A Student’s Guide to the Forbes Under 30 Summit

Opening Keynote Speaker for the Sports Content Track with Moderator Kurt Badenhausen (Senior Editor, Forbes Media) and Jonathan Kraft (President, New England Patriots & President, The Kraft Group) TEGAN CRAMER

Tegan Cramer is a graduate student studying Integrated Design, Business and Technology at the USC Iovine and Young Academy. Earlier this fall, Cramer attended the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston and filed this guide for others attending the conference in the future. 

The U30 Village, created in Boston’s City Hall Plaza, welcomed a record-breaking number of participants to this year’s Forbes Under 30 Summit. The event took place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 and attracted 9,100 registered attendees from 71 countries. More than 200 speakers shared their expertise and insight with a community of young entrepreneurs and disruptors. The immersive four-day experience began with a music festival headlined by electronic DJ Marshmello before diving into a day of panels and presentations at venues throughout Boston. Off-site trips took attendees behind the scenes of local companies, and the summit concluded with a day of service to the host city.

Through dynamic speakers at themed stages, I learned about diverse topics ranging from the Patriots as a dominant sports franchise to gender-bending fashion that blurs social and cultural lines. In a panel titled “The Art of the Pivot,” Lars Rasmussen (the Father of Google Maps) discussed his latest project – a service that syncs music to physical activity. Rasmussen played the Icona Pop hit “I Love It” in a live demo during which he showed the audience how music could adapt to the speed of his movement.

I was in awe at the ease with which technology could change to suit its environment, and before I could even catch up on all of the activity, my first Forbes Under 30 Summit was coming to an end. With loads of knowledge and a bit of newly acquired wisdom, I boarded my flight back to Los Angeles, grateful for the opportunity and confident that I would be better prepared next year.

Whether you attend the summit as a scholar, fellow, general attendee or VIP, making the most out of the event can be overwhelming, especially when it’s your first summit. Inspired by my personal trials and triumphs, here’s a brief guide to consider for your next (or first) trip to the Forbes Under 30 Summit.

Moderator Zack O’ Malley Greenburg (Senior Editor, Media & Entertainment) interviews Lars Rasmussen (Co-Founder of Weav) and Elomida Visviki (Co-Founder of Weav) TEGAN CRAMER

This year’s summit featured 24 industry-specific content tracks that ranged from Artificial Intelligence to Impact Investing. I chose Marketing as my main track but ended up attending panels and discussions at the Art + Style and Entertainment + Music stages. I was able to modify my schedule throughout the summit and attend a variety of presentations, as opposed to being restricted to my chosen industry. If the lines for a certain stage were long or a speaker cancelled at the last minute, I could shuffle to a different track with ease and hear from inspiring leaders outside of my field. As someone with a wide range of interests, the all-access pass was a necessity and helped me get the most out of my time and experience. Even if you are particularly committed to your industry, you never know what kind of ideas will be exchanged or collaborations forged through opening yourself up to the perspectives of young visionaries in other fields.

After being invited to the summit as an Under 30 Scholar, the most common questions I encountered were, “How do I apply?” and “How did you learn about this opportunity?” With the deluge of information we encounter on a daily basis, staying on top of the latest news can seem nearly impossible. Thanks to the USC Career Center’s weekly e-blast, I discovered the Forbes Under 30 Scholars program listed under the Additional Opportunities section. Staying informed helped me get to the summit, as well as take advantage of all that the event had to offer. Forbes connected with attendees through email, text and app notifications. For events like the off-site visits, space was limited, and the RSVP lists filled up quickly. By keeping up with event communication, you’ll ensure that you don’t miss out on anything. 

I had always assumed an elevator pitch was only necessary if you sell a product or own a company. However, once I was at the summit, I realized just how accessible many of the experts were. After presentations or panels, some speakers would mingle with the crowd or explore the U30 Village. While standing near the stage where former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was discussing his new book “Every Day Is Extra,” an attendee asked for a picture with a man standing directly in front of me wearing a beautifully detailed dark green suit. When the well-dressed man turned around, I realized he was Nicolas Bijan Pakzad (co-owner, House of Bijan). In the moment, I could think of nothing more to say than, “Hello.” Although I wasn’t looking for a job or an investor, the missed connection felt like a lost opportunity that could have been prevented had I been prepared. 

The Forbes Under 30 Summit is an outstanding event for learning, collaborating, networking and exchanging ideas ¾ all set against the historic backdrop of Boston. The annual summit attracts successful business leaders and inspiring game changers to share the entrepreneurial spirit of Forbes with the dreamers, disruptors and designers of tomorrow. With the end of the year fast approaching, the next summit will be here before we know it. I hope to see you there!

Citation: Design@USC, the USC Iovine and Young Academy’s online Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology