Day one at my new job came with an unexpected challenge: “Submit a proposal to CAST for a conference talk. You have 42 hours.”
CAST - the Conference for the Association of Software Testing - immediately struck me as different from typical industry conferences. No corporate sponsors pushing products, no hidden sales agendas, no shark-tank atmosphere. Instead, it felt more like an academic conference: sessions designed for genuine discussion and mutual learning between attendees and presenters.
The 42-Hour Sprint
I picked a topic that excited me, outlined a 40-minute presentation, and sent the proposal into the digital void.
The proposal reached Bernie Berger and Paul Holland, the conference co-chairs. Then came the surprise: I’ve been selected to present this August in New York City!
First-Time Everything
This represents several firsts for me:
- First trip to New York
- First professional conference attendance
- First presentation to peers outside my employer
- First international travel planning to the US
- First encounter with TSA scanners (the anxiety is real!)
The Weight of Opportunity
Being selected is an honour, and I feel the responsibility that comes with it. I have a few months to put together a presentation worthy of my peers’ time.
The testing community has welcomed me with this opportunity. Now comes the real work: delivering value that justifies their confidence.
Wish me luck! 🗽