First Time at SXSW: A Chief of Staff’s Perspective on Women, Investing, and the Power of Community

Photo Credit: Publicis Health Media

By Patricia de Leon, Chief of Staff, Erika Aquino Investments

Introduction: The Magic of SXSW

If I’m being honest, I didn’t know much about SXSW until early 2024. I had always thought of it as just a massive music festival. Little did I know it was a dynamic convergence of creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders from all over the world.

Attending SXSW for the first time as a Chief of Staff to a global angel investor felt like stepping into an entirely new arena. The atmosphere was electrifying. It wasn’t just another conference. It was an interconnected ecosystem of people shaping the future, exchanging ideas, and forging new opportunities in real time.