Public speaking can be scary, but it can also be a great way to catapult your career! Unfortunately people hold themselves back from speaking at conferences because they either don't know what to share, or feel like they need to be an expert in order to speak. In this event, you'll learn: • Why you should speak at technical conferences • How to brainstorm and come up with topics to talk about • How to submit a proposal • How to structure a talk, engage with an audience, and keep those butterflies in your stomach at bay!

1. Why YOU Should Speak at
Technical Conferences
Poornima Vijayashanker
#femgineerforum
@femgineer
September 24, 2014
1

2. Background
• Femgineer
• Forums
2

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
3

4. Let’s wait in line together!
4

5. Why would anyone care
about what I have to say?
5

6. Experiences & perspective.
6

7. Someone more inexperienced.
7

8. What I call networking!
8

9. People come to you!
9

10. Opportunities.
10

11. What do I talk about?
11

12. Heads down.
12

13. Don’t have time...
13

14. Take stock of past projects.
14

15. A problem you solved.
15

16. Something you learned.
16

17. Share it with someone.
17

18. How do I submit a proposal?
18

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

20. Audience.
20

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

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

23. Don’t fear being clear!
23

24. How do I structure a talk?
24

25. Narrow scope.
25

26. Wide open.
26

27. High level.
27

28. Strategy.
28

29. Step-by-step.
29

30. Balanced.
30

31. How do I keep them engaged?
31

32. Storytelling.
32

33. Connection.
33

34. Sign post.
34

35. Connect the dots!
35

36. 36

37. Stage fright?
37

38. Prep
Practice
Poise
38

39. Try the power pose!
39

40. 40

41. Record yourself.
41

42. Identify the fear.
42

43. What is the worst thing that
could happen?
43

44. Getting paid to speak.
44

45. ASK!
45

46. Contract.
46

47. 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
47

48. Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: poornima@femgineer.com
48

49. Book launch on September 30th!
http://femgineer.com/transform-ideas
49

50. Additional Resources
• How to Start Getting Speaking Engagements
• Presentation Zen Book
• Presentation Zen Blog
• Screw the Script
• Sample Presentations
50

51. Q&A
51

52. 52

53. Breakout Session!
53

54. BREAK OUT SESSION
KEY OBJECTIVE(S) AGENDA
Come up with a topic. 30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.
DELIVERABLE
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
54

55. Confident Communicator Course
Get on the mailing list!
Visit http://femgineer.com
55