My ShiftCon Experience

Leah Segedie; Creater ShiftCon, Tracy Loeppky

Let me tell you about my ShiftCon Social Media Conference experience. 
In a word? WOW.

So, what is ShiftCon?

“ShiftCon is an eco-wellness influencer conference focusing on food, wellness, health, sustainability and platform growth. Shifters are part of an online influencer community that seek healthier and more sustainable lives, promote brands that mirror their values, and help causes that speak to their soul. Our influencers span between newbies, light and deep green. Shift happens. Be part of it.” 

Via www.ShiftConMedia.com/about 

Some of the amazing team! And JP Sears.

This year boasted numbers which were record breaking for ShiftCon: nearly 70 brands exhibiting, nearly 350 attendees, 50 some speakers, and 15 sit-in learning sessions. It was crazy and mind-blowing!

What is a Social Media Influencer?

Leah Segedie, speaking.
The theme was Succulents.

These are the people online who talk about brands, products and their experiences with them. The online presence that defines what we buy, how we think about these brands we buy from, and who are on the leading and cutting edge of media information.
Their social resonance, reach, and relevance dictate and guide that market in which we purchase. These can be media sources, bloggers, chefs, and media personalities.

ShiftCon’s CEO and founder, Leah Segedie, is just such an influencer. In fact, she is one of the pioneers of the social media influencer world.
Leah’s reach is far and wide; brands, bloggers and companies who are committed to changing the landscape of Eco-Wellness, Safe Food and Products, and Education on what is safe and what is not in this global economy.
Her dedication to safer foods and products is second to none, and her in-depth research is the stuff of legend.

I became a part of ShiftCon after meeting with, and working with Leah online and on Facebook. She came to me with the proposition of becoming the Speaker Coordinator after her original staff member became very ill.
 

1. I was thrilled!
2. Then I was terrified.
3. Then I was terrified and self conscious.

My view from the 8th floor of the Hilton Riverside New Orleans

However, this was short lived, as the team she had in place helped me to quickly realize I was in very good company and had a support system that would never fail me, or the people I had in my care.

After long months of planning, emailing, calling, conference calling, texting, uploading, “saving-to” and shitting my pants and then more emailing - the time had come to hop on a plane and get to New Orleans!

Just 1 of the amazing people
I met; Alyssa Curran

(Side note: I had not flown anywhere in 18 years. Pre-9/11. Shit’s changed yo. But that’s another story!)

We stayed and held the conference at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans. A sprawling, vast space that was grand and beautiful. Settled right next to the Mighty Mississippi and a stones throw from the French Quarter.
ShiftCon occupied a huge wing of the conference centre where I came to live for 6 days … I’ve NEVER walked so much in MY LIFE. Up and down and around, then back down, up and around.

When the bloggers and speakers began to arrive, I was feeling the butterflies becoming restless … but then I met them. (Enter the Hallelujah Chorus)
These are a group of people who are SO dedicated and like minded that I was in joyous awe. They have all arrived for the sole purpose of learning, teaching and helping each other to maintain a common goal: Healthy food, healthy families, better products and environment. 

One of the 15 available sit-in sessions

Our Speakers were mind-blowing! We had every kind of blogger, brand, and in-the-trenches teacher(s) who KNEW how to make this world a better place.

There were:

• Doctors
• Farmers
• Eco-Lifestyle Bloggers
• Social Media Techies
• Eco-Wellness Warriors
• Real Food Advocates
• Mantra Loving Comedians
• Fitness Experts
• Guerrilla Gardeners
• Brands - these are the companies who have committed to BETTER and BETTER foods and health products!
• NonProfits - who also are completely integral to making our world a better place and keeping brands accountable to the consumer!

*For a full list of these amazing people - check out www.ShiftConMedia.com

One teeny row out of 6 in the Brand Exhibition!

The 3 day conference was a whirlwind of excitement, lifelong friendship, great food (thanks to the amazing food sponsors), laughing, a little stressing here and there, but all-in-all a life-changing and memorable experience.

The FoooooooD!

Me and JP. Total buds. *ha*

In 2018, ShiftCon will be in Irvine, California. 
As one of the few, if not only, Canadian present at ShiftCon, I encourage all you of reading to look into going. 
You will not be disappointed! If you are interested - feel free to contact me with questions and I will do my very best to answer them.
If you are a social media influencer, please contact ShiftCon to see how you may be involved or attend in 2018.


 

I cannot hold enough gratefulness in my soul for the amazing experience this was, and will be in the future!



Peace!