Lilly Sparks, the visionary Texas-based entrepreneur behind women-led erotic wellness site afterglow, has been honored as a featured speaker at the upcoming SXSW panel ‘The Future of Sex: As Told by Women’ on Monday, March 14 at 2:30pm (CST).

The hour-long seminar will highlight and explore the challenges and triumphs of the sexual wellness industry’s newest leaders, as well as focus on innovation, tech and the seismic cultural shifts in this ever-expanding – and highly competitive – business, in 2022 and beyond.

“This SXSW panel is another step towards releasing the shame and stigma we have around sex in our society.  50% of women don’t orgasm during sex, so the status quo is NOT working.  Having this panel of accomplished, smart, talented women share the stage to talk about sex is a revolutionary act and I’m proud to be bringing the future to life.” said Sparks.“Sex and women’s sexual health is a topic we are working to normalize,” said Anna Lee, Co-founder of Lioness Smart Vibrator, a sex toy that helps women better understand their bodies using AI, precision sensors and biofeedback. “I’m proud to be partaking in this conversation continuing this important discussion.”

“We have so few real conversations about sex”, shares licensed marriage and family therapist and board-certified sex therapist, Shadeen Francis, whose work centers a commitment to bringing folks closer to peace and pleasure. “The most pleasurable sexual experiences we have come from presence and vulnerability, and we practice that through talking about our experiences, our fears, and our desires. This panel is an opportunity for us to hold space for exactly that, and to share with the audience what we’ve all learned along the way.”

‘The Future of Sex: As Told by Women’ is set to take place at the Austin Marriott Downtown. For more details, visit the SXSW schedule website.