The DK leadership team, Natasha Pongonis and I, just got back from Hispanicize 2012 and really were amazed by the overall experience. Here we want to share a few thoughts from our team that other marketers and bloggers may consider for their future conference decisions. To view all photos from the Hispanicize conference check out our DK Facebook page.
Eric and Natasha arriving to the Hispanicize Conference
Bloggers in Force!
There were many, many Latina bloggers at the conference. This is great as we work with many bloggers on brand messaging, so to have a chance to meet and socialize with them is really a great opportunity. Some of our favorites were there including Jeannette Kaplun of Todobebe, Romina Tibytt of Mama XXI, and Alexandra Morbitzer of Fit Latina. It was also great to spend some time with some of the amazing cause bloggers such as Laurita Tellado of Holdin’ out for a Hero, fashion bloggers including Mercedes Sanchez of Be Chic Magazine, and food bloggers like Nicole Presley of Presleys Pantry. If you want to laugh and learn more about Latina food bloggers watch the video below from Nicole.
Better than Hispanicize 2011?
Many people asked how the content of this year’s conference compared with last year’s in Los Angeles. Overall, I think they were quite comparable as far as what I learned from the panels and case studies. Last year had interesting case studies from brands such as Tecate and the CDC and this year there were also many high level brands such as McDonalds, Dove, Disney, Chevy and more. Content-wise, I think they were both very good and had an action packed schedule throughout each day. My own panel was about Futbol Marketing to Latinos, it was well attended even though late on the last day of the conference. We had great panelists, Michael Olguin, CEO of Formula Latin and Hector Galvan of Sprint who made for a very informative panel. There were several very engaged audience members such as Alejandra Diaz-Lembleque of NASCAR and Elana Rosenbaum of Clorox who asked interesting questions that were relevant to all marketers considering a Latino sports marketing strategy.
Michael Olguin and Hector Galvan on the Futbol Marketing panel discussion
And the Party didn’t Quit
Lets be real. Many of us attend conferences because it is a certainty that there will be a daily happy hour at the least, and possibly a dinner/club outing at the most. Hispanicize blew all that out the water. The second night of the conference had the entire conference audience at a private outdoor event sponsored by Diageo on South Beach. The final night was a celebrity affair with the audience invited to a private mansion on the bay where there was an outdoor screening of the movie Scarface, with a number of the movie’s cast mingling about. Definitely a night to remember.
Hispanicize party held at a mansion on the bay
Una perspectiva en Español de Natasha:
Este año fue la primera vez que participo en Hispanicize 2012, previamente asistí a otras conferencias y eventos relacionados a los Latinos y tendencias en la red como LATISM 2011 donde formé parte de un panel, pero esta vez fui como oyente y con la clara intención de poder disfrutar a pleno de esta tan esperada conferencia. La verdad que, ya estoy comenzando con la cuenta regresiva para el año próximo!
Un movimiento digital
Para mí, Hispanicize (#Hispz12) representó no solo una oportunidad única para solidificar relaciones entre profesionales Latinos influyentes en el área digital pero así también formar parte activa del movimiento dinámico que está actualmente ocurriendo en los Estados Unidos, donde los hispanos estamos teniendo una voz y representación importante en todos los niveles. Esto se vio claramente representado en la diversidad de paneles y panelistas; desde la salud, la política, el área de medios y prensa tanto como el deporte fueron muy bien represados. A destacar particularmente fue la gran participación de los bloggers y las queridas blogueras, que brindaron sus experiencias más personales con una audiencia ávida por interiorizarme más por cada una de las luchas personales.
Gabriela Natale, Teresa Garza, Lynn Ponder, and Rosy Cordero of the Entertainment Blogger Session
Una pequeña familia!
En lo personal, siento que tengo una pequeña familia que se está armando de forma totalmente orgánica. Nos vemos en conferencias, en viajes de negocios y en cada encuentro, las conversaciones se retoman como si no hubiese pasado el tiempo. Nuevas amistades se inician y se mantienen por el seguimiento diario vía Twitter…bendito Twitter! Es así que quiero dar las gracias al equipo de Hispanicize por crear este evento y brindarnos la oportunidad de conectarnos, unirnos y sumar fuerzas entre todos los apasionados por el dialogo latino en la red. Es así que será hasta el próximo evento!
Carla Briceno and Natasha Pongonis at Hispanicize
Awesome post! Thanks so much for your shout-out to me and Holdin’ Out for a Hero. I greatly appreciate it. 🙂
Please don’t forget to link your post up using my linky widget at the end of my own recap post on my blog! I want to share as many recap posts from other people as possible.
God Bless! ¡Que Dios los Bendiga!
–Laurita 😉
Great Post.. Gracias por incluirme !!!
Great post thanks for sharing
Thanks guys! Laurita, I took a look, but think you added my link already, thank you for doing that and of course, thanks for reading 🙂