We may not know it yet, but we’re all surfing 5 waves of disruption—the theme of this year’s General Session. Opening the session in front of one of the biggest screens I’ve ever seen, Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski addressed “something near and dear to our hearts”—our concerns that the world is more chaotic and our uncertainty about the future. These waves of disruption are headed for all of us, but as Jeff said, we can ride even the biggest wave with the right mindset and the right skill sets. AND it can be an exhilarating ride. Here’s what’s coming at you: READ MORE >

Last night’s well-attended AU Speaker Reception took place at the exotic nightclub Tao in the Venetian. In a darkened oriental-themed setting with multi-armed goddesses, loud rock music, and spinning lights, the speakers enjoyed themselves with lots of conversation and laughter. Servers wandered around offering drinks, 4 types of sushi, spring rolls, coconut shrimp with mustard sauce, grilled asparagus, and pork dumplings. Old acquaintances reconnected, and many made new friends. READ MORE >

What takes place in a very full room, with standing room only, and lots of excited AU novices?  It’s the first ever AU Freshman Orientation. Hosted by Lynn Allen, the orientation was designed to help first-timers (and even some veterans) get the most out of AU 2012. The session featured instant polling using Twitter via the attendees mobile devices—an AU first! READ MORE >

Have I got your attention? The AU Leadership Forum’s (AULF) General Session certainly caught mine. Thought-provoking presentations by Autodesk VPs Callan Carpenter, Brian Mathews, and Jon Pittman on strategy, tech trends, and the interplay of innovation and strategy really set the tone for today’s AULF executive panel and breakout sessions. READ MORE >

There’s always a lot of necessary last-minute preparation going on behind the scenes before AU begins, and this year is no exception. Rooms are being set up, signs placed, computers and printers connected, and introductory announcements are being recorded. A few early birds are wandering around getting the lay of the land. Meanwhile, many speakers are rehearsing their presentations. But even as all these preparations are being completed, many technology and business leaders representing a variety of industries have joined over 100 Autodesk executives at the Venetian in Las Vegas today to atten... READ MORE >