diff --git a/website/docs/community/resources/speaking-at-a-meetup.md b/website/docs/community/resources/speaking-at-a-meetup.md index cc1a424139e..4411e9f22d9 100644 --- a/website/docs/community/resources/speaking-at-a-meetup.md +++ b/website/docs/community/resources/speaking-at-a-meetup.md @@ -63,108 +63,106 @@ Now, it’s time to write! Rather than starting with a slide deck, open up a bla Don’t get too hung up on a title at this stage — we’re happy to work with you on that later in the process. -### The basic structure +## The basic structure Below, we’ve outlined a common structure used for meetup talks — if this is your first talk, this is a great way to get started (in fact, even experienced speakers often use a structure like this). Use this as a starting point, rather than an exact formula! -###### 1. What is the business problem? +1. What is the business problem? + Relating to a business problem helps audience members understand why you undertook a project. For example: + - The finance team didn’t trust our numbers + - We were never sure what led to an increase in customer conversion + - The data team couldn’t find a balance between ad hoc requests and roadmap work + - Our tracking across mobile and web was completely inconsistent -Relating to a business problem helps audience members understand why you undertook a project. For example: -- The finance team didn’t trust our numbers -- We were never sure what led to an increase in customer conversion -- The data team couldn’t find a balance between ad hoc requests and roadmap work -- Our tracking across mobile and web was completely inconsistent +2. How did this manifest? + Include evidence that this is a genuine problem — this helps create buy-in from the audience. Slack screenshots, quotes, charts, etc. are all good here! -###### 2. How did this manifest? -Include evidence that this is a genuine problem — this helps create buy-in from the audience. Slack screenshots, quotes, charts, etc. are all good here! +3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? + Three feels like a good number here. Make sure to emphasize people and process solutions as well as technology solutions. -###### 3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? -Three feels like a good number here. Make sure to emphasize people and process solutions as well as technology solutions. +4. What was the impact on the business problem? + Since you set out a problem to be solved, it’s worth revisiting it. It’s okay if you found that your project didn’t go as planned — there’s a valuable lesson in there. Again, including evidence of improvement feels valuable. -###### 4. What was the impact on the business problem? -Since you set out a problem to be solved, it’s worth revisiting it. It’s okay if you found that your project didn’t go as planned — there’s a valuable lesson in there. Again, including evidence of improvement feels valuable. - -###### 5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? -Summarize high level lessons that others can take-away, and potentially talk about what you’d do differently, or what you plan on doing next. +5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? + Summarize high level lessons that others can take-away, and potentially talk about what you’d do differently, or what you plan on doing next. ### Why does this structure work? -The above structure might seem formulaic, but we’ve seen it work a number of times. In our opinion, this structure works because: +The previous structure might seem formulaic, but we’ve seen it work a number of times. In our opinion, this structure works because: - **Your presentation has the structure of a story** — problem, journey, solution. Human beings love stories, and so the flow feels natural and easy for your audience to follow. - **It increases the target audience**. Sharing a few different tactics means that it’s more likely there will be something in your talk for different audience members. Compare that to narrowly scoping a talk on “[Writing packages when a source table may or may not exist](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/writing-packages-when-a-source-table-may-or-may-not-exist/1487)”— it’s not going to feel relevant to most people in the room. - **It covers both theory and application.** Too much theory and you’re giving a TedTalk, too much application and you’re just giving a product demo. The best Meetup talks help people understand how you thought through a problem and why you made certain decisions so they can apply your knowledge within their unique context. -### Examples that follow this structure +## Examples that follow this structure Here's a few of our favorite talks mapped to the structure — trust us, it works! -#### Improving data reliability — Andrea Kopitz, Envoy +### Improving data reliability — Andrea Kopitz, Envoy *[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_cNspn2XsE), [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gHChax5aM3tqKkhepX7Mghmg0DTDbY5yoDBCfUR23lg/).* -###### 1. What is the business problem? +1. What is the business problem? Envoy’s financial data appeared inconsistent. -###### 2. How did this manifest? +2. How did this manifest? Respondents to the team’s data survey said they no longer trusted the data. -###### 3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? -1. Determine responsibility -2. Build more specific dbt tests -3. Track progress +3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? + 1. Determine responsibility + 2. Build more specific dbt tests + 3. Track progress -###### 4. What was the impact on the business problem? +4. What was the impact on the business problem? In their next data survey, satisfaction rating increased, and no mention of financial data accuracy. -###### 5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? +5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? Lesson: Send out a data survey to your company to inform your roadmap. -#### Predicting customer conversions with dbt + machine learning — Kenny Ning, Better.com - +### Predicting customer conversions with dbt + machine learning — Kenny Ning, Better.com *[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF7HH8JDUS0), [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iqVjzxxRggMnRoI40ku88miDKw795djpKV_v4bbLpPE/).* -###### 1. What is the business problem? -No one knew why conversion rates for better.com customers would improve or worsen, making it difficult to know the value of different parts of the business. +1. What is the business problem? + No one knew why conversion rates for better.com customers would improve or worsen, making it difficult to know the value of different parts of the business. -###### 2. How did this manifest? -Different parts of the business took responsibility when it improved, no one took responsibility when it worsened. +2. How did this manifest? + Different parts of the business took responsibility when it improved, no one took responsibility when it worsened. -###### 3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? -1. Use a different approach to conversion rates — kaplan-meier conversion rates -2. Sketch out an ideal ML solution and see if it theoretically solves the problem -3. Build it! (ft. demonstration of solution) +3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? + 1. Use a different approach to conversion rates — kaplan-meier conversion rates + 2. Sketch out an ideal ML solution and see if it theoretically solves the problem + 3. Build it! (ft. demonstration of solution) -###### 4. What was the impact on the business problem? -In the end — not as valuable as originally hoped (and that’s ok!). Editor note: [this article](https://better.engineering/2020-06-24-wizard-part-ii/) was a great follow up on the initial project. +4. What was the impact on the business problem? + In the end — not as valuable as originally hoped (and that’s ok!). Editor note: [this article](https://better.engineering/2020-06-24-wizard-part-ii/) was a great follow up on the initial project. -###### 5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? -- Focus on end-to-end solutions -- Materialize your clean dataset to improve collaboration -- Sell to the business +5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? + - Focus on end-to-end solutions + - Materialize your clean dataset to improve collaboration + - Sell to the business -#### Migrating 387 models from Redshift to Snowflake — Bowery Farming Data Team +### Migrating 387 models from Redshift to Snowflake — Bowery Farming Data Team *[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhH614WVufM), [slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wE8NSkFPLFKGQ8fvFUUKoZFVoUhws_FhFip-9mDhoPU/).* -###### 1. What is the business problem? -A new Bowery Farming site had increased the amount of data the team were dealing with, which put a strain on their data stack. +1. What is the business problem? + A new Bowery Farming site had increased the amount of data the team were dealing with, which put a strain on their data stack. -###### 2. How did this manifest? -Charts show increased dbt run times, and increased Redshift costs. +3. How did this manifest? + Charts show increased dbt run times, and increased Redshift costs. -###### 3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? -1. Push Redshift to its limit: Leverage Athena, Redshift configurations, separate clusters, python pre-processing -2. Trial Snowflake for cost and performance -3. Commit to a migration with strong project management +3. What tactics were used to solve the problem? + 1. Push Redshift to its limit: Leverage Athena, Redshift configurations, separate clusters, python pre-processing + 2. Trial Snowflake for cost and performance + 3. Commit to a migration with strong project management -###### 4. What was the impact on the business problem? -Yet to be determined (at the time, they had just finished the project). But the team showed evidence that the project has been successfully completed! +4. What was the impact on the business problem? + Yet to be determined (at the time, they had just finished the project). But the team showed evidence that the project has been successfully completed! -###### 5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? -Other things learned: -- Differences between Redshift and Snowflake SQL syntax -- Teamwork and coordination are key to completing a migration +5. What other things were learned, and/or what next steps are you taking? + Other things learned: + - Differences between Redshift and Snowflake SQL syntax + - Teamwork and coordination are key to completing a migration ## Turn it into a presentation Now, it's time to take your idea and turn it into a presentation. @@ -210,7 +208,7 @@ For virtual events: is there a poll you can launch, or a question you can throw ## Pair it with a blog post -The hardest part of nailing a great talk is the content, so if you’ve made it this far, you’ve already done most of the work. Turning your content into a blog post is a great way to solidify your thinking, and get some extra exposure. If you’d like to be features on the [dbt Blog](https://blog.getdbt.com/), reach out to us (@Claire and @Janessa) on Slack. +The hardest part of nailing a great talk is the content, so if you’ve made it this far, you’ve already done most of the work. Turning your content into a blog post is a great way to solidify your thinking, and get some extra exposure. If you’d like to be featured on the [dbt Blog](https://blog.getdbt.com/), please email us at [community@dbtlabs.com](mailto:community@dbtlabs.com). We’ll also be adding more resources on how to write about your work soon! @@ -246,4 +244,4 @@ Do any audience members use a communication device? Can you share your slides ah ### Responding to a conference Call for Speakers -If you’re submitting a response for a Call for Speakers, and talking about dbt, we’re happy to work with you on this. Reach out to us (@Claire and @Janessa) in Slack to let us know! +If you’re submitting a response for a Call for Speakers, and talking about dbt, we’re happy to work with you on this. You may email us at [community@dbtlabs.com](mailto:community@dbtlabs.com) for more information.