Track: Optimizing Yourself

Day of week:

How can you maximize your impact as an engineer, as a leader, and as a person? Too frequently we don't realize that the things which limit our ability to grow technically or organizationally are often not themselves technical or organizational. It's usually not about mastering one more language idiom or learning one more new framework; it's almost always about bringing more energy, purpose, and focus to our work. It's not about working harder; it's about working smarter.

This track explores the critical personal force-multipliers that can help us all to Optimize Ourselves: mindfulness and meditation, communicating simply and effectively, empathy and emotional intelligence, overcoming overwhelm, etc. From topical experts to engineers speaking from personal experience, you will hear practical ways to achieve and maintain your edge.

Track Host: Wendy Closson

Lead Developer and Mindful Geek

Wendy Closson is an expert software developer with over a decade of experience immersed in coding and championing best practices. After a run-in with cancer, she expanded her expertise to practices that calm chaos, create clear communication, and nurture intuitive decision-making. From meditation to mob programming, Wendy is passionate about tools that bring clarity, collaboration and fun. She currently works at Corgibytes as a Lead Code Whisperer and coaches individuals to align their career with their heart.

Deep Listening: Creating Conversational Agility

One-third of all project failure is the result of poor communication and ineffective listening. In this presentation, you will learn how to increase your ability to respond to project breakdowns by simply changing the way you listen.

Topics covered:

  • Learn the latest developments in the neuroscience of listening
  • Learn the three levels of the Conversational Dashboard
  • Learn the three layers of Deep Listening

Brian Branagan, Silicon Valley Change Executive Coaching

Getting Old(er) in Tech: Staying Relevant

Is software a field just for twenty­somethings? In our fast­-paced industry, it can often feel that way. In this talk, Don Denoncourt will explore how to stay relevant in the tech industry. Don has over three decades experience with numerous tech stacks. He is currently a Lead Code Whisperer at Corgibytes and intends to be a programmer until he dies.

You'll learn:

  • Ways to keep your coding skills sharp, no matter how old you are.
  • Perspectives for technical growth.
  • How to be a life­long learner.

Whether you manage technical talent or want to keep your career deep in the code, this is one talk you won't want to miss.

Don Denoncourt, Lead Code Wisperer @Corgibytes

Practical Empathy: Unlock the Super Power

Is empathy a mystical power a few select people have or a practical learnable life-skill? In this talk, Pavneet will share how his journey towards empathy has helped with burnout, Imposter Syndrome, parenting and self-care. We will explore the core components of empathy and how a software developer can apply it to their approach to work and life. You will learn practical approaches and techniques to improve your empathy skills. Join Pavneet to discover how you can optimise yourself in your personal journey to empathy.

Pavneet Singh Saund, Empathy Driven Team Lead / Web Developer @Komplett.No

The Marriage of Communication and Code

Communication and Code are more inextricably linked than you would ever imagine, at least that's what Corgibytes founders Scott Ford and Andrea Goulet discovered. After running their software consultancy for two years together, they decided to tie the knot and get married. Little did they know that couples counseling would be a catalyst for supercharging their ability to navigate difficult conversations with clients, collaborate better with their team, and expand their own skill sets. Now, they'll share their top five tips with you so you can immediately improve your communication and accelerate your career.

Andrea Goulet, CEO & Co-Founder @Corgibytes | Named as LinkedIn Top 10 Professional Under 35 in Software
M. Scott Ford, Founder & Chief Code Whisperer @Corgibytes

The Effective Remote Developer

Being on a distributed team, working from your home or coffee shop isn't easy, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Making it work requires constant attention, as well as support from your team and organization. It's more than just setting up Slack and buying a webcam.

We'll learn what you can do to be your best self as a remote team member, as well as what you need from your environment, team, and company. It's not about technical stuff—it's the human stuff. We'll learn how can you be present and effective when you aren't physically there.

David Copeland, Director of Engineering

Tracks

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