RECAP: 2023 Aspire Austin Intercity Leadership Conference

October 10-12, 2023

The Chamber was grateful to welcome twenty-four audacious and courageous leaders with us on our Aspire Austin Intercity Leadership Conference as we experienced how that community tackled rapid urban growth, technology and innovation, workforce development and supporting the creative economy and housing and homelessness. 

We started our conference with a tour of Cruise, an autonomous vehicle company driven to improve life in the communities they serve by safely connecting people with places, things and experiences. These self-driving cars, currently only available in a handful of markets, are setting the pace to truly transform our transportation system. Imagine a city with no need for parking, with fully accessible vehicles, all running on an electric grid. The future is nearer than you may think with the technology advancing rapidly.

We continued that first day with set of panel discussions where we paired industry and subject matter experts from Austin with Tacoma to discuss education and workforce development, urban planning and development, and technology and innovation. We also toured the Paramount Theatre and learned more about the impact of the creative economy in Austin, which is so well known for both Austin City Limits and South by Southwest.

The final day of the conference awarded us with an opportunity to see and experience what we discussed the previous day during our panels. Part of the focus of Aspire is not only discussing solutions with other communities, but it’s bringing together our own leaders to build trust, grow relationships with each other and truly see the change for themselves. The only way change happens is when people can experience it for themselves. Aspire attendees toured Austin Community College’s Highline Campus and Communities First! Village.

Full conference report and information about Aspire 2024 coming soon!