A special conference with special memories

Shift+Enter Summit in Budapest, Hungary

Last week I had the honor to speak at the Shift+Enter Summit in Budapest, Hungary. A city which I used to call home, where my children were born, which holds so many good memories as well as lots of pain and headache.

I have to admit I had mixed feelings. I was grateful for the invite to be there. I was grateful that the conference was in English, I feel it difficult to do a session (about any topic) in Hungarian. - And I was nervous, too, I haven’t presented in Hungary for ages.

And looking back, all I feel is gratefulness.

I am grateful to the audience, for their active presence, for the connection, for all the feedback I have received. I am overwhelmed how deeply the topic of burnout resonated with many, and even more, how open and vulnerable they were about sharing their stories, asking very deep, very personal, sometimes very difficult questions.

I am grateful to the organizers, too. The venue was top choice, very cozy and perfect for networking and having 1:1 or small group conversations. The attention the organizers paid to us speakers, attendees and to every tiny detail is something I experience very rarely. And special thanks for the szaloncukor (Hungarian Christmas bonbons) which fits into my complex diet.

I found the format and the concept unique and very interesting, having an event with sessions about deep technical topics as well as soft skills. I wish more and more conferences (and organizations) realize how important it is, that we are all human beings, be developers, IT admins, AI magicians, team leaders, or in any possible role. While listening to the sessions and talking with participants, I had to realize again, like so many times before: we all struggle, each of us has a unique story, and we can learn so much from each other.

Köszönöm. 🙏🏻