I applied to Women in Agile to become a speaker at the beginning of Q1 in 2024. I had been looking for an opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences in a professional setting, and when I came across Women in Agile, it seemed like the perfect fit. The program promised support from fellow women in the field and the chance to be mentored throughout the process. This assurance of guidance and a community that lifts each other up was exactly what I needed, especially since public speaking was a new challenge for me. The idea of having someone to help me develop my speech, fine-tune my ideas, and overcome any hurdles along the way gave me the confidence to apply.
Choosing the Right Topic
After considering several potential topics, I ultimately chose to speak on "Overcoming Imposter Syndrome." This topic was deeply personal for me, as I had been dealing with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy in various aspects of my professional life. It was something I believed many others in the agile community, especially women, could relate to. I felt that sharing my journey and strategies for overcoming these feelings would not only resonate with the audience but also help me further process my own experiences.
The Selection Process
I was thrilled when I found out that I had been selected to speak in July. However, my excitement was soon tempered by some logistical issues. According to the program, I was supposed to be contacted by a mentor the week after my selection to begin working on my speech. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen. I waited, hoping it was just a minor delay, but when I didn’t hear back, I decided to reach out myself. I made a few attempts to contact the organizers, but weeks went by without any response.
The Last-Minute Rush
Finally, just 10 days before the event, I was assigned a mentor with the help of the Women in Agile Europe branch. While I was relieved to finally have some guidance, the short timeline added a lot of pressure. I only had about a week to prepare before the conference, and during that time, I managed to schedule two 30-minute meetings with my mentor. In these sessions, I was able to practice my speech, and my mentor provided some constructive feedback. Although the feedback was helpful, I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn’t have enough time to refine my talk to the level I had hoped for.
Day of the Event
When the day of the conference arrived, I was grateful for the overwhelming support from the Women in Agile Europe members. Their encouragement helped ease some of the anxiety I had been feeling, especially since my mentor was unable to be present the day before or on the day of the event itself. Instead, a short video of my introduction was shared. While this was a thoughtful gesture, I couldn’t help but feel that having my mentor physically there would have made a significant difference in terms of last-minute reassurance and guidance.
Reflection
Reflecting on the entire process, I think there are a few areas where the program could improve. First and foremost, there should be more timely communication between the speakers and their mentors. Being contacted so close to the event left me feeling unprepared and added unnecessary stress to what was already a nerve-wracking experience. Having more time to collaborate with my mentor on the content and delivery of my talk would have allowed me to feel more confident and polished on stage.
Conclusion
In the end, despite the challenges, I’m glad I pursued this opportunity. Standing on stage and sharing my thoughts on imposter syndrome with an audience that was both understanding and supportive was incredibly empowering. It reminded me that even though the process wasn’t perfect, the community surrounding Women in Agile is truly special. I would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to any woman who is interested in trying her hand at public speaking in a safe and supportive environment.
