By Shalki Mishra, also published on LinkedIn
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend two of the most amazing global tech conferences, JSNation and React Summit in Amsterdam, thanks to the Diversity Scholarship from GitNation. Volunteering at these events further enriched my experience, allowing me to interact with community members and learn firsthand from professionals.
- Organising a large-scale event is no easy task - Witnessing the intricacies of planning and executing the two events for 60+ speakers and 25k+ attendees, both in-person and remote, gave me a newfound appreciation for GitNation's efforts. From finalising a fantastic venue, working with speakers and sponsors, organising pre-event workshops, and scheduling two parallel tracks to more fun activities like pre and after-parties, food trucks and boat tours to provide a complete Amsterdam experience. I was amazed to see the energy of the crew, who was working till the last minute.
- The power of the volunteer community: Events like these are organised with a team of enthusiastic volunteers who join purely out of love for helping and giving back to the tech community. It is a commitment that inspired me too. I learned a lot working alongside a diverse mix of developers with various backgrounds and expertise, including those who had volunteered for multiple tech events over the years.
- Building connections - From learning JavaScript from speakers like Wes Bos, and Erick Wendel to getting a chance to meet them in person was a highlight. Their infectious energy and invaluable guidance made a lasting impression on me. Engaging with sponsors and attendees from diverse countries further broadened my perspective as we discussed their work and the latest tech tools they use.
- Learning never stops - Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the vast array of libraries/tools being discussed that I hadn't encountered before. But I soon realised, like me, not every speaker or attendee present there was an expert. It was wonderful to see how people were willing to learn from each other, regardless of their levels and years of experience.
- Women in Tech - Listening to the talks and meeting talented female developers like Jecelyn Yeen, Anuradha Kumari, Maya Shavin, Charlotte Isambert, Trushitha Narla, and more was an eye-opening experience, and their early career journeys inspired me greatly. It has helped me envision my own career in the field of technology, aligning it with my interests and aspirations.
- Global Representation - Despite the tech community's openness and available roadmaps for learning existing technologies, fostering diversity requires further efforts. While the majority of conference attendees were from Europe, I hope to connect with more developers from other regions, like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, and beyond, in the coming years to cultivate a globally representative and inclusive community.
Reflecting on my growth over the past year, I'm grateful for the incredible resources that have supported my journey as a web developer. Attending these conferences has been a rewarding experience, shaping my perspective, enriching my knowledge, and expanding my professional network.
Shout out to the hardworking crew at GitNation - Darya Shabala, Valeriya Zaitseva, Veronika Kozhuchovskaya, who put their energy till the very end and pulled off these events!
I am excited to attend React Day Berlin happening later this year; feel free to reach out to learn more about attending, volunteering or applying for the Diversity Scholarship 🌍💪
#JSNation #ReactSummitAmsterdam #TechConferences #DiversityScholarship #Volunteering #ProfessionalGrowth #CommunityBuilding #Networking