Austin, TX – Communication Service for the Deaf is thrilled to announce that our CEO Chris Soukup, and CMO and Division President of the CSD Social Venture Fund, Rosa Lee Timm are presenting at SXSW 2022 in Austin, Texas in March.
Chris and Rosa Lee will give the presentation “Deaf Entrepreneurs: Stories that Change Perception,” an inside look at CSD Social Venture Fund (SVF), a venture fund dedicated to investing in the expansion of Deaf owned and #DeafLed businesses.
“It’s an honor to be returning to SXSW to bring awareness to equitability challenges that are unique to Deaf entrepreneurs, and the impact removing those barriers will have on our diverse Deaf communities, and by extension, the rest of humanity,” explained Chris Soukup.
“Deaf Entrepreneurs: Stories That Change Perception” will challenge people’s understanding of what Deaf people can achieve. They will share stories about CSD SVF and its seven partners, including the powerful impact each business has had on their respective communities. Chris and Rosa Lee will broaden how people think about entrepreneurship, diversity, and leadership, and invite people to explore ways to support the Deaf Ecosystem through actionable yet approachable strategies – such as one of the simplest of these strategies: buy from Deaf-owned businesses.
“Deaf entrepreneurs are capable, driven, and already making an impact in the marketplace. Imagine how much more of an impact they could make if they were given the same opportunities as hearing entrepreneurs,” said Rosa Lee. “I’m looking forward to getting people to challenge the way they think about entrepreneurship and encourage them to shape the future with Deaf communities in mind.”
South by Southwest is one of the most diverse, collaborative and inventive conferences in the world, where visionaries come together and share their cutting-edge ideas for the future. SXSW 2022 is the first in-person conference since SXSW 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic forced SXSW 2020’s cancellation and moved SXSW 2021 to a virtual space.
Chris first participated in SXSW 2019, presenting on “Being Human: The Future of Innovation and Success”. He and Rosa Lee are excited to return this year to join the hundreds of speakers scheduled to appear at this year’s 36th annual conference, including keynote speakers Lizzo, Beck, Neal Stephenson, and Celine Tricart, and featured speakers like Mark Cuban, Rashida Jones, Jonathan Van Ness, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Secretary Deb Haaland, and Al Roker.
Their presentation will be delivered in American Sign Language and in English on March 13 at 4:00 p.m. CT at the Hilton Austin Downtown in Salon F. This presentation is open to all SXSW badge holders. If you are interested in purchasing a badge to access the SXSW Conference, visit SXSW’s website.
For those unable to attend, CSD will be sharing a recap of key moments of the presentation after the event on our website and on social media. If you’d like to be notified when their presentation becomes available, please subscribe to get updates from CSD.
About Communication Service for the Deaf
Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD) is the largest Deaf-led social impact organization in the world. For more than four decades, CSD has been a leader in creating and providing accessible and innovative solutions for the Deaf community. Today, CSD continues its work creating opportunities for personal and economic growth within the Deaf community, specifically addressing leadership and employment. For more information, please visit CSD and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.