Thread by @andybudd

@h1brd OK. So as a designer at Facebook you're in a super privileged position as more and more conferences are focussing on employer brand recognition over speaking abilities or demonstrable domain knowledge.

@h1brd If you were working for a small agency, or a traditional business in an unglamorous sector, you'd have a much harder job breaking through.

@h1brd My job as a conference curator is to source great speakers that have something meaningful to say and can inspire, entertain and educate our audiences, largely in that order. Working for a fashionably tech company is a poor indicator for performance here.

@h1brd A much better indicator for performance would be some sort of demonstrable experience in a particular topic area. That could include having worked on a significant project, having published interesting or meaningful articles, or showing prior experience speaking on that subject.

@h1brd It used to be the case that when prospective speakers reached out to me, it was because they had something genuinely meaningful to say. Something they'd been working on, thinking about and honing for some time.

@h1brd These days I'm inundated with emails that go along the lines of "I work at Facebook and would like to speak at your conference". When I ask what they want to speak about, the reply is usually something like "what would you like me to speak about"

@h1brd Rather than having something specific or meaningful to say, the act of speaking has become a goal unto itself. Something people want to do to raise their personal brand, instead of having something they feel passionate about and want to share.

@h1brd So do I want to encourage new speakers? No, not if speaking is purely an end unto itself.

Do I want to find talented people with something important to say, and give them a platform to say it? Hell yes!

@h1brd Also, there appears to be an expectation these days that folks with no prior speaking experience and little online profile, but who work for a well known tech company, should immediately be given a speaking slot at an international conference just for asking.

@h1brd It seems to really confuse folks when I ask them to share prior talk videos, slide decks, podcast interviews, or articles they've written, or other wise demonstrate why they are qualified to give a talk on their chosen subject.

@h1brd It used to be a lot more common for folks to start speaking at local events out of passion, then speak at a national conference or two, and then graduate to an international conference. These days folks feel entitled to jump straight into large conferences.

@h1brd So it's a little bit like singers or musicians who go straight on Britain/America's got Talent rather than working their way round the pub circuit, then smaller clubs, then bigger clubs etc etc.