Harvard was out in full force at Icenhauer's on Rainey Street for the fourth annual Digital Harvard in Austin at SXSW on Sunday evening, March 15. From start-up founders to software engineers to entertainment lawyers, more than 250 alumni and friends—across a variety of Schools and industries—enjoyed each other's company over Crimson Collider cocktails and Tex-Mex cuisine.
Connection was the theme of the evening as alumni found opportunities to reunite with old classmates and expand their Harvard network. "These events are great ways to both hear the latest from the people who were part of our Harvard experience on campus while building relationships that will continue to keep the Harvard experience an ongoing part of our lives," says Jeffrey Low AB '11, MBA '16.
For Charlene Li AB '88, MBA '93, it was the personal connections that made the evening special. "Digital Harvard was a chance to see old friends and meet new ones in an environment that emphasized connections. While we share similar professional interests from the digital world, it was the human, personal bonds that were formed that made the event memorable."
Christian Hassold ALB '07 took advantage of the chance to engage with fellow alumni outside of his industry. "The HAA's presence at SXSW is excellent," Hassold says. "It provides a unique opportunity to connect with innovators outside my field. It is also an invaluable way to keep connected with Harvard."
For David Shryock AB '80, Digital Harvard was a great precursor to the upcoming reunion and Commencement season. "Digital Harvard in Austin is a marvelous event," says Shryock, who attended with his wife, Kristen Manos AB '80, and son, Benjamin AB '15. "Seeing old friends, making new ones, and enjoying SXSW readies us for our upcoming 35th Reunion and our son's graduation."
As the evening came to a close, attendees gathered around the outdoor fire pit or took a last turn in the ever-popular photo booth before heading back to their homes, hotels, or the next SXSW party. But the Digital Harvard experience lives on through the photos, tweets, and new connections.