Today’s guest on Cloud Gossip is Isidora Katanic! Isidora is the Co-Founder of the event management company districtUP and and a Cloud & Datacenter Management MVP. She co-hosts the video series "Head in the cloud, Heart in the community".
Isidora Katanic is going talk to us about how to grow a strong community, how successful events are organized, her tips and tricks to give great online presentations, and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
She’s also going to share her opinion on how Covid-19 affected the conference world, and how these 2020 changes encouraged more people to join tech and use it in everyday life.
Isidora is going to talk about some of her future goals and share with us her favorite Community Projects as well as explaining to us what the “Head in the Cloud, Heart in the Community” video series is all about.
Guest Bio:
Isidora Katanic is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and Co-Host of the video series "Head in the cloud, Heart in the community".
She’s also the Co-Founder of the event management company districtUP - organizing IT community conferences Experts Live Europe and Experts Live Switzerland focused on Microsoft cloud, data center, security, and modern workplace technologies.
Isidora engages with the Microsoft community and travels around the world to organize, speak, and attend conferences to learn, connect, and share with others.
In 2020 Isidora has been awarded the #AzureHeroes badge in the category of Inclusive Leadership. She has also been selected as the 1st Cloud Community Champion, a community-driven initiative.
Quote
“When you think about it, community stands for a common-unity. So I think the importance is to find people who actually have something in common, the power and success are to get those people to work together. To form a unity together.”Isidora Katanic
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Guest: Isidora Katanic
Annie: [00:00:00] In today's episode, we cover community and storytelling, the magic of social media. How tech made the year 2020 less scary, remote presentation tips and tricks, and why the hashtag #GetIsiACat matters. Here is a quick taste of the episode, and then let's get going.
Isidora: [00:00:19] And I'm not sure if people notice, but actually every presentation I do it's different. So I really try to, to showcase my personality a bit more.
Annie: [00:00:50] Hello, I'm Annie, a cloud native technology marketing manager, and I've worked for tech companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises.
Karl: [00:00:58] Hello, my name is Karl Ots and I'm a cloud security leader working at a large Swiss financial sector company.
In this season of "Cloud Gossip" we are diving deeper to the cloud and tech world and we will be interviewing top industry professionals. Today, we have so many interesting topics.
First, we will be diving deep into tech communities, storytelling, conferences, and of course, as always, the cloud. Annie, go ahead and intro our amazing guest.
Annie: [00:01:27] I will Karl, thank you. Isidora is a Microsoft Cloud and data center MVP, a conference organizer, and known for her energy and passion towards the tech community.
Welcome Isidora! Could you please introduce yourself on your own words? Who are you and what are you doing?
Isidora: [00:01:44] Hi, Annie! Hi, Karl!
Thank you so much for inviting me to your podcast today, I'm very excited to be here and to talk to you. So, you briefly already mentioned, my name is Isidora Katanic.
I Iive in a small village near Basel in Switzerland.
However, I'm originally born in former Yugoslavia. I grew up in the Netherlands, and it was actually love from community that brought me to beautiful Switzerland.
So, yeah as you mentioned, community of course, I've lots of passion around it. And, as you said, conference organizing.
That's also something that keeps me busy or at least kept me busy because now... currently.......with the pandemic of course our international conferences are put on hold.
So I cannot wait to....yeah to also talk more about that, later on the podcast.
Karl: [00:02:36] Excellent, thanks. And you run a video show and the tagline of your show is quite a long one, so let me try to take a breather first.
" Head in the cloud, heart in the community". That's quite...quite meaningful. What does community mean to you personally?
Isidora: [00:02:51] Yeah. So, the headline indeed "head in the cloud, heart in the community". I also had to practice many time to actually say it in one go, right. Basically what the video series does, we shine a light on all the amazing things our community members are doing. And I think that is exactly what community means to me, right? It's the people.
And many of those people in our community, they've become very close friends. They've become family. They've become supporters. So yeah, what community means to me is the amount of opportunities that are available. So it really means a lot to me.
Annie: [00:03:28] Amazing. So, I think it's clear that you have an amazing track record of building successful communities and particularly tech communities and building in those spaces, so...
How do you do that? How do you build a successful tech community?
Isidora: [00:03:42] So, I think the word says it all, right?
So, when you think about it, community it stands for a common unity. So I think the importance is to find people who actually have something in common and in this case the interest in tech and to narrow it even more down to conferences I'm involved in on Microsoft technologies.
So I think the power and the successes to get those people to work together. To form a unity together. And there is so much that they can learn from each other, right? The beauty about a community is that you will always have diverse perspectives.
You will have different levels of knowledge, right? So people who just get into tech or people who are many years into the industry. And I think as a community organizer, it's very important to leverage that.
So whether you create a forum, or an offline event or an online conference, where those people can connect. I think that's definitely the key to success.
Annie: [00:04:45] Yeah, so it's all about fostering those social connections between diverse group of people.
Isidora: [00:04:50] Exactly. Yes.
Annie: [00:04:51] Great. So it kind of connects to my next question about... kind of... meeting the social connections in tech as well.
So, you are really kind of working at the intersection between people and tech with the social connections and tech communities. So, how do you unite these things? How do you build storytelling around complex tech topics?
Isidora: [00:05:12] Yeah. So I think, there it's important that you define your audience and that you really understand your audience.
So who are you telling the story to. And make sure that the story you want to tell is understandable, that it's relatable and make it interesting to your audience.
So don't just present a complex tech topic, but present your personal experience around it. This really sticks to people's mind a lot better.
So for example....actually something I had to think of... a couple of years ago, there was a new tech feature out, in a beautiful technology called the SCOM. So : "Microsoft system center, operations manager".
And it was actually one of our dear friends, Microsoft MVP, Kevin Green, who was doing a
demo during an offline conference.
And....like...at the midst of the sessions, suddenly you realized.... I'm not sure which feature it was... I believe it was scheduled maintenance mode, which became available. But the way he reacted that suddenly that was there during his demo life on stage and the whole story he built around it. I mean, that's something that all these years later still is stuck in my head, right?
So it's not just, "Oh, here's a new technology. This is it. This is the fact, this is what it can do".
Now build your story around it and your experience, and then people will perceive your story much better.
Annie: [00:06:38] That is very much true. I think it's always about building the connection, because even though the people might be developers or they're technological people, they are still people... and everyone is.
So it's all about connecting those two dots.
Isidora: [00:06:53] Yes.
Annie: [00:06:54] And I think this connects to the previous topic as well, so. I think you are known for having a lot of magical conversations in Twitter as well and creating and fostering that community.
So, how do you do that actually? Like.... what goes into successfully fostering a long-term discussion at a platform like Twitter?
Isidora: [00:07:13] Yeah. So there, I think it really starts with my passion for social media, right?
I absolutely love social media. I loved it since ever...I got introduced to social media. So if you look back, what is it? See you too, MySpace? I don't know.... MSN, uh, whatever we were using. I mean, I was always interested into that.
And Twitter actually... I'm pretty new to Twitter, to be honest. I think it's now maybe my third year on Twitter, but the key is definitely to stay active and to interact with your followers to people you follow, like make sure you don't make it a one-way street, right?
It's not just about pushing out content or just sharing from your side, like interact with the audience. So make sure that you share content from others that you comment. Yeah, and above all, I think what's also very important is to be kind and to be respectful.
And that something that, yeah, I think we all should be on Twitter, right?
There are many haters, so we want to keep them away. Yeah, and actually a fun
fact....speaking of social media and Twitter. So to relate back to one of the first questions of "head in the cloud heart in the community". So, Holly and I actually have never met, in person. So, we became friends on Twitter.
It just started with interacting with each other, just like as fellow women in tech. And it actually led into this beautiful friendship where we almost talk every single day and we host this community show together. So yeah, I truly believe in the power of Twitter... in that way.
Annie: [00:08:56] That's really amazing.
And I think you're great example of what you can do with that kind of platform. And then you can create so many things that even bubble outside of the platform as well.
Isidora: [00:09:05] Exactly.
Annie: [00:09:06] But I think... there's this really great campaign that I've seen at least that you kind of...I think.... instigated. It was the #GetIsiACat.
Isidora: [00:09:14] Ahahahahaha yeah! So, I will not take credits for that one. It was actually, Orin Thomas, Microsoft cloud advocate based in Australia, who happened to find out that I really wantedto have cats. And then he just kept teasing my fiance Thomas, to get me a cat. And then when you realize, "all right, he's not really buying it".
Let's pull in the Twitter world and let's make it a trending hashtag at Microsoft ignite, which...it worked to make it trending, but we still don't have cats.
Annie: [00:09:48] That is unfortunately to hear, but I think that's an amazing example, because.... Well, Microsoft ignite is one of the largest technological conferences in the world and to get #GetIsiACat trending there is ....an achievement.
Karl: [00:10:02] And I think that's a great example of kind of bursting out of the Twitter world....out of that social media, into somewhere else, as you said. The power or the magicalness of it all actually can break into a live stream of a 30000 people conference.
Isidora: [00:10:18] Well, I believe even more. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, indeed. Yeah. There's a lot of power behind it. Yeah.
Karl: [00:10:25] Awesome.
So speaking of events, you host or hosted a lot of events all around the world. And, one of the things that I'm thinking...must be hard as an event organizer is "how do you get speakers actually interested in your event after the first time?"
How do you get those returning speakers actually coming to your event year after year and inviting their friends?
Isidora: [00:10:49] Yeah. So there, I would say is in short....you just deliver a great event, right? Keep your speakers engaged from the very beginning. So from the day on that you actually launched, for example, the website of your conference and your call for speakers. Up until the moment that they, again, leave your conference and go home, right?
It's a long journey and it's not just, "Oh, I'm looking for a speaker who can deliver this topic.
Okay, come for the session and done! "
That's not how it works.
You need to ensure that you're really focused on your speaker care. I think in the mind of the speaker, like what is important to them?
So is it, for example, make sure that at your conference that you have a speaker room available where they can like pull back....maybe a speaker is more of an introvert and those that enjoy to be out and about all the time, right? Just to go back to the speaker room, focus on his or her session to prepare.
Think about social media packages you want to offer, like prior to your conference, so that the speakers can also share that they're part of the conference. So I would really say involve them from the very beginning and yeah, make it a memorable experience.
So, I think what's very important and you know, as well as conference organizers and you succeed at that.... is "make your conference fun". Right?
Your speakers, as well as the attendees and sponsors and so on. They all come for the networking. I I mean the content is key .....it's of course, very important, but it is as important to have a fun element. So whether if it's a speaker appreciation dinner that you're organized, or if it's like a networking event, I think that's as important to keep your speakers interested and engaged year after year.
Annie: [00:12:34] That's super interesting. I think it's kind of really nice to see the connections between the different topics in the sense that, both for speaker engagement as well as some social media engagement,..it's...it's.. I think the key of what I'm hearing is consistency. So keeping up the good things, and the other part is, is the kind of humanity and meeting people as people, as you said, like... tailor making the experience as much as possible for a speaker to meet their needs. As well as, obviously having that kind of "meet a person as a person" approach in social media world as well, and consistency is the other one. Does that sound correct in your opinion?
Isidora: [00:13:11] That sounds perfectly summarized Annie!
Annie: [00:13:15] Great.
Karl: [00:13:16] Maybe I'd like to actually touch upon that. You're not only an event organizer yourself, but you also have many hats, as many of us in the community do.
So, if you turn it around, as a speaker, what gets you interested in an event?
Isidora: [00:13:32] Yeah. So, I'll be completely honest here. I've delivered more online sessions in the past months than I did offline in the years before, right?
So, I'll mainly focus on currently my experiencewith the online sessions I have delivered.
So yeah, so basically I look at the topics of the event. I look if it's already available, look at the other speakers. I focus on little details, and the bigger picture.
Like for me it's very important...for example the lineup. Like how diverse is it? So, what recently happened a few weeks back is that actually a conference organizer reached out if I wanted to deliver a session, and of course I immediately go and do my ....homework.
I go and check out the event....the speakers.
And I realized, okay, there are 20 speakers and all 20 speakers are male. So... I honestly told them, "All right. So I looked at your lineup. I would be the only female speaker, and I'm sure there are tons of other female speakers who also deserve the opportunity to speak here."
So actually, yeah, just introduce them, sent a list. "Okay. Here are some of the amazing female speakers that I know in the community. They can cover this and this topic, which is in line with your conference. If you can get a bunch of us in....then count me in. Then I'm happy to participate and it was wonderful to see how open the organization was...and they did!
So they actually pulled us in. So yeah, that's also something I really care for as many know of course with the Azure heroes saying "Inclusive leadership". I also believe, yeah. It's also very important that we stand up for that, right?
Karl: [00:15:14] Yeah. That's really something that I'd like to double down on.
Having some sort of history in the event, having the previous years actually available to have a look at what was the line up then? How have they maybe evolved?
Do they have a code of conduct today? Do they have some sort of outreach, maybe sponsorship tickets for people who want to switch careers or students, or that kind of outreach?
What are they actively doing? Not just saying that, "Hey, we don't know anyone, and nobody reached out to us".
And I really love the idea of this list, and if you don't mind, I'd really like to showcase that in our show notes as well.
Isidora: [00:15:55] Yeah, no, definitely, I'll share it. There's actually a website which contains a lot of....it's fully focused on women in tech industry.
So I'll definitely share that and the more we can get the word out that there are plenty of females who are available to present, that will be of course amazing if we can advocate for that and use this platform to have that voice.
Annie: [00:16:17] Amazing.
We are already creating positive change here. It's really....
Yes. So, I think is this year, particularly has been.... I think for many of us, very very turmoil filled.
But I think one of the spaces where a lot of turmoil has been happening is conferences. So what have you personally seen the changes in conferences this year?
Isidora: [00:16:40] Well, the changes I think is very simple. They've just disappeared, right?
Poof, they're gone. No, I mean....of course I've also as an organize... as a conference organizer, but as well as attendee and speaker, like you said, right?
Wearing multiple hats. Of course I've seen the shift from offline to online or a hybrid. And I do have to say for me personally.... it's not the same, right?
I'm really a people person. I love to be out there. I love to connect with people in person.
Just....having like an online session. It's so different because you're like talking to a piece of hardware that is like at your home in front of you. And it's like so different than actually having like that one-on-one conversation with somebody in the hallway, look them into the eyes, look into their soul, like really have that human connection.
But yeah, nevertheless, I also have to say... because many of the conference organizers, I
personally know, like yourself, right? Or many others ....that I deeply appreciate the amount of effort they're putting into pivoting to this online or hybrid world.
So, I've seen many creative ways of community organizers who are hosting their events online and trying to keep it interactive and to connect to people.
So, yeah, I definitely wanna highlight also that I deeply appreciate that.
Annie: [00:18:06] I think that that's really really great.... do you have any examples of some really great kind of events that have done this very well? Or is it just like a general?
Ummmm...
Isidora: [00:18:16] Yeah, so a couple of things I've seen is like, for example... it's an online event, but like for the first... I believe a hundred people who register, they would receive like a gift package at their home.
So it would be ummmmm.... what was it? A conference badge, or it had some snacks. I mean, that's already a way to engage the audience, right?
And I've seen at another conference where they actually created like a virtual, ummmm...sorry, expo hall where sponsors could meet with the attendees. So yeah, there's a lot of creative ways that organizers are....bringing in.
Annie: [00:18:50] Yeah, I totally agree. And I have to say that. That's a really good way to look at it. It's just not look at it as maybe as a fault of the conference, more of a positive thing. Like, "Oh, you can do cool virtual things. You can try out new things". And for example, one event where I was involved, we looked at it as a TV show.
So we hired a TV producer to screen right it with us and really created it, thinking about a new show. And then that kind of brings new, I think....dimensions to the event and training landscape. Which then kind of makes it, you know, not a worse..... option or a version of, ummmm event.
It tries to make it a better version, which I think is kind of....or it should be at least the goal, even though it might be hard to reach.
Isidora: [00:19:31] Yeah, indeed.
Karl: [00:19:32] Excellent. Well, talking about online events. And as you said, you have been doing this....a lot this past months and weeks. So, what are your own top tips for doing these online presentations? And this can be really anything from your favorite gear on the go, preparing the presentation environment. You have a lovely of background in this virtual studio of ours, or really ....really getting the audience really engaged.
Isidora: [00:19:58] Yeah. So, uh, it's, it's funny, you mentioned the background, which of course, we cannot show into podcasts, but if you follow me on Twitter at Isidora Katanic, you will see a bunch of photos from my home office.
Yeah.....so that's....for example, the background. That's something which is very important to me because it shows my personality. And, I'm not sure if people notice, but actually every presentation I do it's different. So I rearrange or I put something else or.
For example, now you will see like a more Christmasy background, which will be different again in January.
So I really try to, ummmm yeah. Also keep that up to date and change it and to showcase my personality a bit more.
Then secondly, something that I think we all have noticed is that everyone has stepped up their game when it comes to online presentations and equipment.
So, when I look at some of the online sessions I delivered a year ago, like.... I did not have a beautiful microphone in front of me or studio lights or an external camera.
I was doing it off my laptop. Yeah. So that's something which.....yeah, I would definitely give us a tip... if you are a frequent speaker, and if you can afford it, get the right equipment.
It will also make you feel more confident when you know your lighting is good or you sound is good. But then of course, I also fully understand that there are also people who cannot afford it, or maybe just don't want to invest into that.
So there are ....definitely different ways to do that. So for example, lightning.
Make sure that you sit behind a window, so you would get daylight on you, right? If you don't have studio lights.
Or if you don't have a fancy external microphone, make sure you sit as close as possible to the microphone of your laptop.
Yeah. So I think that's one of my tips I would give on the equipment. And lastly, I would say have fun. I mean, it's so much more pleasant for the audience to watch or to listen to somebody who's actually really having fun in what they're doing. So I think that goes back to the same story. Like whenever there is a new tech feature, don't just blur it out. "Okay. New feature is this and this", but make it fun. Yeah…
Karl: [00:22:15] Love it.
And, really to add, at least towards my own personal frustration. The waiting times of the best rated gears and gadgets for online presentation have all also been pretty abysmal this year. So it's not even about the affordability or taking that personal step that I want to invest in myself instead of my employer or something like that.
It can really be about having to do this"do it yourself approach" for lights and everything, just because you just don't get your hands on those devices.
Isidora: [00:22:45] Yeah.
Karl: [00:22:46] Cool. Now it's time for our first recurring segment.
And we really did get to your dancing, which is what Mike asked actually in his session.
Um, all right. So, our modus operandi is to talk with the best people in the business, and we really want to hear your thoughts on the future of tech. It sounds really big and scary. Yes. But we and our audience really want to learn.
So let's dig in and let's get your thoughts and discuss, how does this sound? So, what are the top three things in tech that most make you excited at this very moment? Things that you are really passionate about.
Isidora: [00:23:41] Yeah. So at this moment, ummmm well, let's just start off that technology during COVID has become more and more important and is being used by more and more people.
So talking from my grandparents, installing Skype or teams to my little nephews, using Microsoft teams for school. Also, I think technology has become less scary. Let's say that way, right? Like before maybe grandparents were like, "Oh no technology. That's like modern, that's difficult we won't be able to understand."
And now they actually have to, right? Because we're pivoting now into this virtual world. So yeah, I think it has become less scary and more accessible. Yeah, I mean, I also noticed with my friends, like, my non-tech friends, let's say that way, who were not in the tech industry, but they're reaching out like," Hey, don't you do something with Microsoft, right? In your work?"
and they like reach out. Yes! So I just, uhhh..Well... One Drive, like how do I use it? Or like my parents in law, who are like learning modern technology and asking for help. So yeah, hat's one thing that really excites me. How more and more people, let's say non-tech people got into tech, so that's one thing.
Secondly, when I give it a thought, it's definitely the speed of technology, right? So everything is becoming faster and faster and faster and more powerful. I mean, just something very simple, but what, which does excite me. I mean, I remember. Back when I was little...as a kid and then the sound of connecting to the dial-up internet.
I mean, that's just the sound which will forever stay stuck in my head, right? But if I would tell now my sister, she has like two children. And if I tell them, they're like, "what are you talking about?" Right? But yeah. So when I look today, actually our internet is 600 MB up and down and soon we're going to switch to 10 gigabyte up and down, right?
So that's also something that gets me very excited. And let me see the third. Yeah, it would definitely be the Phillips hue lights I have at home. So basically we have set up in the entire apartment, the Phillips lights. So every room, every light bulb, every ceiling lamp, every standing lamp, literally every lamp in the apartment is Phillips hues.
So I can modify them on color, on strengths, turn them on off app controlled. Yeah. That's something which actually everyday, gets me excited and.... yeah, play around with the colors.
Karl: [00:26:13] Amazing! There's a little wasted, this small chuckle that I do when I play around with those connection lights ....myself.
Annie: [00:26:21] To bounce off that .....More of a serious question, let's go for a light headed one. So, if you could make like a wishlist tick. So, if you could get anything to become a reality from Sci-fi or a Sci-fi series or anything from proper quantum computing to time travel or anything as wild as you can think, what would you make...to be reality?
Isidora: [00:26:49] So what I would make? Right now is a private high-tech COVID risk-free jet, that would fly me to Osaka in Japan. To be precise on February 4th in 2021, because that's when the opening is of the Super Nintendo World. And it's definitely a big dream of mine. I'm a big Nintendo fan. I love super Mario.
I have played all the games since ever I can remember up until today, right? So, yeah, that's definitely, if I could get to, uh, get to Japan, that will be awesome. And then have magical private access with a few of my friends.
Karl: [00:27:33] We'll definitely take a tag along!
Isidora: [00:27:36] You're more than welcome! Let's go!
Annie: [00:27:39] Sounds amazing. And Osaka is absolutely amazing as well. So that's a really great plan.
Isidora: [00:27:44] Yeah. Have you been there?
Annie: [00:27:46] Yes. We have been there.
Karl: [00:27:50] That's right. We took a trip... last year when we still had....means to travel. I'm glad we did that.
All right. So now let's switch gears!
All right. It's time for our next recurring section, "diversity and inclusion". And we want to spread positivity and through our own actions increase the positive impact of the tech world.
As we did already in the show. And this is why we have a recurring segment for this diversity and inclusion in this podcast, where we talk with each of our guests around the same topics.
And this is just one of the concrete ways that we, as podcast hosts, want to take action. And I hope everyone can find some ways like that. But...how about you personally? Have you encountered really good projects or initiatives lately in the field and what are you on favorites?
And you can't say the one that you already said.
Isidora: [00:29:00] Actually it's going to be a new one. So one of my current favorites to really be very very current is actually coming from Microsoft. So, I'm not sure if you're aware, but like every year they have like this exclusive selection of ugly Christmas sweaters.
And they normally just ship them to a limited amount of people. So, just like...to really famous people, influencers or they're like absolute super fans.
And this year is actually the first year that Microsoft makes them available for sale. So they sell them. And then what I love about it, is of course, it's something that I'm sure many many people want.
And then, for every sweater or..... let's rephrase every ugly Christmas sweater that is sold, a donation is made to "girls who code". So I absolutely love that initiative because it's both so close to my heart and Christmas sweaters and girls who code.
And let's also say Microsoft. So if you want to know if I ordered one, actually my fiance order two! One for himself, and one for me, because he knew of course, that I would love to have one.
And then for the listeners on the podcast, who of course cannot see that I'm wearing a Christmas sweater at the moment. So it's something that are really love and I cannot wait to get my ugly Christmas sweater from Microsoft.
Annie: [00:30:27] That is amazing. I actually ordered two as well, so we have two on the way as well!
Isidora: [00:30:33] Awesome. Yeah. Awesome. So we should take photos once we have them and share them on Twitter.
Karl: [00:30:40] I hope every one of our listeners who managed to ordering in that brief time when they had those available before Christmas, actually. Get to do the same.
Annie: [00:30:49] They are actually back in stock. Well, there's going to be more stock in January .....so everyone can get their own and proceeds will go to charity. So really nice.
Karl: [00:31:01] Cool cool!
Annie: [00:31:01] ....not to have a small ad here.
Isidora: [00:31:05] No, it is true! I mean, I also saw...of course it was sold out so fast. I think, of course it's a..... Yeah, I mean that the donations go to girls who code plus that the sweater is just absolutely amazing.
It went so fast! And, I just have to say, I'm sure many people got very disappointed when it sold out so fast, because then you're just back at where it was before, they only go to like a limited amount of people, right? So I love how Microsoft extended now and just makes it available for everybody, and we'll start creating a new batch as of January.
Annie: [00:31:38] It's really nice and very good.
So, moving on from holiday sweaters, even though they're amazing! But still....so what kind of tips would you have for our listeners, how to lift others up and how to empower other people?
Isidora: [00:31:54] Yes, I would definitely say: be supportive, be helpful. And I think now, especially now it's more important than ever to check in on each other. Right?
So, whether if it's just like, "Hey, how are you? How are you doing today?" Or "how has your week been". Yeah, just to check in on the people in the community and that's for sure. At least for me personally, it works. Like I have sometimes somebody in the community I haven't spoken to in awhile and they just randomly reach out again, like, "Hey, how are you? I saw you here and here. That was really good". Or, yeah. So I think, yeah, definitely be supportive and helpful and keep in touch.
Karl: [00:32:35] Beautiful.
Amazing. And that was the cue for our last recurring segment, "community corner". And this is really the time for some humble bragging. As a Community Leader and event organizer, what is next up on your plate?
Isidora: [00:33:07] So next step on my plate is the "head in the cloud heart in the community" December episode.
I'm personally very excited about this one, so I will not reveal too much, because it's still to come, but I can say it's different. in any of the other episodes we've done so far.
So yeah, make sure you follow Holly Lehman or myself on Twitter, or that you go to our YouTube channel, "head in the cloud, heart in the community "and subscribe to find out. So that's one thing I've got coming up on my plate.
Karl: [00:33:41] Are you saying that there's no dancing whatsoever in that episode?
Isidora: [00:33:46] Ummmmm, let me think..... yeah, I think there's no dancing this time!
Karl: [00:33:51] Really delivering on those promises. Uh, okay!
So yeah! No one really does this alone, from the community point of view as well. And it really takes a village to raise a child as big of a community. So would you like to give a shout out to some of the communities close to your heart?
Isidora: [00:34:09] Yes, absolutely. So, close to my heart currently is the festive tech calendar. So it is a community event started by two amazing Microsoft MVPs, super-duper Richard Hooper and Gregor Suttie.
And yeah, so basically what they did last year, they created the Azure advent calendar. Where I had an amazing opportunity to do the opening poem.
And then this year, they actually made it a lot more diverse and inclusive by making it the festive tech calendar. So it's not only focused on Azure. It's an old kinds of technologies. There are speakers from all over the world who contributed videos or blogs. So I definitely wanna shout out to those people who have put so much effort into that.
So yeah, if you haven't heard about the festive tech calendar, make sure you check it out. Www.festivetechcalendar.com. And every day at 10:00 AM, UK time, there's a reveal with a new door that opens, of the advent calendar, releasing new content.
So that can be a blog, it can be video, it can be a hackathon, it can be a live "ask me anything."
So there's a lot of exciting content coming up in December. So, definitely check
Annie: [00:35:33] We have so many great links to share with our community and our listeners right now, so they can check everything else from them. From the talk show. The calendar and the amazing list of female speakers as well, obviously.
So that's really great. And thank you so much, this has been amazing. And we have talked about so many topics today. We have learned about everything from creating communal unity, building your story around your experiences, the magic of social media, human to human interactions, and about how the year 2020 has been......scary, but tech has made it a bit less scary as well.
And conferences as a tool for networking and remote presentation tips and tricks. And of course, why everyone should be following the #GetIsiACat.
Karl: [00:36:22] Isi, thanks for being here!
Annie: [00:36:23] It was really a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much for coming.
Isidora: [00:36:27] Thank you so much to you both for having me on the show and thank you to everybody who joined the podcast and listened to this episode.
Karl: [00:36:40] Hey, thanks for listening to cloud gossip, you can find us from our website, cloudgossip.net.
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