RD Summit 2023 lands in São Paulo for the first time and breaks records in its 9th edition

Between the 8th and 10th of November, the RD Summit 2023 shook the city of São Paulo and made history with illustrious participation, record number of subscribers, activations from the biggest brands in Brazil and lots of content about marketing and business. It is clear that the Beatz I was there to attend this event that has already become a tradition for those who work in marketing, business, innovation and technology.

Considered the biggest event in this sector in Latin America, each year the RD Summit mobilizes the biggest names in the market to hold lectures and workshops on the hottest topics, in addition to stimulating debate on trends that could move business. The 9th edition could not be any different. Among all the topics covered, three caught attention: artificial intelligence (AI), the importance of creativity and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategies.

When it comes to AI, the event served to expose how it can be useful to the market, but also to reassure those who are scared by the tool. “GPT chat doesn’t know what it means to be human, or to be alive,” said Marcos Piangers, podcaster and speaker.

With regard to ESG, the organization of the RD Summit 2023 took seriously the importance of commitment to socio-environmental responsibility and showed that the movement is essential in corporate management. This was especially marked by the talk by Buddhist spiritual leader Monja Coen.

When it comes to creativity, in addition to the panels, the theme was also highlighted throughout the event with branding activations, shows and other attractions.

RD Summit 2023: making history in its 9th edition

In its 10 years – and nine editions thanks to setbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic – the RD Summit has made history. In 2023, however, it reached heights never before imagined.

Traditionally held in Florianópolis, capital of Santa Catarina, this year the event expanded its horizons and landed in São Paulo. This movement is quite symbolic, after all, it is in the capital of São Paulo where the largest concentration of companies related to marketing and innovation is located.

This way, the RD Summit could more easily attract an even larger audience... That's exactly what happened. There were more than 15 thousand participants who were able to follow the lectures of 120 guests, in addition to enjoying musical attractions and activations from brands such as TikTok, Google and even McDonalds.

Even before the adrenaline of the success of the 9th edition has subsided, RD Station, the company responsible for holding the event, has already released the information to the RD Summit 2024. The address will remain the same, taking place at Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo (SP), and this time, on the 06th, 07th and 08th of November 2024.

In 2023, how did it work?

There were three days – November 08th, 09th and 10th, from Wednesday to Friday – of the event that took place at the Expo Center Norte pavilion, in the north zone of the city of São Paulo. The schedule was intense. Every day, there were more than 40 lectures distributed over an 8-hour day.

The tracks were divided into nine thematic sessions: Marketing, Sales, Innovation and Technology, Conversational, Customer Experience and Customer Success, Personal Development, Management and Strategy, Diversity and Inclusion and E-commerce.

In addition to the content, those who attended the RD Summit were also able to take advantage of the opportunities to boost their business through networking. After all, representatives from thousands of companies were there and the event featured a business fair, called Business Festival, with the presence of the most relevant brands in the current scenario, such as Meep, The Coffee, TikTok for Business, iPlace, Sympla, LinkedIn and lobby.

Finally, participants could conclude each day of this marathon with the special touches of musical attractions. On the Business Festival stage, the pagode group Jeito Moleque and the singer Bochecha were some of the artists who rocked the event. Furthermore, more than 80 food trucks were parked there, where it was also possible to find tattoo workshops, brand experience and other exhibits.

Days of lots of learning and fun, without a doubt. That's exactly what our beatmakers thought of RD Summit 2023.

Check out Beatz's experience at the event below.

What did we think?

We couldn't stay out of the biggest marketing, business and innovation event in Latin America. In the end, marketing, business e innovation It's the essence of Beatz! Furthermore, We have already participated in other editions and know the quality of the project. Therefore, below we will share some of our favorite moments and what the beatmaker experience was like at RD Summit 2023.

Our development

We consider events like these essential to have direct contact with market innovations and trends. It is a way for professionals and companies to develop in collaboration and synergy. Therefore, it is certain that such a marathon of content brought profound benefits to Beatz's work next year.

Luíza, a member of our design team and who was at RD Summit 2023, explains that the lectures contributed “insights and reflections on relevant topics in everyday life, which will serve as an aid for future work, helping to always create something better” .

Furthermore, each piece of content not only brought an expansion of ideas and discoveries of new methods in all the sectors in which we operate. In fact, we also gained insights into implementing techniques and strategies in team development. In short, “having part of the team present at the event serves as a bridge to new knowledge and continuous improvement”, explains the designer.

The lectures of RD Summit 2023

There were hundreds of lectures. Beatz representatives at RD Summit 2023 did everything they could to be able to participate in as many of them as possible, and thus make the most of the event. Our Customer Success analyst, Giovanna, attended more than 14 panels with topics ranging from artificial intelligence to mental health. She says that all the speeches “had their strengths, information that we can use in our daily lives and implement in our work”. Even so, we have selected some highlights that caught our attention.

Ancient term, contemporary explanation

In the lecture “YOUR ATTENTION HAS BEEN HACKED!” from the psychologist and one of the most influential HR professionals in Brazil, Genesson Honorato, we understand a little about the so-called “Attention Economy”. The theory was popularized in the 70s, but it is more current than ever. According to Honorato, “our attention is and will increasingly be the large market economy”, explains Luíza.

Furthermore, the psychologist highlighted the human power to create tools that can later shape us, as happens with social networks, for example. In fact, it was an important opportunity for us to analyze the paths of marketing and technology from a less conventional perspective.

Structuring creativity

Another moment that left the beatmakers speechless was during the speech by Vinícios Gambeta, from Agência de Bolso. With the talk “IDEATION METHODS: HOW TO NEVER RUN OUT OF IDEAS AGAIN”, he surprised people by explaining his way of creating. In summary, there are six stages – Substitution, Combination, Reorganization, Incubation, Over-Acceptance, Excavation and Limitation – each with a decisive role in the process, which, in the end, will result in a good idea.

However, praise also came for the way the speaker conducted the 60 minutes of the exhibition. It was full of examples, dynamics, informality and lightness, “in addition to being very funny and super creative”, says the designer. These aspects “were essential for her to win my heart” he continues. All of this consolidated this presentation as one of the beatmakers' favorites, after all, creativity is our most valuable asset.

People of the present and future

Also addressing aspects of the dynamics of human beings with technological resources that have gained market attention in recent years, such as AIs, the talk “HUMAN FUTURES” intrigued some, while reassuring others. This is because presenter Marcos Piangers led the audience on a journey of discovery about the possibilities and limitations of Artificial Intelligence.

Piangers explained that, in some cases, doctors can now provide care without even looking patients in the eye, because there are fully automated processes. Furthermore, they can also replace people in harmful and dangerous jobs. To illustrate, he cited some extreme situations that actors and models are subjected to in advertising productions.

The conclusion, however, is less alarming. The speaker reminded us that, at first, technological development can always be scary, even so, it is inevitable. The fundamental thing is that we must consider that nothing compares to the humanity of humans, pardoning the redundancy. In other words, human life occurs “when two connections occur between people”, explains Luíza, “because above all else, if there is no human connection, there is no life” she concludes.

The fun of RD Summit 2023

The entertainment was an event in itself. Amid so much content and networking, participants also enjoyed several moments of relaxation and celebration. All of this in an “incredible structure”, in Giovanna’s words. The space had access resources for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users, as well as an exclusive room for individuals sensitive to visual and sound stimuli. Furthermore, all presentations included simultaneous translation into Libras, as well as audio description for people with visual impairments.

Finally, to truly do justice to all the traditions of the corporate world, the conference days ended with a happy hour complete with cold beer, a show and DJs, which made the event even more lively and fun. Such immersion could be missed, so, to ease the need and anxiety for the next edition, congress attendees were able to take home exclusive gifts, with items personalized with the 'face' of RD Summit 2023.

Although it has already become a tradition among professionals in the field, the 9th edition of the RD Summit really made history, not only in terms of audience, structure and guests, but also for its consolidation as one of the most important events in the market and, of course, in the hearts of the participants.

Luíza knows this well, after all, “the entire event will be an experience that I will carry with me forever. Full of learning and good memories, the RD Summit is a great moment in the lives of communication lovers.”