Creating the Most Diverse and Inclusive Conference: Lessons learned from WE RISE

Creating the Most Diverse and Inclusive Conference: Lessons learned from WE RISE

Hello! I’m Angel Banks 2 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ UX Designer / Front-End Developer / Event Organizer Co-Director of Women Who Code Atlanta Curriculum Director Girl Develop It Atlanta Co-Organizer of WeRISE and ngAtlanta ▪ Find me on twitter: @angelmbanks

QUICK OVERVIEW OF WE RISE ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 3 WWCode Atlanta Network created and hosted We RISE Women in Tech conference June 2017, Atlanta 2 days / 6 tracks / 7 workshops / 80 + speakers / over 400 attendees / 30 sponsors & partners First large women in tech in Atlanta

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WE’RE DOING IT AGAIN! ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 6 June 21 - 22, 2018 at Loudermilk 2 days / 5 tracks / workshops / code labs CFP is open until 2/7/18 ▫ https://www.papercall.io/we-rise-tech Open to everyone! ▫ women ▫ tech allies of all genders ▫ first time speakers

ngAtlanta 7

“ 8 Diversity is being at the party, inclusion is being asked to dance

What does an inclusive event mean to you?

What are some issues you’ve experienced at tech events?

How can tech events do better to address these issues?

What does your ideal inclusive tech conference look like?

THANKS! You can find me at: @angelmbanks, @WWCAtl, @WeRiseConf, @ngAtlanta www.angelbanks.com www.meetup.com/women-who-code-atlanta www.werise.tech www.ng-atl.org 13

1. Why are you doing this? Creating a conference is not going to make you rich and famous….

FIGURE OUT THE WHY ▪ What is your inspiration? ▪ What motivates you? ▪ What does success look like? 15

FIGURE OUT THE WHO ▪ Who is your audience? ▪ Who do you want in the room? ▫ Geographic ▫ Profession ▫ Areas of Interest ▫ Level of Experience 16

FIGURE OUT THE WHAT ▪ What are you trying to accomplish? ▪ What does your conference need to be to meet your WHY? 17

2. Getting it done The real works begin...

FINDING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS ▪ Who are your sponsors and how do they fit with your mission? ▪ When to say “No” ▪ What do they bring to the table? ▪ Finding people and organizations to fill in your “holes.“ 19

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ▪ Outreach to speakers (CFPs v. Invites) ▪ Evaluation process ▪ Building your track(s) 21

MARKETING: GETTING THE WORD OUT ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 22 Messaging is key... make it clear Where are the people you want to reach? Highlighting speakers and content Sales strategies

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE ▪ Recruit an army of volunteers ▫ Make them diverse ▫ Keep them engaged ▫ Treat them well ▫ Communicate ▫ Properly train them 23

3. Keys to Success

CODE OF CONDUCT ▪ Make it clear ▪ Have a plan for handling concerns ▪ Identify a point person for these issues and share that with speakers, attendees, and volunteers 25

DIVERSITY ▪ Getting the right people in the room AND on the stage ▪ If you want to expand the speaker group, consider including first time speakers ▪ Identify communities to invite but welcome everyone 26

DETAILS MATTER ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 28 Create a welcoming experience Food to accommodate dietary needs Ensure the size of the location fits your group Accessibility ▫ Public transportation and parking ▫ ADA compliant

GOING BEYOND Gender neutral bathrooms Childcare Make adjustments on the fly Community channel for conference speakers and attendees before, during, and after ▪ Support your speakers ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 29

4. Outcomes

MEASURING SUCCESS ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ 32 Surveys Social media Did it make an impact? What are people saying? Was it fun?

5. So what now?

MAKING IT BETTER ▪ Gather feedback: ▫ Analyze survey results ▫ Capture planning team thoughts immediately ▫ Gather other feedback (blogs, conversations…) ▫ Check-in with sponsors & partners ▪ Put it in your plan for next time! 35