Jack McDade explores how to make meaningful change through deep work and mentorship. He discusses the challenges of the information age, the importance of focused work without distractions, and how teaching others through mentorship can create exponential impact. The talk emphasizes moving beyond surface-level information consumption to deeper understanding and application, while highlighting the power of small, consistent actions in achieving larger goals.
The talk focuses on how to successfully launch and maintain side projects while working a full-time job. The speaker shares her experience creating WeRead-2, a mobile directory for diverse children's books, and provides practical advice on project planning, time management, and avoiding burnout. She emphasizes the importance of starting small, setting realistic goals, and not getting caught up in perfectionism.
Justin Jackson shares his personal journey dealing with age, mental health, and learning to code later in life. He discusses how comparing himself to others in the tech industry led to struggles with depression and self-doubt, but ultimately found healing through therapy, developing better habits, and embracing learning to code in his late 30s. The talk emphasizes the importance of mental health in the tech community and the supportive nature of the Laravel ecosystem.
Aaron Francis shares his journey of overcoming fear to publish work publicly, explaining how sharing your expertise and following your curiosity can lead to unexpected opportunities. He argues that while you can't control luck, consistently publishing your work increases the chances of good things happening. The talk emphasizes that failure and criticism are part of the process, using his own embarrassing GitHub Universe experience as an example, while encouraging others to focus on doing the work rather than worrying about immediate results.
A heartfelt personal journey about finding belonging in the Laravel community, delivered by Cape (Cap) who shares her transition from flight attendant to developer. She chronicles Laravel's evolution from 2011-2024, weaving together the growth of the framework with her own story of overcoming challenges to find her place in what she calls 'The Laravel Village'. The talk emphasizes the importance of community, belonging, and how Laravel has created a supportive environment for developers.
A talk about how to effectively receive, process, and share advice throughout one's career in software development. The speaker, Ross Tuck, shares personal experiences and outlines a 7-step process for handling advice, emphasizing the importance of considering the source, context, and being open to feedback while maintaining personal growth.
A comprehensive talk about transitioning from being an employed developer to running your own freelance/agency business. The speaker shares personal experiences and practical advice about client management, pricing, communication, and growing a sustainable business in the web development industry.
This talk focuses on how to navigate professional and personal growth while avoiding burnout and perfectionism. The speaker, Femke, discusses ways to cut through online noise and external pressures to find your authentic path. She emphasizes the importance of defining success on your own terms, making time for meaningful work, and embracing imperfection in the creative process.
A personal and practical talk about the journey of releasing software products, focusing on maintaining work-life balance while developing Laravel applications. The speaker shares experiences from his 20+ year career, discussing how to plan projects effectively, handle stakeholder expectations, and maintain mental wellbeing during development. He emphasizes the importance of starting with a minimum viable product (MVP) and not being afraid to fail or abandon projects when necessary.
Diana Scharf ('D') gives a personal and honest talk about career development and mental health in tech. She shares three key indicators to evaluate job satisfaction: the 'Monday feeling', the 'dollar index' (whether you earn money or just get pain compensation), and 'escape speed' (how quickly you'd leave if money wasn't a factor). She provides practical advice on dealing with career challenges, including embracing adversity and knowing when to quit, while sharing her own experiences overcoming workplace discrimination.
A talk about what makes a 'super developer', challenging common perceptions by arguing that the best developers are those who are 'slow' (thoughtful), 'selfish' (maintain work-life balance), 'lazy' (avoid repetitive code), like to argue (engage in healthy debate), and write 'bad' code (embrace imperfection and learning). The speaker emphasizes the importance of personal wellbeing, setting boundaries, and avoiding toxic hustle culture in development.
Rissa Jackson presents a compelling case for hiring and supporting junior developers, drawing from her personal experience transitioning into tech. She discusses how junior developers bring diversity, fresh perspectives, and passion to companies while identifying important gaps in processes and documentation. The talk emphasizes the importance of mentorship, psychological safety, and creating supportive environments for junior developers to succeed.