XP2023 Amsterdam conference Experience

I had a chance to participate in XP2023 conference in Amsterdam. It was a unique experience, that's why I am writing this blogpost.

Let me share it with you. XP2023 Amsterdam conference was an experience of slow food in a good restaurant versus fast-food I experienced at typical theater conferences. 

What I liked best was that the whole conference felt like a family gathering. Quite a big family :) 

I also liked the fact that speakers were present, available and approachable throughout the whole days. For example, I easily got a one-to-one time with Dave Snowden in the lobby, shared a table with Michael Hamman, and Scott Seivwright was sitting in the first row during my talk! How cool is that? 

Speakers actually participated in their tracks from the morning till the evening. And then they participated in afternoon meals and drinks, and all the chatting that was going on. It was so different from a typical conference experience where speakers are just speech delivery cogs in a bigger talk-delivery machine: come just before and disappear right after their talks. The presence of speakers contributed to the atmosphere of being collectively completely immersed in the flow of the track.

The presence of conference track owners was also a very positive experience. They owned and shaped their rooms. Their presence was starting in the mornings, often with a check-in with speakers, and they also stayed in the room throughout the day. There was no template they followed, everybody was herself or himself bringing their personal style, and open inclusive hearts, and auras into the room. As a consequence, each track had its own personalised atmosphere. 

And guess what, there were no headless chickens running around trying to fix something at the very last moment :) 

Honestly, there is a lot of inspiration in the work of the XP2023 team. I'd definitely try to recreate many aspects of this experience once I organize a similar event.

p.s. And this is Sabina and Torsten, Chairs of the Leadership track, collecting feedback from Janusz and myself on our conference experience. Yes, we do keep in touch!