DevOps Dreamin': Technical Excellence with a Human Touch

I was lucky enough to attend and present this week at DevOps Dreamin, a #Salesforce #Devops focused community event put on by Gearset . This technical conference? draws in developers, admins, architects, operations professionals, and Salesforce enthusiasts from near and far. With a multitude of enlightening presentations and hands-on workshops, the conference solidified its reputation as a premier event for those in the DevOps field.?

While the technical aspects of DevOps are often the primary focus at conferences like these, a refreshing and enlightening theme emerged at DevOps Dreamin': the people aspect of DevOps. This human-centric approach to DevOps recognizes the importance of collaboration, communication, and empathy as essential components of a successful DevOps strategy.

Day one of the conference brought attendees a keynote by Salesforce’s Architect Relations Team Senior Director, Zayne Turner : “Architecting a Delivery Culture”. The underlying theme of the talk demonstrated that collaboration is key, and Zayne outlined 3 ways for companies to get there:

1. Ensure the team has a single shared vision of “the right thing.”
2. Make the teams roles and functions clear
3. Allow all questions to be fair game

From the opening keynote to the closing panel, speakers and participants alike stressed the importance of prioritizing the human element in DevOps. I was so invigorated after Zayne’s session, because the human aspect of conferences feeds my soul! Several presentations and discussions highlighted the necessity of breaking down barriers between teams, fostering an environment that encourages open communication, and embracing empathy to improve overall performance and outcomes.

One standout session from Rachel Brozinick , "Continuous Collaboration: The Key to DevOps Success," explored the challenges often faced by development and operations teams when collaborating. The speaker shared various strategies for improving communication across teams, including implementing regular cross-functional meetings, leveraging collaboration tools, and creating shared documentation.

Another notable presentation from Jade Keenan , "The Power of Empathy in DevOps," delved into the role empathy plays in fostering a productive and supportive work environment. The speaker explained how understanding the needs, concerns, and perspectives of team members on both sides of the DevOps spectrum can lead to more effective collaboration and problem-solving. By actively listening to each other, teams can better identify pain points and work together to find innovative solutions.

Another meaningful session to me was the inspiring keynote, "Learn to Float - Practical Mental Health for the Workplace," where Salesforce’s Joshua Birk shared his personal journey of overcoming a nervous breakdown in 2021. He emphasized the need for a plan to manage stress and anxiety, which are all too common in the technology sector. By providing an overview of how stress can affect the mind and body, Josh equipped attendees with practical tips and strategies for recognizing the signs before they become unmanageable. His candid approach and personal experiences resonated with the audience, reminding them of the importance of self-care and mental health in the workplace.

Complementing Josh's keynote, my own session, "Burnout: Just BEAT it!", delved deeper into the concepts of stress and burnout. I helped participants differentiate between the two, understand their causes and consequences, and recognize the impact of long-term stress. Attendees shared their own stories of seeing signs of burnout in themselves, and shared how they are dealing effectively with it.

Finally, I was lucky enough to co-present with my RafterOne | An IPG Company co-worker Denise Carbone , ”Client success is Everyone's Job: How DevOps Teams Can Play a Critical Role” In this session, we emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration across all departments. By adopting a human-centric approach, we demonstrated how DevOps professionals can better understand the customers' needs, concerns, and expectations, enabling them to play a pivotal role in delivering tailored solutions and ensuring seamless user experiences. This collaborative mindset not only benefits the customers but also strengthens the company's reputation, ultimately driving growth and success in today's dynamic business environment. During the session, it became clear that client success is really an afterthought, if considered at all, by most DevOps teams. Attendees walked away with some actionable takeaways and insights into how they might incorporate a client success mindset on their own DevOps teams.

In summary, DevOps Dreamin' delivered an engaging and enlightening experience for all who attended. I will admit, I was a little intimidated to attend this conference as one who isn't technically in DevOps. However, the conference's emphasis on the people aspect of DevOps, in addition to its technical component, inspired attendees to prioritize collaboration, communication, and empathy in their day-to-day work. I hope the next conference includes even more sessions speaking to the human aspect. (This is your cue to think of a session for next year!)

As the field of DevOps continues to evolve, events like DevOps Dreamin' remind us that the human element is crucial to achieving true technical excellence and I highly recommend you add this event to your conference calendar!?