Celebrating its 10th anniversary with a packed house of more than 300 attendees, the Women in Consumer Technology organization hosted Gen X icon Lisa Loeb as its guest speaker.

Loeb burst onto the mid-1990s music scene as the first unsigned artist to score a number one hit with her song “Stay.”

Now, almost a quarter century later, the Grammy-winning Loeb remains a popular singer/songwriter, as well as an author and entrepreneur with her own line of eyeglasses.

Before discussing the challenges of balancing her career and motherhood, the self-admitted electronics nerd jokingly looked upon the room and said the Women in Consumer Electronic Technology gathering was unique for an electronics trade event.

“I’m so happy to be here today at CEDIA,” noted Loeb.

“This is the most women I’ve seen at this event … if you are looking for a man, this is a great place to come.”

Before her performance and presentation, Loeb pointed out that industries and trade events like CEDIA are populated by an overwhelming amount of men, and that is important the electronics industry consider the contributions women can make to the market. 

“I'm here at CEDIA and I'm at the Women in Consumer Technology special event today,” she exclaimed. 

“I think it is really important that I'm here because if you walk around [the] CEDIA [Expo] you'll notice—there is not a lot of women here, and I do [why] exactly, but I think women have a lot to add to the entire field of technology in all shapes and forms.”

Camp Lisa Foundation 

Drawing parallels to her musical career as well as her entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts, Loeb talked about the early struggles of her music career before talking about her life today, which involves playing a few shows a week and heading home in order to maintain her duties as a mother of two.

“My suitcase is ready to go quickly,” she joked.

“I like playing concerts, and meeting people, but I like being a stay-at-home mom too.”

Before her presentation concluded she explained her charity, the Camp Lisa Foundation, a tie-in with the children’s music she’s written.

Loeb says the foundation sends kids to summer camp so they can experience the fun that is only available through these types of kids’ activities.

During her Q&A session with Lisa Johnston, content director of Twice, Loeb emphasized that regardless of whether it was rock and roll or technology,  women should follow a career path they enjoy.

She also stated that people who have had successful careers have found that balance, so it is important for women to carve time out of their schedules for themselves.

“Sometimes we don’t always get time to do what we want to do,” she said.

“I feel that people that are the most successful do what they want …  don’t do the right thing, do what you want, you’ll be fine.”

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Circling back to music and her love of electronics, Loeb reminded the Women in Consumer Technology crowd that despite the shift in music delivery mechanisms, there is still an abundance of great music available to fans.

“There is so much music and beautiful content out there,” said Loeb. “It still comes down to the idea of the song.”

Moving on, Loeb stressed that in today’s world technology is central to how we live as a society. “We use technology for everything,” she commented.

Talking about her family’s electronics, she said that her house contains a Dolby Atmos 9.1.4 immersive audio system with a Marantz home theater processor that serves as the central component of the system.

Her system also includes Emotiva amplifiers, Monitor Audio speakers, AudioQuest cabling, Furman power conditioning; a Logitech Harmony control, and a two-piece projection solution with a Screen Innovations (SI) screen and JVC projector.

After the luncheon event, Loeb said she was looking forward to walking the show floor to see the latest in consumer electronics.

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