Authentic Austin has always been about something simple but surprisingly rare.

Creating spaces where thoughtful humans can meet each other without the performance that often comes with traditional networking.

No panels.
No pitches.
No performative networking.

Just curious, people in a room together.

Over time, something beautiful has started to happen in these gatherings.

Friendships form.
Collaborations emerge.
And people remember what it feels like to connect like humans again.

And now SXSW is almost here.

For a week, Austin fills with an incredible amount of energy — ideas, conversations, events, and people from all over the world.

It’s exciting.

And it can also be… a lot.

Everyone is pitching.
Everyone is networking.
Everyone is performing.

So next week we decided to host the opposite.

✨ A special SXSW gathering from Authentic Austin on March 18th ✨

A place to slow down, breathe, and have the kind of conversations SXSW rarely makes space for.

If you’ve ever found yourself halfway through the week thinking,

“I just want one real conversation tonight.”

This room is for you.

👉 RSVP Here

We’re intentionally keeping the room thoughtful so conversations stay real.

If you RSVP and plan to come, we’ll hold a seat for you.

📍 Casa de Luz – Synergy Room
📅 Wednesday, March 18
⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

During SXSW, the pace can get intense.

This special SXSW edition of Conscious Connection offers something rare in the middle of the week — a space to slow down, land in your body, and connect more deeply with the humans around you.

We’ll begin with a short grounding practice, move into reflection and small-group conversations, and then open the space for organic connection.

These gatherings often lead to the kinds of conversations SXSW rarely makes room for — where people connect beyond elevator pitches and LinkedIn bios.

This evening is co-hosted with Compassionate Coherence, exploring how nervous system regulation and presence create deeper connection, conversation, and more intelligent collaboration.

Because many Authentic Austin gatherings take place in donated community spaces, most of our events have been free.

For this SXSW edition, we’re renting the Synergy Room at Casa de Luz and intentionally creating a more held container for the evening.

The ticket simply helps cover the space.

👉 RSVP for Austin Conscious Connection- SXSW Edition

• A short grounding practice
• Guided reflection prompts
• Small group conversations
• Time to mingle organically
• Thoughtful humans

No panels.
No pitching.
No forced networking.

Just real conversations.

Sandra is also hosting an online earlier in the week through Compassionate Coherence, exploring the relationship between nervous systems, leadership, and the intelligence of the systems we build.

📍 Virtual Webinar
📅 Wednesday, March 25th
⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CDT

Most founders focus on strategy.

But the real constraint inside many organizations isn’t strategy.

It’s human capacity.

The clarity of our thinking, the quality of our decisions, and how teams navigate complexity are all shaped by the nervous systems inside the system.

When leaders are regulated, perception widens and systems become more adaptive.

When leaders are dysregulated, complexity becomes harder to navigate.

This workshop explores the deeper relationship between nervous system regulation, leadership capacity, and the intelligence of the systems we build.

👉 Learn more and register here 👉

These upcoming offerings are part of Sandra’s work through Compassionate Coherence, exploring the intersection of nervous systems, leadership, and collective intelligence.

Spaces for people building meaningful things in the world and seeking the inner capacity to match their vision.

Culture In Service: A Culture for Those That Don’t Have One

📍 Virtual Webinar
📅 Wednesday, April 1st
⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CDT

What if meaningful work required a different operating system?

This conversation introduces a new cultural model for the unemployed and self-employed that integrates inner development, nervous system awareness, and contribution, helping people build work that is not only meaningful, but sustainable and deeply aligned.

👉 Learn more and register here 👉

📅 May 30–31 • Austin, Texas

A two-day immersive experience for founders and leaders navigating complexity, pressure, and responsibility.

Because at a certain stage of growth, the real challenge isn’t strategy.

It’s capacity.

This immersion trains the nervous system of leadership, expanding your ability to hold complexity, make clearer decisions, and lead systems with steadiness.

👉 Learn more and register here 👉

Authentic Austin started with a simple idea.

That, in a city full of innovation, ambition, and creativity, people also deserve spaces where they can show up as humans first.

Not just roles.
Not just resumes.
Not just what they’re building.

Over time, these gatherings have become something quietly powerful.

A room where founders, artists, operators, and curious humans can slow down, listen deeply, and meet each other without the usual scripts.

A place where new friendships, collaborations, and ideas emerge organically.

Not because anyone forced it.

But because the environment made it possible.

If you’ve ever left one of these gatherings feeling a little more connected to yourself and the people around you, then you’ve already felt what we’re building.

And we’re grateful you’re part of it.

We know SXSW can get busy.

There are a thousand things happening every night.

But if you're craving something a little slower, more human, and more real in the middle of it all… we'd love to see you.

These gatherings tend to fill with thoughtful, curious humans who are genuinely interested in connecting.

If that sounds like your kind of room, save your seat.

👉 RSVP for Austin Conscious Connection- SXSW Edition

One of the most beautiful things about these gatherings is seeing what unfolds afterward.

Friendships form.
Collaborations happen.
And people often leave feeling more connected and human than when they arrived.

Also, if you’re hosting an event during SXSW (or anytime) that feels aligned with the spirit of Authentic Austin, feel free to send it our way.

We’re always happy to take a look and occasionally highlight community events in future newsletters if they feel like a good fit.

This community grows through the people who show up and the spaces we create together.

See you soon.

Sandra

Authentic Austin is a community for founders, creatives, and thoughtful humans exploring a more human way of building, connecting, and living.

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