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

2. Background
• Femgineer
• Forums
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3. 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
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4. Let’s wait in line together!
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5. Why would anyone care
about what I have to say?
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6. Experiences & perspective.
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7. Someone more inexperienced.
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8. What I call networking!
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9. People come to you!
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10. Opportunities.
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11. What do I talk about?
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12. Heads down.
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13. Don’t have time...
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14. Take stock of past projects.
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15. A problem you solved.
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16. Something you learned.
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17. Share it with someone.
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18. How do I submit a proposal?
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19. • Keynote
• Lightning
• Panel
• Workshop
Types of Talks
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20. Audience.
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21. Who is attending?
Interests?
Experience level?
Companies?
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22. • Title
• Summary
• Takeaways
• Format
• Level
Proposal
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23. Don’t fear being clear!
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24. How do I structure a talk?
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25. Narrow scope.
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26. Wide open.
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27. High level.
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28. Strategy.
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29. Step-by-step.
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30. Balanced.
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31. How do I keep them engaged?
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32. Storytelling.
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33. Connection.
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34. Sign post.
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35. Connect the dots!
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36. 36

37. Stage fright?
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38. Prep
Practice
Poise
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39. Record yourself.
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40. Getting paid to speak.
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41. ASK!
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42. Contract.
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43. 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

44. Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: justin@femgineer.com
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45. Additional Resources
• How to Start Getting Speaking Engagements
• Presentation Zen Book
• Presentation Zen Blog
• Screw the Script
• Sample Presentations
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46. Q&A
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47. 47

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