QA Conferences: How to Become a Sought-After Speaker

QA Conferences: How to Become a Sought-After Speaker

October 9, 2024

In this expert talk, Anna Royzman, the founder of Test Masters Academy, discusses with Tobias Müller, CO-Founder and CTO TestResults.io how QA professionals can step up and become speakers at top industry conferences.

With over 20 years in QA and countless speaking engagements globally, Anna shares her journey and valuable advice on making an impact in the testing community.

Have you ever thought about standing on stage at a conference and sharing your point of view?

With Anna’s tips, you’ll know exactly how to approach starting your speaking career.

Even if you don’t plan on speaking yourself, there are valuable lessons you can take away.

The skills that make conference speakers successful are the same ones that come into play in meetings, presentations, or negotiations.

What You Can Expect From This Expert Talk

Anna provides insights into why in-person events are crucial for deeper, more meaningful learning experiences. She advocates for smaller conferences (100-150 attendees) where discussions with peers extend the value beyond traditional presentations. Large conferences, in her view, often dilute the learning experience.

One of her core messages revolves around making sessions engaging by demonstrating real-world problem-solving approaches.

Anna believes passive learning in online settings is often ineffective compared to active participation in smaller, intimate conferences.

She emphasizes the critical importance of creating a compelling speaking proposal.

To stand out, she advises aligning your proposal with the best ones available online. Analyze top abstracts that have been previously accepted, and use tools like ChatGPT to refine your language, ensuring it resonates with conference organizers. The proposal should clearly state what makes your topic unique and why the audience would benefit from it.

Additionally, Anna highlights the necessity of having prior speaking experience. Conference organizers look for seasoned speakers, not beginners.

Speaking at local meetups, company events, or even informal lunch-and-learn sessions can help you build your credentials.

By timing your sessions and practicing thoroughly, you ensure you're ready for larger stages.

This track record proves to organizers that you’re reliable, know how to engage an audience, and can deliver valuable content.

Episode Highlights

  • In-Person Events: Why to attend physical conferences for fostering deeper professional connections.

  • Engaging Sessions: Why the best sessions involve showing how to solve problems, not just talking about them.

  • Speaking Proposals: How to refine abstracts with tools like ChatGPT and practicing locally to build experience.

  • Handling Nerves: Why using humor, storytelling, and interactive prompts to engage even large audiences.

  • Workshops: How to be prepared for technical challenges and set clear participant expectations.

"People don't go for Entertainment, they go for learning, the best way is to discuss about it"

The Expert

Anna Royzman

Technology Leader | International Speaker & Trainer | Quality Leadership Visionary | Organizing groundbreaking conferences

Anna Royzman is a renowned expert in the field of software testing, with over 20 years of experience.

She is the founder of Test Masters Academy, which provides educational events for professionals in quality assurance and software testing. Anna has spoken at conferences across the globe, sharing her expertise on leadership, team collaboration, and cutting-edge testing strategies.

Passionate about uniting professionals who are committed to quality, she continues to inspire through her speaking engagements and workshops worldwide.

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