Wrapping up an amazing websummit experience!
This was my first time attending, and I didn't know what to expect. But let me tell you, it exceeded all my expectations. The 4-day conference, including an opening night show, was jam-packed with fascinating sessions, panels, and Q&As. And if you prefer interactive learning, the expo area had 5 spacious pavilions filled with intriguing startups, scale-ups, unicorns, and regional booths. Plus, the delicious food trucks and sunny Portuguese weather made everything even better.
Coming in with some prejudices from past experiences in the tech industry, I thought I'd have to dig deep to find interesting content beyond the business metrics. Boy, was I wrong! The main focus, aside from the dominant theme of AI, revolved around privacy, sustainability, governance, security, and the human side of tech - topics close to my heart. It was inspiring to see discussions tackling poverty, inequality, health, accessibility, and internet access disparities.
Attending a conference solo for the first time since starting my consulting business this month, I wasn't sure how I'd fit into the crowd of 70k+ people, many of whom came with their work buddies. But from day 1, I felt a strong connection with this diverse crowd. Networking was a breeze, and I made valuable contacts through LinkedIn and the conference app.
Speaking of the app, I had read blog posts from previous editions of Websummit and knew that recordings from the central stage would be accessible even after the conference. So, I planned to attend smaller lectures in person and catch up on the central stage sessions later. However, I often found myself torn between multiple interesting sessions happening simultaneously. Luckily, most of them are available on the app, and I've already started watching the ones I missed live. The professionalism of the production team in organizing the conference was top-notch.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have secured a conference ticket through Websummit's developer program and my open-source contributions. Thank you, Websummit! 🙌 If you're like me, I highly recommend trying to get a ticket through the developer program next year (here's the info: https://lnkd.in/dKrtSEwh) and experiencing it for yourself. In the coming days, I'll share more detailed insights on trends and market predictions based on the lectures I watched. In the meantime, have a fantastic Sunday!
