RenderATL was my first tech conference and won’t be my last. It started as a React conference, but there is much more today. From the moment I walked in, I could feel the positive energy. There was live music, and attendees followed the daily themed days, like “cloaks and kicks.”

This was about more than just lectures; it was about building a community.

Firstly, seeing the many black professionals was life-giving. Since getting back in tech, I’ve worked a few jobs, and unfortunately, in the last few roles, I was the only person of color or one of two on the engineering team. Though the teams were mainly receptive, there were still cultural differences.

I made a decisive decision to stop code-switching in work environments. This choice has allowed me to authentically present myself in every role I have applied to or approached since my new job.

I no longer hide parts of my personality, as I’ve realized it’s possible to excel and not limit who I am. This realization has been a source of reassurance for me.

This experience made me appreciate the power of community even more, and I found it in abundance at RenderATL. The sight of so many black professionals unapologetically being themselves and excelling in their fields was a testament to the strength and unity of the community.

I was inspired and surprised to see such creativity at the conference. I regret not taking enough pictures. For example, the conference had ATL-themed decorations like Outkast lyrics displayed as Javascript code.

The talks I attended focused on development with TypeScript/React, leadership, AI, and design. One of my goals is to improve my leadership and people skills. RenderATL was during Atlanta tech week, so there was plenty of opportunity to work on people skills.

I attended talks on impostor syndrome, branding, and design, Kelsey Hightower’s talk (of course), and some of the Shannon Shapre overlay.

Kelsey Hightowers’ talk was called grand closing. Kelsey recently retired from Google and shared his story about how he got started. His story is about being ready when the opportunity comes and maximizing it to the full—like, going at it 110%. He did many odd jobs before “making it.” His story resonated with me.

The design presentation had a lot of nuggets. As a creative, I find myself between the tech and creative brains. So, this talk offered some practical tools to pursue that, along with using AI. I’ve been anti-AI for creative things, but seeing how beneficial it can be during branding is a win.

Networking was challenging, but showing up was the win. Attending the conference and going solo was my main goal and leap of faith.

As I’d like to continue working on getting over nerves/improving people skills, here are some strategies I plan to implement to succeed at my next tech conference:

  • I will conduct thorough research.
  • set clear goals for what I want to accomplish.
  • Find a career or executive coach to improve my soft skills with new people. While I enjoy meeting new people, I struggle with social anxiety, and I believe coaching will help me connect with others more easily.
  • I will make an effort to initiate conversations and smile more often.
  • I will work on speaking more assertively, as some people had difficulty hearing me.
  • Most importantly, I plan to have fun and enjoy the process.
  • Hit up local meet-ups

That’s a wrap on my experience at RenderATL! It was an energizing and inspiring conference that left me feeling motivated and ready to tackle new challenges.

If you’d like to see some of the conference’s energy for yourself, check out the official recap video here

Attending my first tech conference solo was a leap of faith, but it was worth it. I learned a ton, connected with some amazing people (even with my slight case of nerves!), and felt a true sense of belonging within the tech community.

Are you thinking about attending your first tech conference? Don’t be discouraged by the nerves – go for it! You might be surprised by its positive impact on your career and sense of community.

Be sure to check out the official recap!