Agenda

A high level overview from the Top people in European Business on what to watch for in the coming year, and what to get excited about!

Key takeaways:

• Hear about the latest innovations on the market and how they are shaping the tech industry
• Learn which industries are at the cutting edge of different developments
• Where is the place to be? A Geographical analysis of the tech market
• Explore what technologies are on the cusp of market disruption
• Top businesses, individuals and products to watch out for!

Exploring the importance of company culture and the business case for investing in a happier, more inclusive environment

Key takeaways:

• Understand how companies have a responsibility to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace
• Hear from pioneers who are making drastic changes to their company culture and reaping the benefits
• Assess the business case for a more diverse workforce, and how it can directly impact the quality of tech produced
• Understand the role of leaders in changing culture
• Explore how to build an intiative that works for you

3 leaders from HP Labs and Tech Ventures will discuss and share examples of how external collaboration is essential today between startups, research institutions, and companies like HP to accelerate innovation and advancements in technology.

Exploring how inclusivity impacts everyone, and the importance of allies in the workplace

Key takeaways:

• Understand the role that the whole tech market plays in ensuring the sector becomes more diverse and inclusive
• Hear experiences and how allies can change the workplace experience
• Explore areas where you may experience priviledge and how to use this for the better

Technology is advancing at a faster pace than ever before - ensuring that your workforce are up to date with incoming tech principles, skills and capabilities, whilst ensuring employees are at the top of their game and progressing in their role!

Key takeaways include:

• The importance of engagement regarding personal development with your workforce - knowing their dreams, aspirations and how to get them there
• Understanding new market trends; seeing the jobs market as an ecosystem
• The role of upskilling in keeping employees engaged and relevant for you and your company

Open Banking is described as being the new, secure way for customers to take control of their financial data - but how can banks and fintech companies ensure privacy whilst placing customer data in their own hands?

Key takeaways:

• Understand what Open Banking is achieving and how
• Explore the vision of FinTech innovators and how this vision has developed
• Assess the risks and rewards that come with innovation
• Review how the technology impacts the user, and how it is evolving the banking market
• Gain insight into practical case studies of implementations; what went right, what went wrong, and what we have learnt

Great mentors can have an enormous impact on your career. Their connections can open doors that would otherwise be closed, and their experiences can save you from suffering from the same mistakes they've already made. Understand how to recognise what makes a great mentor, and how to approach them.

Key takeaways include:

• Recognise what makes a great mentor, and how to approach them
  
• Understand what you want from a mentor
  
• Pinpoint how a mentor can help you develop, and how to maximise value
  
• Explore the best methods of finding a local mentor
  
• Examine what a mentor is looking for, and what is in it for them

Data being a buzzword across the world of tech, what can data science do for your business? This session outlines the capabilities of employing a data scientist - whilst also explaining what data science doesn't cover!

Key takeaways include:

• Identify the business drivers that indicate a data scientist may be for you
• Understand that a data scientist is different to analysts who have learned Python or R
• Dos and Don'ts when hiring a Data Scientist
• Develop a plan: what do we want to do with our data?
• Explore the capabilities and limitations, and what you need to be prepared to invest to properly utilise your data scientist

The World Economic Forum states that by 2050 oceans will hold more plastics than fish and numerous research institutions project that at least 1 out of 10 people will suffer from death caused by pollution-related diseases. What caused these developments and how can we avoid further harm? How is sustainability correlated to the degree of digital connectivity of supply chains? This session explores these questions and how technologies such as blockchain and machine learning enable businesses to build intelligent applications creating more sustainable supply chains.

Key takeaways include:

• Throw away” society and overuse of resources take its toll
• Need to decouple continuous value creation from primary resource consumption
• Reduce waste and transition to more circular economic models
• Implement supply chains fostering sustainable businesses
• Digital technologies enable a more sustainable world

With multiple technology companies publicly declaring their commitment to D&I, how is this being practically implemented, and is it making a difference to the employees?

Key takeaways:

• Exploring the difference between a D&I programme in principle, and one in practice
• Examining how to address D&I fatigue
• Understanding the nuts and bolts of a D&I programme that works
• How to measure the impact to your company and your employees

Entrepreneurship isn't easy or risk free. To have a chance at success, start-up founders and entrepreneurs need to take significant risks - understand how to best manage what you can control, and prepare for what you can't.

Key takeaways:

• Evaluate the risks associated with starting a company, and when to make your move
• Assess how to go about defining your priorities within your business
• Learn how to mitigate risk and increase chances of success
• Understand how to innovate confidently
• Explore the resources available to you , and how to access them

No matter how carefully you are, your code will almost always inadvertently become cluttered, but when should you be cleaning up your code, and what are the best ways to do it? This workshop will provide practical, example based advice on how to clean up your code.

Key Takeaways:

• Assess when the right time to clean up your code
• Explore how to keep your code as clean as possible from the very beginning
• How to balance deadlines, functionality and deliverables
• Bug fixing, and how to integrate with clear-up
• Real life examples and case studies

A overview of digital marketing, social media and PR workshops are for business owners and SMEs with an aim of improving brand awareness, equipping them with most important skills they need to run their own marketing and social media and / or getting more traffic and sales from their marketing efforts.

Key takeaways:

• Navigate your way through the ever-changing world of social media, and the essential tools you need
• Build an effective online presence for your business and choosing which social media platforms are most relevant to your business
• Learn how social media and blogging can grow your business
• Develop digital content and key messages relevant to your audience and attract more customers to your business
• Understand how and when to automate your social media marketing

It’s easy to get caught up in the fervour of digital, analytics and cloud, however it is crucial that businesses - large and small - do not overlook the advances being made around infrastructure and operations. Software-defined everything has the potential to elevate your infrastructure investments, and businesses need to remember that infrastructure is the back-bone of IT. This workshopwill review the advantages and potential pitfalls of a move to a software-defined everything model. .

Key take aways:

• Understand the risks of a move to software-define everything
• Realise the importance of making standardisation a design mandate from the off in easing maintenance and supplier negotiations
• Realise the benefits of a robust DevOps function combined with Software-defined everything to redefine your IT architectures

Why do we listen to some people but not others? In our 'always-on’ world, leadership is not only changing - but it's becoming more challenging. Only by connecting with others and bringing them with us, can we really be a successful leader. In this fast-paced and highly practical workshop, the experts reveal how to feel confident, reach your ultimate goals and accelerate your leadership skills - all through the power of authentic communication.

Key take aways:

• Evaluate how leadership is changing - then make yourself futureproof
• The power of storytelling and your personal narrative
• Connecting with your audience to make them feel - as well as think
• Being the best version of you, to achieve your goals

During this workshop we will examine the importance of being able to read, understand and communicate data as information. With an assessment of the key terminology, and its relation to the real world via fun and easy to understand examples and case studies. This workshop will give you the tools needed to be able to extract meaning from data and visualisations making you more data literate and confident to engage in related conversations.

Key takeaways:

• Assessing proper use of most common data terminology and concepts
• Examining how - through real-world examples - data concepts are applied
• Understanding what to look for when evaluating data quality
• Pinpointing to tricky areas of data interpretation and what questions to ask
• Telling a story with your data

Intersectionality impacts everyone's experience of the world, to varying extents. Join us for a straight taking, open discussion on how race, gender, sexuality, class, marital status, age and other social 'markers' can be addressed effectively and openly.

• Learn how to have the courage to bring up intersectionality and how it impacts employees
• Gain insights into the different types of intersectionality
• Benefit from a safe space to discuss about intersectionality initiatives
• Hear different people's experiences in the workplace
• Understand how to make your workplace more inclusive, and practical steps that can be made to do this

For those without a technical background, understanding the opportunities in the tech sector for ‘non-tech’s’ can seem daunting. From choosing the right role for you, to interview, to the training you should do, there are so many things to consider. This session will help unlock the key to breaking into a career in tech if you don’t have a technical background.

Key take aways:

• Insights to broaden your reach through networking, communities and training
• Choose the right tech job for yourself with confidence
• Guidance on upskilling - Learning the fundamentals of technology with a hands-on approach to help you to stand out
• Consider something on the side! Utilising online platforms to develop your skills in a low risk environment
• Gain insight on what tech companies are looking for in a candidate, and how to wow at interview

The opportunity to apply robotic process automation (RPA) to business processes has captured the attention of many organisations as they compete in a digital-first world that requires seamless operations, and greater value from resources. The next stage in the automation journey – beyond RPA – is intelligent automation, incorporating machine learning and dynamic workflows, but what should we be considering as we move towards intelligent automation and AI?

Key take always:

• Understand that to maximise the impact of robot-led automation, business leaders need to have a solid understanding of the available tools and a clearly defined strategy for automating their enterprises
  Gain clarity around good intelligent automation applications, such as non-routine tasks involving intuition, judgment, creativity, persuasion or problem solving
• RPA implementation roadmaps incorporating strategies that look beyond initial deployment to how automation will grow and evolve
• Looking beyond the immediate productivity benefits to the long term impact
• Exploring how organisations are impacting top-line growth as the evolution into intelligent automation includes more advanced AI

Since the Fourth Industrial Revolution was identified, companies have made efforts to improve ‘how’ they use data and to effect digital transformation programmes. However how do you measure success? Several models have emerged to address this but how well do they work and is that the right starting point?

Key takeaways:

• How to articulate ‘data-centricity’
• Data maturity models and their application
• Things to consider when considering a data-related change
• Some insights from case studies

When hiring for technical roles, you know exactly what you want - or do you? An in-depth exploration of common misunderstandings between technical hiring managers and HR departments, and how to avoid them!

Key takeaways:

• Learn how to communicate your hiring requirements with non-technical recruiting colleagues
• Communicate clear priorities between departments
• Encouraging inclusion and diversity within the hiring process, and how to do this effectively
• Common stumbling blocks in technical hiring and how to avoid them
• Learn from case studies about miscommunication and prevent long term vacancies and bad hires!

Technology in our day to day lives are more connective and intuitive than ever before. Learn how disruptors are changing the consumer industry by putting the customer back ast the centre of technology design.

Key takeaways:

• Understand the gaps in the market for democratic design and what this means
• Case studies from Ikea on how this is being implemented
• Understand the user experience and how it to make better, more intuitive and fit for purpose products
• Explore the risks and benefits of being a first mover on the market

Getting a company off the ground is an uphill battle, but tech-oriented projects can carry added expenses with hardware needs, software licensing, and the average salaries of STEM professionals. Funding these startups can be a challenge, especially early on before any investment or revenue, so making the right choices early is important.

Key take always:

• Understand the dynamics of the different funding routes for start-ups
• Explore all of the costs you should expect in your first year
• Analyse how founders can retain control whilst collaborating with funding partners and driving growth
• Review the process of troubleshooting methods and how to build a back-up plan
• Learn from real life examples, and ensure not to make the same mistakes as those before you!

Introducing a D&I programme into any business can be a tricky thing, fraught with potential pitfalls and constant fears that by taking one course of action, you may be excluding someone?! During this presentation we will hear real life lessons from those that have broached this difficult task and what they have learned along the way.

Key takeaways include:

• Understanding the importance of planning – D&I doesn’t happen overnight!
• Examining how important messaging should be in your D&I programme roll-out if you are to establish truly inclusive initiatives
• Starting with the small things is often overlooked
• Factoring in continuous feedback than a one-size fits all approach
• That D&I cannot be tackled in isolation, by one person in a company

Agile methodology is a process that depends on people. This workshop will focus on getting buy-in, team unity and how to create a happier, more effective working environment for your team.

Key Takeaways

• Learn how to give feedback & receive feedback
• Understand the importance of establishing team rules and create greater to team unity
• Assess the pros and cons of scrum for self steering teams
• Examples of where it has gone wrong, and how to get it right!
• How to tailor your approach based on people

The tech world is fast-paced and ever-evolving - and whilst there has never been so many opportunities for women before, this can also present increased pressure, responsibility and stress. With 'Prevent Burnout - Find Balance' you will learn how to prevent, reduce and break through burn-out in this interactive workshop.

Key takeaways:

• 3 step strategy to prevent burnout
• Learn how we create our own stress and what you can do to manage stress
• Tips to slow down, increase energy and become more resilient
• Powerful meditations and visualisations that will help you every day
• Learn to become more gentle with yourself

If your business has a publicly facing website, it should be usable for users with all sorts of accessibility needs. It’s the fair, considerate, just, inclusive thing to do. We all want to do the right thing by society, right? The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are great but some regard these as optional rather than underpinning the design process for new websites. This workshop will help you design for accessibility in new products, and carry out an audit to work out how to audit the amount of work needed to retro-fit accessibility into existing products.

Key takeaways:

• Understand what accessibility really is
• Develop an understanding of who benefits from accessible design
• Learn about bad things that happen when accessibility is not considered (and how to avoid them)
• Understand what the WCAG accessibility guidelines are and how to use them in design and testing
• Develop the skills carry out an audit for accessibility on your own publicly facing website

It has never been easier to use digital technology to address the complex challenges facing the world, both socially and environmentally. This session will identify how to maximise your impact on the world and use your technical skills for the benifit of the world!

Key takeaways:

• Understand how your skills as a coderm developer or designer can be harnessed for the greater good
• Gain visibility on ongoing projects to improve the world we live in
• Learn how to encorporate Tech for Good into your workplace and day to day work
• Volunteering and Gig economy engagement

Serverless has become a very hot topic over the last years, and rightly so. Not only does it make web apps and services incredibly easy to build and maintain, but also comes with great inherent scalability. During this workshop, you will learn more about serverless, how simple yet powerful it is, and how it powers a great part of DAZN's streaming platform.

Key takeaways:

• Understand what Serverless architecture is
• The pros and cons of Serverless
• Explore FAAS and BAAS
• Overview of Serverless frameworks
• Learn how to design Serverless architecture
• Gain insights about the Future of Serverless

Moving up in your career requires skills, determination and confidence. Learn how to prepare yourself for that senior management role and stand our from the crowd through stretch assignments and expertise.

Key takeaways:

• Assess the opportunities that could be available to you for exposure to higher levels of management
• Embrace stretch assignments; taking risks and utilising tools around you to bring out your full capabilities
• Explore how the Gig Economy can be used to get exposure to new professional experiences
• Understand the expectations of women in leadership and how to carve your own way
• How to challenge prejudice and discrimination, and advocate for better diversity

Technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT are changing our lives and work, and business leaders must make decisions right now about the best routes forwards. It is essential to therefore understand how (and when) AI will affect their organisations—and what they should do about it today. Here we will consider what the next decade of Ai will look like.

Key takeaways:

• Analyse the potential to simplify work with AI across different applications
• Explore the changing competitive battleground of business
• Hear practical examples of how organisations are using AI to stay relevant and compete
• Evaluate how to get started with AI in your own business
• Review the common challenges and how to overcome them

Guidance on how to identify best methodologies to leverage in optimising your testing processes. Understanding how to develop measurable objectives, milestones for improvement, and how to integrate automation testing for effective optimisation.

Key takeaways:

• Understand the importances of testing early and testing as part of a continuous integration programme
• Establish the value of your test suites and using this to create a strategic automated testing roadmap
• Practical case studies and lessons learnt where things have gone wrong
• How to get your team on board with changes to automation processes
• Explore best practice examples and how to implement these in your own testing processes

When your employees want flexibility but your deliverables are fixed, what is a project manager to do? Hybrid solutions can often offer a trade-off, providing planning and structure while aiming to reap the benefits of a flexible collaborative approach.

Key takeaways:

• Understand the difference between Agile Hybrid and Blended Agile
• Gain insight into adapting your internal methodology to suit your deliverables
• Learn from best practice case studies with real world applications
• Ensure your framework is fit for purpose and how to measure this
• Hybrid as a transition to Agile - how to do it right and avoiding pitfalls

Putting your customer at the center of your strategy is the centre-pin of retail marketing. With advances in AI and machine learning, find out how the retail sector are streamlining and customising the customer experience.

Key takeaways include:

• Learn about innovations using big data to shape the retail experience for customers and map the customer journey
• Develop actionable insights to boost sales and generate a satisfied customer base
• Hear success stories and understand how to do it right in your own company
• Establish the role of feedback and how to use it to build improvement plans
• Use data to forecast demand, trends and consumer interest - and reflect this in your marketing plan!

Feeling like an imposter is more common than you might think. In fact, 58% of people with technology-focused careers suffer from Impostor Syndrome, according to a study from workplace social media site Blind. Indeed, its estimated that 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at one point in their lives. So how to tackle this if you’re in tech?

Key takeaways:

• Realise the importance of mentorship in addressing Imposter Syndrome
• Develop your own ability to recognise your current skills and expertise
• Identify where you might need upskilling, and how to get this
• Remember what you do well and not being afraid to talk about it!
• Explore how to challenge your current mindset and change your thinking

Build yourself a firm business foundation by taking charge of the hiring process. Understand the skills and traits you need to look for, and practical tips on how to find a team to make your vision a reality.

Key takeaways include:

• Learning what to look for in terms of skills, attributes and attitude
• Understanding your own personal strengths and weaknesses and how this should inform your hiring decisions
• Build a wish list of people who can do the things you can't!
• Understand and define exactly what you are trying to deliver
• Learn how to identify who you will need to help realise your vision

With sustainability top of the agenda internationally, understanding how the IIoT is changing utilities, manufacturing and process industries for the better is paramount.

Key takeaways include:

• Understand how the applications of IoT is broadening
• Learn which industries are benefiting most, and the practical applications within an industrial context
• Assess how digital twinning is impacting manufacturing, heavy industries and processing
• Understand the role of connected assets in implementing predictive plant maintenance, reducing down time and failure
• Explore the future of the IIoT and Industry 5.0 and what it could mean for your business

You've mastered your core technical skills, but how do you make the next step up? Develop your leadership skills, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and stand out through building your personal brand with managers and peers. Practical tips and straight-forward advice on all of the above and more!

Key takeaways:

• Explore your current role and assessing the opportunities available to get you to the next level
• Embrace stretch assignments and opportunities to demonstrate leadership
• Assess the tools you’re going to need to effectively handle leadership challenges successfully
• Understand how to successfully engage with peer-to-peer leadership
• Internal promotion or back to the jobs board? Taking the plunge into your next role

Quality is not something that can be added to products at the end; How can you incorporate a culture of quality assurance from the very beginning of the development process.

Key take aways include:

• Understand the art of incorporating testing across the entire development process to increase speed, reduce risk, and boost customer satisfaction
• Setting the bar and ensuring it is met every time!
• Get your team on board with culture change takes time! How to build QA culture from scratch
• The future role of testers in an agile development cycle
• Learn how to adopt a culture of joint responsibility for quality across product functions

What stands behind the term “digital transformation”? How do you put digital transformation into action? Join us to hear the latest practices and patterns to build a solid roadmap for digital transformation in an Agile context. We will examine how to navigate a major transformation project that presents the additional complexity of geographically dispersed teams. You will learn from a real case study: a two years initiative that transformed a legacy software application (i.e. over 170 countries and one million of users) to a newer technology platform.

Key takeaways:

• Laying the foundation of digital transformation: what and why
• Why using Agile as a framework for digital transformation?
• Best practices and pitfalls when driving a major digital transformation initiative with remote teams
• Exploring how digital transformation is shaping in the near future"