Shaping Digital Futures: Work, Life, and Connection in a Tech-Driven World

Growing up, we were told to learn math because calculators weren’t everywhere. Today, most of us carry little black screens that guide our navigation, entertainment, social lives, and for many, our careers. In a world where digital dependence is unavoidable, young people are growing up with technology as the air they breathe, often pursuing careers as creators, influencers, or digital entrepreneurs – many doing five jobs at once.

What does this mean for mental health, creator rights, and the value of human connection? And what can be done to protect this critical connection?

Join the EU House at SXSW for a special event on Shaping Digital Futures: Work, Life, and Connection in a Tech-Driven World and explore how to navigate life, work, and relationships in a world we can almost never truly “opt out” of, and how the EU’s decade of innovation in digital governance is helping shape the future we all live in.

This event is organized by the EU Delegation to the United States.

Friday, March 13, 2026

• 5:15 pm: Doors open
• 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Fireside chat with EU Deputy Ambassador Ruth Bajada and Shira Lazar, Emmy-nominated host and founder of What’s Trending and Creators 4 Mental Health

Speakers:

Ruth Bajada, Deputy Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to the U.S.

Ms. Bajada has over 23 years of experience in EU affairs and 20 years in foreign policy. Between 2020-2024, she was the Deputy Director/Head of Division United States and Canada in the European External Action Service (EEAS). She has also served as the Political Advisor to the EEAS Secretary General (2019-2020) and was posted in Chile (2015-2019) and Lebanon (2012-2015).

Ms. Bajada joined the European institutions in 2002 and worked at the European Parliament and the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Malta, a master's degree in European studies from the College of Europe (Bruges-Belgium), and a master's degree in International Relations from ULB/Paris II.

Shira Lazar, Emmy-nominated host and founder of What’s Trending and Creators 4 Mental Health

Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated digital culture expert, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate with over 1 million followers across platforms. As the founder of , a pioneering digital news brand with 3+ million followers, she has been shaping the creator economy and social media trends for two decades. Shira was named one of Fast Company's Most Influential Women in Technology, honored on Variety's Women of Impact list, and featured on AdWeek’s AI Trailblazers Power100 list.

In 2024, she launched Creators 4 Mental Health, an initiative focused on bringing mental health tools to the creator economy through events, research and community programming. In 2026, Shira helped introduce the Creator Bill of Rights alongside Congressman Ro Khanna, advocating for fair labor standards, protections, and benefits for creators as workers and small business owners. She shares her insights on AI and the creator economy in her weekly newsletter, The Alpha. She also hosts a podcast series called The AI Download, exploring the future of AI and culture.

Disclaimer:
Registration for the events does not guarantee participation; admission will be prioritized based on early arrival. We thus recommend arriving promptly.

Photo(s) taken during the event/meeting will be used in EU communication activities including social media.

By registering, you agree to the collection and processing of your personal data by EU Delegation to the U.S., in compliance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Your information will only be used for event communication, coordination, and related follow-ups.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

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Host or Publisher European Union Delegation to the United States