The decision for audio system for bbcon 2025 is open by means of March 14, and we encourage all prospects to apply. This is a chance to showcase your experience and expertise, develop professionally, and get a free ticket to bbcon!
We not too long ago held a webinar for Blackbaud Champions that includes a longtime bbcon observe chief and three skilled bbcon audio system to share their ideas for a powerful utility, and we’ve put collectively a abstract of that dialog to assist all potential audio system.
Feeling a bit nervous or not sure about whether or not you may have the experience to talk at bbcon? Take inspiration from frequent bbcon speaker Austen Brown, senior automation architect at Prenger Options Group: “It’s pure to really feel a little bit of imposter syndrome when contemplating submitting a speaker utility. Bear in mind, you’re a champion in your individual proper, and there may be at all times one thing you’re actually good at that another person might be taught from. Don’t let insecurities maintain you again. We’re all champions in our personal proper, and sharing what we all know helps everybody stage up.”
Figuring out Your Subject
Give attention to Your Ardour and Expertise
Concepts for a convention session ought to originate out of your real passions, areas of curiosity, or what you excel at in your every day work. Begin by reflecting on what you mannequin nicely for others at your group, what product capabilities you may have educated or coached individuals to make use of, or what process you stay up for probably the most.
Austen Brown recommends, “Take a second to mirror on your self and your function. What you’re actually keen about or what’s one thing that you simply’re actually good at doing. Whether or not it’s database cleanup, automation, or some other space, your distinctive perspective can present worthwhile insights to others.”
And don’t fear if it’s a subject you’ve seen at earlier bbcons. As Carlene Johnson, who has spoken at a number of bbcons whereas in her earlier function at a non-public highschool and now because the founder and principal advisor at Subsequent Degree Providers, factors out “Simply because any individual did a session on ideas and methods final yr, there can be new individuals at bbcon who didn’t get to attend that session. What’s tried and true may be extraordinarily worthwhile for folk who’ve by no means attended bbcon.” Along with reaching new audiences, you’ll additionally carry your individual distinctive perspective and expertise to a subject.
Don’t Undervalue the Fundamentals
Even when it’s one thing routine, it may be a gamechanger for others. The convention attracts a mixture of skillsets from rookies who’re model new to utilizing their options to specialists who carry 25 years or extra of expertise. Amy Dana, improvement companies and information supervisor at Bat Conservation Worldwide, supplied an vital reminder: “You by no means know what individuals don’t know. So, you possibly can’t assume that simply because you recognize one thing or everyone in your group is aware of one thing that everyone on the earth is aware of how to do this factor.”
We welcome submissions that cowl something from the fundamentals that can assist somebody onboard and implement rapidly and have an ideal first expertise with their options to extra superior matters that lean into automations and customizations. Take into consideration one thing you would like you knew when beginning out, or about one thing which may be second nature to you now however could have taken you some time to determine.
How are YOU, as your group’s subject material knowledgeable, maintaining your colleagues up to date on what they should know? No matter that’s, it tells an ideal story of how you’re influencing change and adoption at your group and different individuals need to hear the way you do that.
Fill within the Subject Gaps You Need to See at bbcon
Take into consideration what you would like you had seen at earlier bbcon conferences or what you’re hoping to be taught in 2025. If there’s a subject or session you felt was lacking, contemplate filling that hole—it’s probably that others would additionally like to see a session on that matter. And who higher than you to rise to the problem? Your session might be the one which addresses these unmet wants and supplies contemporary, related tackle the topic.
Contemplate Collaborating with Different Passionate Customers
If you happen to’re nervous about presenting alone, contemplate teaming up together with your colleagues or join with different prospects in Blackbaud Neighborhood—you possibly can seek for others who’ve already posted about that matter or put out a name for co-presenters inside the bbcon dialogue discussion board or the related product dialogue discussion board.
Patti Hommes, improvement supervisor at Jack and Jill Heart, shared that one of many advantages of presenting with others is that it “helps the session really feel like a “massive dialog, which helps you’re feeling extra snug within the second since you are speaking to your friends who share your curiosity, and so they genuinely need you to achieve the second.” And Amy Dana identified that when you may have a number of presenters, that signifies that it will possibly take the load off as you don’t have to arrange to talk for everything of the session time as a result of that point is as an alternative unfold throughout the audio system.
Tip: When you’ve got an ideal thought and haven’t recognized a co-presenter but, we encourage you to point that. Nikki Baldwin, senior product advertising supervisor at Blackbaud and longtime bbcon observe lead, shared a key tip: for those who’re not capable of finding peer or a colleague to co-present with and assist you carry the session alongside, Blackbaud may help pair you up with somebody, whether or not or not it’s somebody from Blackbaud or one other buyer.
Crafting Your Utility
When writing your utility, there are some key factors it’s best to be capable to articulate even for those who don’t have your complete particulars of the session readied earlier than the March 12 submission deadline. Nikki Baldwin shared the important thing elements that assist session proposals stand out throughout her evaluate:
- Make clear your viewers and their experience stage: While you apply you’ll be requested to designate whether or not your session is suited to newbie, intermediate or expert-level product customers. Do consider, nonetheless, that a variety of group varieties and talent ranges attend bbcon, so craft your proposal with broad attraction in thoughts.
- Describe the subject’s relevance and affect: Clarify why your matter is vital and the way it can profit different organizations. Your proposal is sure to face out for those who can clearly talk the significance of the subject. Think about using the next arch to develop an affect assertion:
- Why is that this an issue that wants fixing?
- Why is it vital to unravel this drawback?
- How did you resolve the issue?
- Define your studying targets: You’ll want to clearly state what you need your viewers to be taught and what you suppose they need to be capable to accomplish after attending your session. These 3-5 targets needs to be easy and clear. Contemplate the next inquiries to develop your targets:
- What would you like others to have the ability to do again at their organizations on account of attending your bbcon session?
- What do attendees must know to bridge the hole the place they’re at present and the place they need to be after they return to their organizations after bbcon?
- Think about using AI instruments: If you happen to need assistance filling out the shell of an thought or sharpening up an outline or assertion, AI writing instruments corresponding to Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT may be nice aids for creativity and brainstorming and might present assist for individuals who really feel like they need to use assist with writing.
Tip: When you’ve got issues about demoing an answer or displaying an instance dashboard that features delicate organizational information, you possibly can go away a observe in your speaker utility stating that you simply want to have a Blackbaud worker stroll the viewers by means of the answer with pattern information.
Extra Causes to Apply to Converse at bbcon
Submitting a bbcon speaker utility is a incredible alternative to share your information, join with others, and improve your skilled progress. The bbcon expertise is made higher when prospects—your friends— are put entrance and middle that will help you perceive and learn to make the most of your options to the fullest capabilities and ship extra mission-impact.
And don’t overlook concerning the free bbcon ticket! As Nikki Baldwin identified, “Attending bbcon with out paying for the registration price, whereas nonetheless representing your group is a aware and financially accountable method to attend the convention. You’re contemplating your group’s backside line.”
Your voice issues, and your insights could make a major affect on the Blackbaud neighborhood. We stay up for seeing your utility and listening to your distinctive perspective at bbcon! Within the phrases of Patti Hommes, “Simply take a deep breath. Then go for it! We like to see individuals succeed!”