&gt; Has any city jumped from regional center to international metropolis so quickly, without ever passing through a period of being a national city? Austin has emerged as a world-class destination and a world-shaking center of innovation in a decade.<p>Why do I keep hearing this, but only from Austinites? I put Austin in about the same category as Minneapolis; I&#x27;m vaguely aware it exists but not of anything going on there.<p>What are the major globally relevant corporations headquartered in Austin? Major NGOs? Famous cultural events? (Compare the level of coverage of SXSW to London Fashion Week). Dominant, influential film studios or publishing houses?<p>Why do I keep hearing Austin talked about in the same breath as SF or New York as a major global city? It&#x27;s not even a &quot;national city&quot; to me.