Agile2026 was my 18th year attending the Agile Alliance conference. Technically, I started attending in 2007, which would make this 19th but there was no 2020 conference event.
I have been an attendee, purple shirt volunteer, speaker, reviewer, track chair, program team member, conference chair, board of director, keynote, and sponsor. After all these years, I’ve hit blackout bingo of my participation card.
I’m not sure when I started the blog post write-ups. I’m not sure when I started being public with my event reflections. But I do know this is the hardest year for doing this post.
Someone said to me, “things are going to change and that’s not always bad”. I sat there knowing, it’s not change that was different. I’ve seen a ton of change over all these years. I’ve even created some of that change. But the majority of the changes this year, just didn’t create the place that re-energized me at the same level it has in the past. And after all these years, I’ve earned my experience.
I could list a ton of reasons why but I’m choosing to make that information available for appropriate requested private conversations. Why? Broadcasting for the sake of it is rarely helpful. But mostly, to respect all of the hard work and good intent that went into this event. So, I’m choosing to highlight the top things that brought me some learning, energy and support.
- Hack For Good: Quinton & April & all the people from last year and this year…you created something that gives me hope. This initiative reminds me of how simple things can be to value that makes customers teary-eyed (in a great way). Thank you for making a difference.
- Women in Agile: Finding New Voices (Faye & Emilia) continues to be one of my favorite sessions. It honestly, feels like yesterday when we were making space for this on the program back in 2017. And yet, this year a mentor was a previous new speaker. The ripple impact of this program is impressive!
- People asked if I was going to end speaking at the event after the keynote last year. I’m glad I didn’t. I have done all sorts of sessions over the years from keynote, panels, stalwarts, workshops to talks. My first session was a talk about the lessons I was learning going from manager to leader. This year’s talk was about what really helped me achieve that…skills over titles. It felt like a wonderful call back from start to end. Thank you to everyone that attended and all the lovely comments.
Last year, I wrote about the importance I place on the people in this community. People that I stand on their shoulders, people that walked this journey with me, people that I’ve watched grow to be a huge impact on the community and new people that instantly inspire.
- Semira, Reese & Nayan: To say I am proud of you would be an understatement. I hope you truly know how much this community sees and appreciates everything you did.
- Christina: To have someone that not only understands this journey but might be the best partner in doing whatever we need to support others and each other. Not to mention you did a fabulous delivery of your session!
- X2A (Ahmed, Christina, Evan, Susana, Jackie): One of the reasons I went back as practitioner was to be a part of a team again. And I felt it from supporting each other’s sessions, helping at the booth, dinner conversations (even if I did have to see fish eyes on the table), experiencing smores, and holding a launch event that was filled with faces and minds that my heart desperately needed.
- Agile Alliance Board (Bob, Kemmy, CP, Margareth, Apeksha, Song, Brian): Thank you for making me always feel included and valuable with your time to connect, share and support.
- Karaoke: I know karaoke evenings are almost expected and always amazing, but this one was extra special. I put out a call that we needed to show up for people in our community. People that deserved to be celebrated and appreciated. And we turned up for our normal singing, laughing and dancing. At one point in the evening, I stood back and observed the 60ish people there. I saw the usual crew. I saw new faces. I saw faces of people that didn’t go to the conference but came for this. I saw discussions, smiles and even tears. I saw a space to applaud, to feel, to remember, to connect, and to build hope. As we all danced with Semira in her final moment, I felt our collective superpower…it’s always been the community.
By writing these out, I’m realizing that I’m ready for a bigger change. And looking forward to building that with incredible people!
What change would bring you energy?
