WordCamp San Diego is a WordCamp that we attend every year. Yes, we have many friends in San Diego and I was invited to speak — which makes the event extra fun — but more important, the event offers an curated business track.
A lot of WordCamps offer a business track or business related content, but the sessions are all based on whatever happens to be submitted. WordCamp San Diego does it differently. More specifically, Chris Lema does it differently. Instead of relying on what gets submitted, Chris takes a more proactive approach. Each year, he hand-crafts the entire business track, selecting the topics of each sessions so they build on each other and create a cohesive curriculum. He then identifies the right people to deliver those talks. It makes for a much better attendee experience because all of the talks and speakers compliment each other.
This year Chris invited me to speak in the business track at WordCamp San Diego. My topic: You Need A Break To Get Things Done. The entire business track had a “You Need A…” theme, with sessions like:
- You Need A Cofounder with James Laws
- You Need Diversity On Your Team with Tracy Levesque
- You Need Community To Win with Mendel Kurland
- You Need A Break To Get Things Done with Jennifer Bourn
- You Need To Learn To Sell To Strangers with Steve Zehngut
I not only had a blast speaking about why taking breaks boosts productivity, focus, and memory, how I work short-term and long-term breaks into my days, weeks, months, and years, and easy tips to make breaks (and even naps) more productive. I also loved the other business track presentations. I gained valuable tips from each of the speakers, but really enjoyed Tracy Levesque’s talk about the benefits of more diversity in the workplace.
The business track is just one part of WordCamp San Diego. Held at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, the event featured three different tracks of sessions spread across two floors of the law school — all focused on WordPress. Some of my favorite sessions were:
- Scaling WordPress With Load Testing with Jason Cosper
- A Holistic Approach to Web Performance with Austin Gil
- User Experience is More Than Hamburger Menus with Chris Ford
- Why Good Developers Don’t Ignore Multisite with Maura Teal
The after party was at Little Italy’s Loading Dock from 7:00-11:00 pm, but we didn’t end up going because it was later at night and the time gap between WordCamp and the event was weird. Plus, we’re not fans of the after parties at bars that are later at night because they tend to be not as inclusive. That’s why for WordCamp Sacramento, we have the after party at the same venue, directly following the final session. Well, to be honest, it’s not an after party, but a casual networking reception with light appetizers and bites that runs about 90 minutes so attendees can get home or get on with their own “after party” plans.
Speaking of WordCamp Sacramento, the event is happening September 16-17, 2017 at the Sacramento Convention Center. This year we have 500 tickets available and all three ballrooms on the second floor meeting space, and we hope to see you there!
