Why YOU Should Speak at
Technical Conferences
Poornima Vijayashanker
#femgineerforum
@femgineer
June 19, 2014 1

Background
• Femgineer
• Forums
2

Agenda
• Why you should speak at technical conferences.
• How to brainstorm topics.
• How to submit a proposal.
• How to structure a talk.
• How to engage an audience.
• How to get over stage fright.
• How to get paid to speak!
• Breakout session
3

Let’s wait in line together!
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Why would anyone care
about what I have to say?
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Experiences & perspective.
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Someone more inexperienced.
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What I call networking!
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People come to you!
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Opportunities.
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What do I talk about?
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Heads down.
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Don’t have time...
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Take stock of past projects.
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A problem you solved.
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Something you learned.
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Share it with someone.
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How do I submit a proposal?
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• Keynote
• Lightning
• Panel
• Workshop
Types of Talks
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Audience.
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Who is attending?
Interests?
Experience level?
Companies?
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• Title
• Summary
• Takeaways
• Format
• Level
Proposal
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Don’t fear being clear!
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How do I structure a talk?
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Narrow scope.
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Wide open.
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High level.
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Strategy.
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Step-by-step.
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Balanced.
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How do I keep them engaged?
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Storytelling.
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Connection.
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Sign post.
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Connect the dots!
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Stage fright?
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Prep
Practice
Poise
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Record yourself.
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Getting paid to speak.
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ASK!
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Contract.
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Review
• Why you should speak at technical conferences.
• How to brainstorm topics.
• How to submit a proposal.
• How to structure a talk.
• How to engage an audience.
• How to get over stage fright.
• How to get paid to speak!
• Breakout session
43

Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: justin@femgineer.com
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Additional Resources
• How to Start Getting Speaking Engagements
• Presentation Zen Book
• Presentation Zen Blog
• Screw the Script
• Sample Presentations
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Q&A
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Breakout Session!
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KEY OBJECTIVE(S) AGENDA
DELIVERABLE
BREAK OUT SESSION
Come up with a topic. 30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.
1. Introduce yourself to the group.
2. Take stock of past projects, problems,
or what you recently learned that you’d
like to share.
3. Create a title for the talk.
4. What are the takeaways?
5. Share it with the group.
Short presentation
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Confident Communicator
Get on the mailing list!
Visit http://femgineer.com/learn/confident-
communicator-course
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