EP66: Speaking At My First Big Conference with Felicity Nyan
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce speak to Felicity Nyan, a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. She shares her journey from being a hesitant public speaker to successfully presenting at SQLBits, one of the largest data conferences in the UK. Felicity discusses why she wanted to speak at a conference, the challenges she faced, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Felicity Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
Oxford Microsoft Data Platform Group - https://www.meetup.com/oxford-microsoft-data-platform-group/
SQLBits - https://sqlbits.com/
Takeaways
Felicity Nyan shares her journey from a hesitant speaker to presenting at SQL Bits.
SQL Bits is a community-led conference that offers opportunities for all levels.
Preparation is key, but life can often get in the way.
Having a co-presenter can ease the pressure of presenting.
Start early on proposals and keep a record of ideas.
Practice makes perfect, but balance is important to avoid sounding scripted.
User groups are great platforms for practicing public speaking.
Engaging the audience is crucial for a successful presentation.
Technical issues can arise, so have backup plans in place.
Confidence can be built through small challenges outside of public speaking.
Keywords
public speaking, SQL Bits, data platform, conference presentation, Felicity Nyan, Microsoft, user groups, tech conferences, presentation tips, career growth
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EP65: Rethinking Goals. The Must Be a Better Way with Radhika Dutt
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce speaks with Radhika Dutt, a product leader and author of 'Radical Product Thinking.' They discuss the limitations of traditional goal setting and the negative impact of performance metrics on collaboration and motivation. Radhika introduces a new approach.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Radhika Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/
OHL Toolkit - https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit
Takeaways
Goals create a burden and hinder curiosity.
Traditional goal setting is outdated and ineffective.
Puzzle setting and solving can drive better results.
Performance metrics can lead to 'performance theater.'
A clear vision is essential for effective goal setting.
OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) provide a framework for problem-solving.
Collaboration is eroded by competitive goal setting.
Feedback should focus on learning and adaptation.
Real-world examples demonstrate the effectiveness of puzzle solving.
Accountability should be based on problem-solving, not just metrics.
Keywords
goals, productivity, radical product thinking, performance management, puzzle solving, business results, vision, OKRs, objectives, hypotheses, learnings
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EP64: The Customer Connection Formula with Liping Huang
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce and guest Liping Huang discuss the importance of technical folks building rapport and relationships with customers. We chat through practical tips for establishing strong connections, the significance of empathy, effective communication, and that technical skills alone are not enough.
Liping Huang has huge experience working with customer in tech roles. She has been a solutions architect at Microsoft, solutions architect at Databricks and now runs Dataleaps.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Liping Linktree - https://linktr.ee/liping_dataleaps
Takeaways
Building rapport is crucial for success in customer interactions.
Technical knowledge is essential before engaging in pre-sales.
Empathy helps in understanding customer challenges and needs.
Effective communication involves making complex topics easy to understand.
Being likable and helpful fosters strong customer relationships.
Self-assessment is key to identifying areas for improvement.
Follow up on commitments to build trust with customers.
Creating reusable content can streamline customer interactions.
Understanding different audiences is vital for effective communication.
Continuous development is necessary to adapt to changing technologies.
Keywords
rapport, relationships, customer service, empathy, communication skills, technical skills, pre-sales, business relationships, customer interactions, professional development
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EP63: From Proposal To Podium: Speaking At Big Tech Conferences with Renuka Jhalli
In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast Ben Pearce and Renuka Jhalli discuss the importance of speaking at events, and how to get chosen as a speaker. Renuka shares insights from working with high-profile speakers and offers tips for delivering engaging sessions.
Renuka is a Senior Content Manager for Tech Show London. She has produced shows for years and has some amazing insight to share.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Renuka Jhalli Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renuka-jhalli-28a9a846/
Tech Show London - https://www.techshowlondon.co.uk/
Takeaways
Big tech conferences are valuable for learning and networking.
Tech Show London is a large, inclusive event showcasing various tech disciplines.
Speaking at events allows individuals to share knowledge and support their community.
Authenticity and vulnerability are key to engaging presentations.
Unique perspectives and real-world experiences resonate with audiences.
The call for papers is open to anyone with a compelling idea.
AI can assist in writing, but authenticity is crucial.
Main stage speakers often share their passion and stories.
Engaging with the audience creates a memorable experience.
New speakers bring diversity and fresh perspectives to the stage.
Keywords
Tech Show London, conference speaking, technology events, networking, speaker tips, career development, storytelling, audience engagement, professional growth, community support
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EP62: Building High Performance Teams in Tech with Sean O'Shea
In this episode, we chat through the challenges and dynamics of building high-performance teams in the tech industry. . Sean shares insights on individual coping strategies, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the necessity of strong relationships within teams.
Sean O'Shea is the founder of Craft Your Culture. He's spent years in the tech industry and now helps organisations build high performance cultures.
Show Links
Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/
Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com
Sean O'Shea Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/soshea7/
Craft Your Culture - https://craftyourculture.co.uk
Exclusive Discount Count Labs2025
Takeaways
Being part of a great team is fulfilling.
The tech landscape is experiencing constant change.
AI is creating noise and pressure in organizations.
Teams are feeling disoriented due to constant change.
Emotional intelligence is crucial in navigating uncertainty.
Reframing challenges can help individuals cope better.
Strong relationships are essential for effective teamwork.
Leaders should focus on building connections within teams.
Defining clear goals helps teams prioritize effectively.
Mistakes and failures should be normalized in team culture.
Keywords
team dynamics, high performance culture, tech industry, uncertainty, emotional intelligence, relationship building, leadership, workplace culture, AI impact, team improvement
Ben Pearce interviews thought leaders in the tech world to learn from their success. In each episode we focus on a topic our guest has learnt about, failed at, course corrected and ultimately succeeded with. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and benefit from their insight.
The Tech World Human Skills podcast is a masterclass on building the leadership, professional and human skills that are essential to thrive in the tech world.
If you're in Pre-Sales, Consulting, Engineering, Customer Success, Architecture, Tech Leadership or any other tech discipline come and join the party.
New episodes every 2 weeks. Listen to The Tech World Humans Skills podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or watch on YouTube. Check out www.techworldhumanskills.com for more details.
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