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 just lately held a webinar for Blackbaud Champions that includes a longtime bbcon observe chief and three skilled bbcon audio system to share their suggestions for a robust utility, and we’ve put collectively a abstract of that dialog to assist all potential audio system.
Feeling a bit nervous or uncertain about whether or not you will 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. Keep in mind, you’re a champion in your individual proper, and there’s all the time one thing you’re actually good at that another person may 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 Matter
Deal with 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 each day work. Begin by reflecting on what you mannequin nicely for others at your group, what product capabilities you will have skilled or coached folks to make use of, or what process you look ahead to probably the most.
Austen Brown recommends, “Take a second to replicate on your self and your position. What you’re actually captivated with or what’s one thing that you simply’re actually good at doing. Whether or not it’s database cleanup, automation, or every 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 position at a non-public highschool and now because the founder and principal marketing consultant at Subsequent Stage Providers, factors out “Simply because any person did a session on suggestions and methods final yr, there will likely be new folks at bbcon who didn’t get to attend that session. What’s tried and true will be extraordinarily worthwhile for folk who’ve by no means attended bbcon.” Along with reaching new audiences, you’ll additionally convey 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 novices who’re model new to utilizing their options to specialists who convey 25 years or extra of expertise. Amy Dana, improvement companies and knowledge supervisor at Bat Conservation Worldwide, provided an vital reminder: “You by no means know what folks don’t know. So, you may’t assume that simply because you understand 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 may assist somebody onboard and implement shortly and have an amazing first expertise with their options to extra superior subjects that lean into automations and customizations. Take into consideration one thing you want you knew when beginning out, or about one thing which may be second nature to you now however might have taken you some time to determine.
How are YOU, as your group’s subject material skilled, protecting your colleagues up to date on what they should know? No matter that’s, it tells an amazing story of how you’re influencing change and adoption at your group and different folks need to hear the way you do that.
Fill within the Matter Gaps You Wish to See at bbcon
Take into consideration what you want 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, take into account 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 could possibly be the one which addresses these unmet wants and gives contemporary, related tackle the topic.
Contemplate Collaborating with Different Passionate Customers
In the event you’re nervous about presenting alone, take into account teaming up along with your colleagues or join with different prospects in Blackbaud Group—you may seek for others who’ve already posted about that matter or put out a name for co-presenters throughout 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 “large dialog, which helps you are feeling extra snug within the second since you are speaking to your friends who share your curiosity, and so they genuinely need you to reach the second.” And Amy Dana identified that when you will have a number of presenters, that signifies that it might probably take the load off as you don’t have to arrange to talk for the whole lot 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 amazing thought and haven’t recognized a co-presenter but, we encourage you to point that. Nikki Baldwin, senior product advertising and marketing supervisor at Blackbaud and longtime bbcon observe lead, shared a key tip: in the event you’re not capable of finding peer or a colleague to co-present with and enable you to carry the session alongside, Blackbaud might help pair you up with somebody, whether or not it’s somebody from Blackbaud or one other buyer.
Crafting Your Software
When writing your utility, there are some key factors it is best to be capable of articulate even in the event you don’t have the complete particulars of the session readied earlier than the March 12 submission deadline. Nikki Baldwin shared the important thing parts that assist session proposals stand out throughout her overview:
- Make clear your viewers and their experience stage: While you apply you can be requested to designate whether or not your session is fitted to newbie, intermediate or expert-level product customers. Do take into account, nonetheless, that a variety of group sorts and talent ranges attend bbcon, so craft your proposal with broad attraction in thoughts.
- Describe the subject’s relevance and influence: Clarify why your matter is vital and the way it can profit different organizations. Your proposal is certain to face out in the event you can clearly talk the significance of the subject. Think about using the next arch to develop an influence assertion:
- Why is that this an issue that wants fixing?
- Why is it vital to resolve this downside?
- How did you resolve the issue?
- Define your studying goals: Make sure to clearly state what you need your viewers to be taught and what you suppose they need to be capable of accomplish after attending your session. These 3-5 goals ought to be simple and clear. Contemplate the next inquiries to develop your goals:
- 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 right this moment and the place they need to be after they return to their organizations after bbcon?
- Think about using AI instruments: In the event you need assistance filling out the shell of an thought or sharpening up an outline or assertion, AI writing instruments akin to Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT will be nice aids for creativity and brainstorming and might present assist for many who really feel like they need to use assist with writing.
Tip: When you’ve got considerations about demoing an answer or displaying an instance dashboard that features delicate organizational knowledge, you may go away a notice in your speaker utility stating that you simply desire to have a Blackbaud worker stroll the viewers by means of the answer with pattern knowledge.
Extra Causes to Apply to Converse at bbcon
Submitting a bbcon speaker utility is a incredible alternative to share your data, join with others, and improve your skilled progress. The bbcon expertise is made higher when prospects—your friends— are put entrance and heart that can assist 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 charge, whereas nonetheless representing your group is a conscious and financially accountable technique to attend the convention. You’re contemplating your group’s backside line.”
Your voice issues, and your insights could make a major influence on the Blackbaud group. We look ahead to 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 folks succeed!”