Dec
04
2024
2024 December Meetup
Wed (06:00 PM - 08:30 PM)
Line up
Amy Thompson
AI on the Prize
Adam Mitchell
Global Consultancy: Life Above the Clouds
Bina Champaneria
Don't hold your breath
Dan Hammond
The Two Christmas Pudding Rule: Why the Elves Should Work in Small Teams
Carly Watson
Managing ADHD the Holistic Way
Luca Sabato
Am I Agile?
Simon Cookson
How Not To Fall Out Over Christmas
Tom Preval
Delivering Gifts, Not Grievances: the Magic of Well-written Features!
Summary
It’s That Time of Year Again!
Get ready to unwrap a surprise event that’s sure to jingle your bells! We’re pulling a festive Lightning Talk right out of the stocking this December and you won’t want to miss it!
Join us for an evening of rapid-fire fun, where speakers will have just 10 minutes to share their holiday-inspired tech tales, Agile antics and maybe a few giggle-worthy stories. Whether you’ve got a unique software saga or a festive tip that’ll sleigh your co-workers, we want to hear it!
This is your chance to connect with fellow tech enthusiasts, spread some holiday cheer and dive into the spirit of the season. We will serve
delightful treats in a cosy atmosphere filled with enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch smile! You might even have the chance to win a prize!
So, polish off those elf-sized ideas and get ready to shine brighter than the star on top of the tree. Let’s wrap up the year with laughter, learning and a sprinkle of merriment. We can’t wait to celebrate the season with the Agile Yorkshire family—it’s going to be a holly jolly good time!
Programme
AI on the Prize
Amy Thompson will present "Leveraging AI at Work: Reducing Workload and Enhancing Productivity." She will explore how the growing normalization of AI tools in daily life can be applied in the workplace to reduce workloads, improve efficiency, and enhance quality. With practical insights and real-world examples, Amy will demonstrate how AI can boost productivity and deliver better outcomes.
Amy Thompson
Amy, an experienced Agile practitioner since 2012, has worked across sectors including finance, retail, medical and leisure, gaining deep insights into fostering Organisational and Business Agility. She is passionate about harmonising cultural, technical and operational changes to drive meaningful and lasting transformations. A strong advocate of servant leadership, Amy believes that empowering people is key to unlocking the answers organisations need for success.
Global Consultancy: Life Above the Clouds
Adam takes a humorous and self-deprecating look at the highs and lows of traveling over 25,000 air miles a year for work. He shares witty anecdotes about the challenges of frequent flying while defending the tongue-in-cheek argument that “turning left” on a plane is the cheapest way to travel for business. With relatable insights and plenty of laughs, Adam offers a fresh perspective on life in the skies.
Don't hold your breath
Underwater Survival 101: How to Be Safe in a Strange and Beautiful World
Learn how scuba-diving courses taught me to navigate the underwater world safely while soaking in its breath-taking beauty. In this talk, I’ll share tips and stories that make exploring this strange and enchanting realm both safe and unforgettable.
Bina Champaneria
Bina is an experienced Project Manager and Accredited Trainer in PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile, AgilePM, and APM PFQ, with a career spanning industries such as garment manufacturing, construction and higher education. She has successfully managed complex projects, including systems implementations and leading an international consortium for a large EU-funded research initiative.
The Two Christmas Pudding Rule: Why the Elves Should Work in Small Teams
The ideal team size is often overlooked or debated, as organisations prioritise cost-cutting and expanding spans of control. Drawing on insights from science and data, Dan explores why team size matters for engagement and performance—and uses a festive glass of Baileys to illustrate these dynamics in a relatable and memorable way. Prepare for an insightful and light-hearted take on optimising teamwork during the holiday season!
Dan Hammond
Dan is a passionate advocate for effective teamwork and the founder of Squadify, a SaaS and services platform that leverages data to identify and close gaps in team dynamics. By enabling teams to boost engagement and drive performance, Squadify transforms the way organisations collaborate and achieve results.
Managing ADHD the Holistic Way
Carly shares her inspiring journey to becoming ADHD medication-free, focusing on practical strategies that help her thrive personally and professionally. She highlights tools from her “managing ADHD without meds” toolbox, including cold water therapy, ADHD-friendly meditation and lifestyle adjustments to improve focus and reduce symptoms. Carly also discusses how these approaches fuelled her success in tech and ultimately led her to start her own business.
Carly Watson
Carly is an ADHD coach passionate about holistic approaches to managing ADHD. She works with clients seeking alternatives to medication, offering one-on-one coaching, ADHD-friendly meditation sessions and retreats that focus on practical, drug-free strategies. Her cornerstone tool is Cold Water Exposure, starting each day with an ice bath to naturally boost dopamine, allowing her to thrive without medication or its side effects.
Am I Agile?
A personal journey that explores the essence of embracing an agile mindset. This experience delves beyond frameworks to highlight core values like adaptability, collaboration and continuous improvement, fostering a deeper understanding of true agility.
Luca Sabato
Luca Sabato is a technical architect with extensive experience in Agile methodologies and customer-centric product development. Skilled in requirement gathering, stakeholder communication and delivery management, he excels at transforming complex challenges into practical solutions. Luca leads cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, impactful products that align with business objectives and drive success.
How Not To Fall Out Over Christmas
Picture this: the Christmas dinner table, filled with festive cheer, flowing drinks and party hats perched at jaunty angles, surrounded by family—even the ones you’d rather avoid. Then it happens: the conversation shifts to tricky topics like politics, climate change or the final season of Game of Thrones. Discover how to stay composed, respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively and keep the holiday spirit alive despite the conversational landmines.
Simon Cookson
As an introverted people pleaser, Simon learned to move beyond "winging it" during crucial work conversations and discovered effective ways to lead teams with confidence. Now, he coaches leaders of technical and professional services teams, helping them navigate challenges and foster high-performing, collaborative environments. His mission is to empower others to lead authentically and with purpose.
Delivering Gifts, Not Grievances: the Magic of Well-written Features!
Tom highlights the importance and benefits of well-written features, demonstrating how clear communication drives better outcomes. With a Christmas twist, he adds a festive flair to this essential topic, making it both insightful and fun.
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