Just over a week ago, brand trailblazers, agency innovators, and industry visionaries came together in Austin, Texas for the 2019 WP Engine Summit. The three-day event, held at The Fairmont in downtown Austin, included inspiring and informative sessions, product demos, and a little bit of fun. This was WP Engine’s 4th annual Summit; we were honored to be joined by agencies and brands from around the world. The theme this year was Breakthrough—a tribute to the exciting process of transforming your ideas and vision into a memorable digital experience. 

In addition to professional breakthroughs, the Breakthrough theme was also meant to encourage personal motivation. Our keynote speaker, Emmitt Smith, a three-time Superbowl winner, chronicled his various breakthroughs from childhood in Florida, to becoming the all-time leading rusher for the Dallas Cowboys, and finally to dancing and competing on Dancing with the Stars.  “Be humble, be patient, and stay hungry,” Smith said when reflecting on various obstacles he faced in his personal and professional life. 

Summit 2019 featured plenty of informative and inspirational sessions; notable themes included artificial intelligence, personalization, innovation in WordPress, and much more. Check out the full agenda. Here are some memorable moments from this year’s event:

After arriving in Austin, summit-goers were greeted with a welcome reception at the Fairmont Hotel.
Dr. Chris Brauer, the Director of Innovation at Goldsmiths, University of London, spoke about a WP Engine sponsored study on artificial intelligence and the value AI can bring to businesses.
Joe Corr, Executive Creative Technology Director at Crispin Porter Bogusky, Steven Moy, EVP Chief Technology Officer at R/GA, and John Eckman, CEO at 10up, participated in a panel about the impact of technology on advertising. 
Emily Warren, Managing Director of The Lovie Awards, led a breakout session on making meaningful and effective digital experiences in a world full of chaos. 
Jason Cohen, Founder of WP Engine, spoke about the future of WordPress.
Nicholas Thompson, Editor-in-Chief at Wired, spoke about the dynamic world of technology and how some of the hottest areas of tech like AI, Big Data, Mobile, Cloud, and others are shaping our world.
Travis McAshan, Owner at GLIDE and Chris Broomall, SVP, Group Head at Edelman on creating breakthrough digital experiences using WordPress as a digital and PR agency. 
Emmitt Smith delivered an inspiring speech about creating breakthroughs, no matter the obstacles.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Summit in Austin. Are you in Australia or Europe? Our WP Engine Summit in Australia will take place on August 8th, 2019 in Sydney. Save your spot and register today. 

Our WP Engine Summit in Europe will take on November 12th in London. Save your spot and register today.

More WordPress News from WP Engine

Start the conversation.

Leave a Comment.