magine a conference where speakers and attendees have a simultaneous, truly collabora- tive experience, making real and lasting con-
nections. Somewhere tropical and gorgeous, with a program that raises thousands of dollars for people in need. It would be, in a word, awesome, right? That’s why they call it Awesomeness Fest — an
annual nonprofit, four-day experiential conference for social entrepreneurs that debuted in Costa Rica in November 2010. “What makes Awesomeness Fest so unique,” said Kara Zigay, an Awesomeness Fest representative, “is that we don’t separate the speakers from the attendees. There is no backstage.”
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EXCLUSIVITY Held this year on Nov. 2–5 at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Awesomeness Fest annually draws 250 to 300 attendees, ranging from writers and musi- cians to marketing directors of Fortune 500 companies — all looking to affect the world in a positive way. Past speakers have included Lisa Nichols, bestselling author and one of the stars of the self-help book and documentary The Secret, and Tiffany Persons, founder of Shine on Sierra Leone, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for communities in Sierra Leone.
Two-Way Presentation Lisa Nichols encouraged Awesomeness Fest attendees to actively participate, giving everyone an opportunity to collaborate.