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

Background • Femgineer • Forums
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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? 5

Experiences & perspective.
6

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? 18

• Keynote • Lightning •
Panel • Workshop Types of Talks 19

Audience.
20

Who is attending? Interests? Experience
level? Companies? 21

• Title • Summary •
Takeaways • Format • Level Proposal 22

Don’t fear being clear!
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How do I structure a
talk? 24

Narrow scope.
25

Wide open.
26

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? 31

Storytelling.
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Connection.
33

Sign post.
34

Connect the dots!
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Stage fright?
37

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 44

Additional Resources • How to
Start Getting Speaking Engagements • Presentation Zen Book • Presentation Zen Blog • Screw the Script • Sample Presentations 45

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 49

Confident Communicator Get on the
mailing list! Visit http://femgineer.com/learn/confident- communicator-course 50