The Future of Work

How do the arts, tech and start-ups align to create economic opportunity?

This forum brought together speakers from Austin, Texas and Albuquerque to explore business models for the arts, “artistic” approaches to starting and rebooting businesses, and what the fusion of art and entrepreneurship means for the future of work.

Guest speakers included Eugene Sepulveda and Steven Tomlinson who work in Austin focusing on the expanding space where art, technology and business intersect. Sepulveda is the founder of Culturati, the CEO of the Entreprenuers Foundation and Director & Partner in Captial Factory, the center of gravity for entrepreneurship in Texas. He also serves as a Senior Advisor and Treasurer for Austin Mayor Steve Adler. He previously served as co-chair of President Obama’s LGBTQ Leadership Council and as CEO/President for Marfa Public Radio, an NPR affiliate. He brings over 30 years experience working at the intersection of business, government and community from banking, high tech startups, higher education and politics. He taught social entrepreneurship and global business practicums at the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business in the MBA and undergraduate business programs.

Steven Tomlinson, Ph.D., coaches Wall Street, Fortune 500 and high-tech start up executives and managers. He is a Founding Master Teacher at the Acton School of Business for Entrepreneurship. He taught economics and finance at The University of Texas at Austin where he designed and directed the MBA professional development program. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Ministry at the Seminary of the Southwest and an accomplished playwright and performer. His award-winning solo shows have been produced in Austin and off-Broadway.

Sarita Nair is CAO for the City of Albuquerque, where she oversees all 19 departments of municipal government and nearly a billion dollar budget. Previously, as a business lawyer, she had the opportunity to work for a wide range of small and family businesses across New Mexico, to represent both companies and governments in industrial revenue bond and Local Economic Development Act transactions, and to understand first-hand the challenges of access to capital, succession planning and strategic growth that our local businesses face.

Solve Maxwell is an entrepreneur, investor, advisor & consultant, and trader who has been engaged in crypto-related business since 2011. He’s currently the CEO of Code Castle Corporation, a masternode operating company. As an advisor, he’s assisted several companies from conception, to initial coin offering (“ICO”), to launched products and beyond. As a consultant he has assisted companies in a wide range of matters, from working with new users developing techniques to better secure government. As an investor he’s been involved in more than 50 Blockchain projects, including some of the largest ICOs from 2015 to date. He’s currently advising a startup tech company that has invented a new technology enabling long distance, 10Gbps datat transmission.

The forum is moderated by Shelle Sanchez, Director of Cultural Services for the City of Albuquerque, who has more than 25 years of professional experience and leadership in arts, culture and education. She holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Special Education, and a B.A. in Spanish and French from the University of New Mexico. Most recently, she has worked as an independent contractor and project manager with many local nonprofits, institutions, and community initiatives that connect arts, education, entrepreneurship and community.