PART 2—What SXSW EDU Taught Me About My Own Path

Mar 26

Storytelling, Voice, and the Books Waiting to Be Written

Coming out of Part 1—the ideas, the people, the impossible session choices—what lingered wasn’t any single event. It was the collective feeling that this field is full of people carrying stories, frameworks, and lived expertise that deserve to be shaped and shared. Everywhere I went, I kept hearing versions of the same truth: there are so many books waiting to be written.

That thread ran through almost every session I attended. Whether the topic was assessment, imagination, accessibility, or design, the underlying message was the same: people already hold the clarity and originality they need. What they often lack isn’t insight. It’s structure, support, and someone who can help them translate what they know into something readers can hold.

That realization stayed with in the two weeks I’ve been home. I’m imagining what these ideas could become with the right editorial partnership—how many stories can travel farther, how many educators can step into authorship with confidence instead of hesitation. It reminded me why I do this work: not to “fix” anyone’s writing, but to help people name what they already know, shape it with intention, and build something that carries their voice forward.

But this year brought something else into focus, something more personal.

As I flew home, I kept thinking about how different this SXSW EDU felt from every other year. Last year, I was still mid‑transition, not yet independent and unsure of what shape my work (and life) would take. I could feel the change brewing. When I gave my solo talk, I knew it was a recap of the work I had done until then. I knew, even then, it was a way for me to express my gratitude for the experiences and opportunities that the Department of State had given me. And throughout the conference last year, I was aware of—and trying to quiet—the part of me that wondered whether I belonged in rooms without an institutional title attached to my name. I could feel how attached I was to that identity, and I wasn’t yet sure how to step away from it while imposter syndrome kept whispering that I didn’t belong without it. It was a tender, uncertain place to stand.

This year felt steadier. I walked into sessions, conversations, and meetups with a clearer sense of who I am and what I bring. I’m still an introvert at heart, but I no longer need a badge to validate my presence. The work I’ve done this past year—the clients I’ve supported, the ideas I’ve helped shape—has created an internal scaffolding I didn’t have before. It’s also why I chose to put my own name at the center of my business and brand; I wanted to stand behind my work fully, not hide behind an institution or a studio name that could speak for me. Claiming my name felt like a quiet step toward claiming my voice.

The net I felt last year was still there too. Mentors, colleagues, friends, and fellow travelers continued to show up in ways that made it easier to say yes to new opportunities and follow threads of possibility. Their support helped me trust that the path would reveal itself if I kept moving.

One of the clearest realizations I’m taking with me is that I want to amplify others, but I don’t want to disappear behind them. I’m not only an editor working quietly in the background. I’m also a writer, a leader, and someone with my own ideas to contribute. I want to help thought leaders shape their stories while also stepping forward with something to say. It doesn’t have to be either/or. I can support others and still claim my own voice.

This conference reminded me that there are many paths available when you stay open, say yes more often than no, and pay attention to the signs pointing you toward the next right thing. SXSW EDU has always been a place where ideas spark. This year, it also felt like a place where I could see the next chapter of my own work taking shape—clearer, steadier, and more aligned than ever.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If you’re curious about how your own teaching, speaking, or writing instincts might translate into a book or a bigger body of work, I’d love to talk with you.

You can book a 30‑minute discovery call here: https://www.jacquiegardy.com/contact

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