can only say that we need more diversity across the board. Happy to see blackweb20 rep in this regard and here's more well wishes for your proposal.
I'd love to go to a conference and not just bump into people like myself, Anil, Charlene Li, and Jeremiah over and over again. I think SXSW showed a great representation of ethnic/race topics, gender politics, and even lgbt. I'm feeling confident that what's grown at SXSW will carry over into some of these more, often considered elite, conferences.
What Anil says, Angela–thanks so much for your post. I hope many of your readers will take you up on your call to action. Good luck with your proposal!
Suzanne, O'Reilly Conferences team
I'm happy to see this post as well and applaud your continuing to carry the banner and raise the torch and all of that good stuff. As one of the few African-Americans or women, who does get to represent at conferences like these, I can only say that we need more diversity across the board. Happy to see blackweb20 rep in this regard and here's more well wishes for your proposal.
I'd love to go to a conference and not just bump into people like myself, Anil, Charlene Li, and Jeremiah over and over again. I think SXSW showed a great representation of ethnic/race topics, gender politics, and even lgbt. I'm feeling confident that what's grown at SXSW will carry over into some of these more, often considered elite, conferences.
- Lynne d Johnson
What Anil says, Angela–thanks so much for your post. I hope many of your readers will take you up on your call to action. Good luck with your proposal!
Suzanne, O'Reilly Conferences team
Angela, thanks for posting this and helping get the word out. You get to the core of it when you say “I really think it is important for us to feel the same level of comfort when submitting to speak at conferences like the Web 2.0 Expo as we feel when submitting to speak at “our own” conferences.” Right now, looking at the submissions for the Expo so far, I hate to say it but the tired old excuse of “well, we didn't get many submissions from people of color/women/your community” is actually true. I'm glad that a lot of us have our own events and conferences to go to, but we owe it to our communities to represent at the traditional shows, too.