For the longest time, the idea of a developer conference terrified me. The thought of walking into a massive room filled with brilliant people, all of whom seemed to know each other, was the perfect recipe for my imposter syndrome to flare up. "What would I even say?" "Am I technical enough to be here?"
But I decided to rip the band-aid off. And not just with one conference, but two. Back-to-back.
Last week, I attended my first-ever software developer conferences: Blavity's AfroTech and Google's Chrome Dev Summit. In theory, two 2-day conferences in a row seemed like a good idea. In reality, it was an exhausting, overwhelming, and absolutely awesome experience.
The Pre-Conference Jitters Are Real
Before I went, my mind was racing with all the classic introvert fears. But I did what any good developer does: I researched. I stumbled upon a fantastic post, "The Introvert's Guide to Tech Conferences," which gave me a bit of a game plan. (Shout out to @tvanblargan for sharing this—it really helped!).
Even with a plan, the nerves were there. But I had my ticket, so there was no backing out.
More Than Just Talks
I won't go into a deep dive on every technical talk I attended, but I'll describe the whole experience with four hashtags: #insightful, #pivotal, #motivational, and #worthIt.
The talks were fantastic, but I quickly learned that the real magic happens between the sessions. It happens in the line for coffee, while grabbing lunch, or just finding a place to charge your laptop. This is the famous "hallway track," and it's where I met some amazing people and got incredible tips that you just can't get from watching a YouTube video.
Conversations started easier than I thought. Sometimes it was as simple as, "Hey, what did you think of that last talk?" I chatted with a senior engineer from a major tech company about a bug I was stuck on, and they sketched out a solution on a napkin. I met a founder who gave me career advice that changed my perspective on my five-year plan.
It was a whirlwind of new faces, powerful ideas, and a whole lot of free coffee.
My Survival Guide for Your First Dev Conference
Now that I've survived (and actually, thrived), I want to share a few tips that I wish I'd known beforehand. If you're on the fence about attending your first conference, this is for you.
Set a Small, Realistic Goal. Don't go in with the goal of "networking with everyone." That's impossible and stressful. Instead, aim for something manageable, like: "I want to have a real conversation with three new people today," or "I will ask one speaker a question after their talk." This gives you a clear, achievable mission.
The Hallway Track is the Main Event. Most of the talks will be recorded and posted online later. The unique, spontaneous conversations you have with other attendees won't be. Don't feel guilty about skipping a session to continue a great conversation with someone. That's often where the most value is.
Prepare a Simple Opener. The hardest part is starting the conversation. Have a few easy, low-stakes questions ready. "Hi, I'm Kenny. What brings you to this conference?" or "Any talks you're really excited about today?" That's all it takes to get the ball rolling.
It's Okay to Recharge. Seriously, conference burnout is real. You're "on" all day, processing tons of new information and interacting with people. It is 100% okay to find a quiet corner, skip a session, and just decompress for 30 minutes. Your brain will thank you.
So, if you're like I was—nervous, unsure, and a little intimidated—I can tell you this: It's worth it. It was tiring, but it was pivotal. It was overwhelming, but it was motivational.
Just book the ticket. I promise you won't die.
Kenny out! ✌🏽