Foojay Podcast #88: From Code to Stage: Organizing Conferences and Finding Your Voice as a Speaker
What turns a nervous first-timer into a confident conference speaker? Plenty of developers have a story worth sharing, but the path from idea to stage feels foggy. In this conversation we hear from organizers, coaches, and speakers at every stage of that path. We talk with Stephan Janssen, Martin Smelt, Brian Vermeer, Annelore Egger, Daniël Floor, Berwout de Vries Robles, and Susanne Pieterse in Foojay Podcast #88.
What we talked about
- Organizing a conference, with twenty years of perspective from Devoxx
- How the CFP process works and what organizers look for
- Why conferences welcome new and unknown speakers
- The first steps for someone who wants to start public speaking
- Speaker coaching and how it shapes a talk
- The role of Java User Groups in growing new voices
- The learning value conferences bring to attendees and speakers alike
What stood out
Organizers actively want fresh faces on the schedule. Coaches and peers help shape a rough idea into a clear talk. The Java community keeps showing up for people who take that first step.
See the Foojay Podcast #88 for all info, shownotes, links, etc.