MWC17 Our 17th Year In Attendance

As we approach the end of January MWC17 is now less than a month away. The great and the good of the mobile industry will gather in the Mobile World Capital Barcelona for MWC 17 which this year is themed The Next Element. What was initially a gathering of Mobile Solution Vendors attracting less than 15,000 visitors at the turn of the century, is now a Global Technology event attracting upwards 100,000 people from over 200 countries.

During the last 17 years we’ve observed the Mobile industry evolve from being about Devices to now being a platform upon which other industries rely. In the connected economy Mobile now plays a crucial role and touches virtually every industry and facet of life from wellness and health care, food and agriculture, through to automotive, banking, and public services to name a few.

This year’s event looks to be just as promising. It will be interesting to observe how Smart Cities, the Connected Car and the Internet Of Things have progressed. Other topics which I believe will dominate the conversation will center on security & privacy which continues to be a major issue and the growth of Virtual Reality devices / platforms and their uses.

In addition to the massive exhibition and conference, a number of special events will take place during MWC which we are certainly looking forward to such as the GLOMO Awards that recognize innovators in the industry, and 4YFN (4 Years From Now), the focal point of the growing global tech startup community. In the spirit of pushing the diversity agenda and inspiring the next generation the GSMA has initiated the Women4Tech Programme and YoMo which is the Youth Mobile Festival. Overall MWC17 once again presents a great opportunity to grasp current state of the mobile industry and the future innovations which are coming in a not so distant future and the challenges and opportunities they represent. New to 2017 is a fresh program format that includes more sessions—and more chances for in-depth coverage of the topics and trends shaping the industry as it is today, and going forward.

MWC Highlights

Here are some of the can’t-miss highlights of the 2017 Mobile World Congress!

4YFN

A personal favourite of ours, this year marks the 4^th year for 4 Years From Now. With over 600 new startups exhibiting, inspiring speakers who’ve transformed their startups into billion dollar organizations, more than 700 investors and corporations looking for the next big idea, and 12,500+ attendees, this event is an industry conference in it’s own right which you don’t want to miss. I’m looking forward to seeing the next generation of innovators and disruptors and connecting with the global start-up community to see how the challenges and opportunities which Mobile Disruption, IoT and Digital Media will be addressed.

YoMo

The Youth Mobile Festival aims to inspire young people and help them learn more about rewarding careers within the STEAM ecosystem. Those registered for YoMo will join up to 20,000 10 to 16 year olds from across Catalonia and Spain who get to experience live theatre shows, interactive workshops, and hands-on activities that showcase science and technology.

Women4Tech

Women4Tech is a new GSMA programme focused on addressing and reducing the gender gap in the mobile industry. The four-day experience is open to all and will offer an in-depth analysis of topics related to increasing gender diversity in the industry. Of particular note is the Women4Tech Summit, where attendees will learn best practices for female leadership in the digital age from corporate influencers. The Summit takes place on Thursday, March 2^nd.

Global Mobile Awards

The highly-anticipated 22^nd Glomo Awards are here! These ceremonies, which take place throughout MWC, will be broadcast to a global audience. Find out which technologies, products, services, organisations, and people are leading the mobile industry through innovation, excellence, and achievement.

The Hashtag

In keeping with the theme of mobile technology, social media continues to play an important role at MWC17. Did you know that MWC17 was mentioned over half a million times on social media, responded to 1,000+ queries, trended over 48 hours, and was tagged in more than 13,000 photos in 2016?

Like last year, MWC organisers will continue to read comments about the event, answer questions, and bring you the latest news and updates on all their social media platforms, including Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter! Join the conversation before, during, and after the show by using the hashtag: #MWC17!

Then, take your participation in the event to the next level with the My MWC Event App. The app provides you with important event information, lets you explore the event agenda, and helps you plan your schedule. You can check out the exhibitor listing, take notes, or favourite those you plan to meet in-person. My MWC17 also offers recommendations on sessions, exhibitors, and networking opportunities of interest to you.

When & Where

MWC17 will be held from February 27 to March 2 @ the Mobile World Capital Barcelona, Spain, at two venues: Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc. Be there, and be sure to participate in the dialogue by using this year’s hashtag: #MWC17!

Connect with our principal  Sol Jeewa

Will you be at MWC17? Sol has been attending the GSMA Mobile World Conference for 17 years sharing his insights and views with companies who are interested in attracting high performing sales and leadership talent. This year Sol will be providing  Talent Attraction Sessions and would love to connect with you. You can get in touch with Sol online by visiting the following links:

Twitter

SolomanAssociates

LinkedIn

Soloman Associates Linkedin

Or, book your session at MWC17  in person here.

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