How we held a conference and barely survived!
Sasha Pleshco
Designing for People at Globant | Speaking on Product Design | Teaching UX | Mentoring
A post that had to be published long ago...
Organizing a conference, especially in a hybrid format, is a journey like no other. It’s a skill set all on its own, filled with twists and turns that test every ounce of your dedication and creativity. Last year, we embarked on this exhilarating adventure for the second time, and what an unforgettable experience it was!
A Race Against Time ?
From the moment we decided to host the second edition, the clock started ticking. Our journey began with the daunting task of finding and negotiating with speakers, both local and international. Imagine the excitement and anxiety of arranging visits for those coming from abroad while simultaneously scheduling calls with those who would join us online. Establishing common ground with panelists was like putting together pieces of a puzzle, each piece vital to the overall picture.
We dove into writing scripts for panels, arranging the perfect lighting and screens, and meticulously preparing graphic materials. Promoting the event and advocating for our domain in front of potential partners became our daily mantra. We negotiated catering menus, sought out wineries willing to sell wine on a day of the National Wine Day (a unique challenge and a story of heroism in itself!), and arranged venues, hotels, and restaurants. And we did all of this while juggling our regular work commitments.
Every day felt like a race against time, and up until the very start of the event, it seemed like we were losing it. The pressure was immense, and the stakes were high. We ourselves set up a standard that had to be met.
Moldova's Next Big Thing ??
The day finally arrived. There Elena and I were, on stage, our hearts pounding with excitement and nerves, welcoming all our guests. The blinding lights made it hard to see the first row of seats, but I could still recognize familiar faces in the crowd, their smiles offering silent support.
No matter how well you prepare, there are always a million things that could go wrong. And they did. We managed to break a leg without actually breaking any legs, but the challenges were relentless.
? Not enough chairs? We scrambled and made it work.
? Insufficient water? We hustled and handled it.
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? Confused volunteers? We stepped in and guided them.
Over the course of those two intense days, I lost 4 kilograms. My heart rate was above 90 bpm the entire time. We faced unstable online connections that left us scrambling, and last-minute slide issues due to weird format conversions that had us panicking. Each problem demanded immediate attention, and every solution required quick thinking and teamwork.
But despite these hurdles, the event was a resounding success. The energy in the room was palpable, the discussions were insightful, and the connections made were invaluable.
To Those Who Made It Possible ??
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers who attended and contributed to our event. Elizabeth Ashley Fox-Jensen , Eugene Durov , Alexandra Brinzaniuc , Boris Brut , Andrei Sytykh , Evgheni Curalov , Cristian Mbala , Nicoleta Colomee? , Viorel Bostan , Lucille Launay , Natalia Dontu , Marcel ?endrea , Vladimir Hadjioglo , Ramona Ziemann , Paul Capcan ?? Each one of you brought something unique and valuable to the table, enriching the experience for everyone involved. A special shoutout to Vitali Covalenco , my partner at YaTakViju! , for sharing this organizational nightmare and turning it into a dream come true. Your support and dedication were invaluable.
Elena Putina , for the second time, you were an incredible co-host. Your ability to orchestrate panel discussions and your unwavering support made this journey so much smoother. You truly are my soulmate in our mission to give back to the community.
I also want to thank Roman Gluck for training our speakers and helping them feel more natural on stage, that experience was invaluable for us!
Our partners from Tekwill , ATIC , and Moldova Innovation Technology Park , as well as our sponsors USAID Moldova and Sweden, your support was crucial. You believed in our vision and helped make it a reality. Personally, this journey taught me the power of problem-solving and connecting with anyone who could help. I even reached out to Don Norman and Jakob Nielsen – something that seemed like a distant dream just two years ago.
Reflecting on this experience fills me with immense pride and gratitude. Together, we’ve shown that no challenge is too great when you have a passionate community and a dedicated team. Here’s to many more successful editions to come! Next week we'll start posting recordings from that incredible event, so I'll keep you posted. Cheers!
#ProductDesign #Conference #Community #YaTakViju
UX/UI Design Lead | Design Speaker, Mentor and Advocate | Tech Women Moldova Ambassador
5 个月You have my respect and admiration, Sasha Pleshco - not only for what you did with Product Conference, and making big design events happen, but for tirelessly contributing to building a UX Community in Moldova, day in and day out ???? Always a blast when we partner in crime - although definitely quite stressful before and in the moment. Not after - somehow, we always forget the freaking out part, and plan to do it all over again, don't we? ??
e-Governance Agency Moldova | CPPM | Leadership, Strategy, Product Marketing & Brand
5 个月I think this is one of those rare events where purpose, target and content are in full sync. You guys did an amazing job with it and none of the behind the scenes conundrums showed. So kudos to all of you for an amazing job! On a personal level, I was so excited you guys invited me to the event, and I was so nervous as I was just joining as an adviser at the time. And after meeting you the idea of UX4Gov caught fire with me, as I knew that if we'd partner up, we can definitely make it happen ?? I know you said you're done with events for the year, but maybe there's a chance you'll do another product design one ??
Product & Product Design Leadership
5 个月Sasha Pleshco, that was one of the best events I've ever attended in Moldova. You and the team did a fantastic job! Thank you for organizing it and for developing our design community. I don't know what other people think, but when I hear "Moldovan Design Community", I associate it with your face and with the events organized by you and Vitali Covalenco. Kudos, guys! ??