We are excited to announce two calls that will be opening towards the end of February! The 2024 Call for Speakers and the 2024 Call for Program Committee Volunteers.
Both will open at the end of February, with the Call for Volunteers closing on March 13 and the Call for Speakers running through early April.
This year’s PASS Data Community Summit will be held in the beautiful new Summit Building at the Washington State Convention Center, this November 4-8.
We invite you to get your creative juices flowing and prepare to submit your proposals starting at the end of this month, and you’ll have until early April to submit. Make sure to keep an eye on social media (on February 29) and your email for the official opening.
There will be 220 sessions to fill, by both community and partner sponsors, across pre-conference, keynote, deep dive, and general sessions – as well as learning paths, panels, and lightning talks. We are also keen, this year, to continue the New Stars category, run by Data Platform MVP Ben Weissman, which will have its own call for speakers opening later this summer (parameters may vary from 2023).
Based on early feedback submitted to the Community Insights survey, we will be updating the 2024 session format to include two new session lengths in addition to our traditional 75-minute sessions. Speakers will now be able to submit either 60 and 45-minute (inc. Q&A) sessions and we hope that by offering a range of session formats it will support the needs of all attendees. Please make sure to keep this in mind when preparing your proposals.
In addition to the Call for Speakers, we will also be opening our call for Program Committee volunteers (also aiming for the end of February). This call will be open for two weeks, closing on Wednesday, March 13, with the outcome being shared with applicants no later than Friday, April 5.
We are looking to fill 25 Program Committee positions whose main function will be to complete the Abstract Review for the submitted proposals of the community call for speakers. The timeline commitment will be April to May, with the opportunity to help on other tasks and onsite support as needed, depending on availability.
As a thank you for volunteering, Program Committee members will receive a non-transferrable 3-day Summit registration and 12-month on-demand access to the recordings after Summit.
More information will be provided when the call opens at the end of this month so keep an eye out on social media and your emails.
As you can tell, the planning for PASS Data Community Summit 2024 is well under way, and to make sure we deliver the best conference experience imaginable, we are in the process of gathering as much feedback from the community as possible.
With that in mind, and if you haven’t already, make sure to get your thoughts heard by completing our Community Insights survey which closes this Monday, February 19th.
If you opt in for the draw, at the end of the survey, you will have a chance to win a complimentary 3-day registration for this year’s Summit in Seattle, this November 4-8.
Please take the time to complete this survey. Your feedback and support are invaluable, and all feedback given will be read and taken into consideration as we complete the final phases of planning. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Community Insights Survey Deadline Monday, February 19
Call for Program Committee Volunteers February – March
Community Call for Speakers February – April
We know that there is a lot going on out in the data community with events happening throughout March, so if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us directly at speakers@passsummit.com. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions or find solutions to your concerns.
By Musab Umair
In November 2023, I embarked on an extraordinary journey from Saudi Arabia to Seattle, USA, for PASS Data Community Summit. This marked not only my first visit to Seattle but also my debut as a volunteer at a renowned event in the world of SQL Server. Little did I know that this adventure would be a unique and enriching experience, allowing me to connect with experts in the field and contribute to the success of the event itself.
As I touched down in Seattle, the city’s vibrant atmosphere immediately captivated me. Navigating through the unfamiliar surroundings, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation for the days ahead. PASS Data Community Summit conference promised a deep dive into the latest industry trends, cutting-edge technologies, and valuable insights from seasoned experts.
Taking on the role of a volunteer added an entirely new dimension to my conference experience. My responsibilities ranged from guiding attendees to their respective sessions to assisting in various sections of the event. This opportunity not only allowed me to give back to the community but also provided a unique behind-the-scenes perspective of the conference’s inner workings. The first morning was very refreshing with the annual morning run organized by the community!
One of the most rewarding aspects of my volunteer role was helping fellow attendees navigate the extensive list of sessions. As a bridge between the participants and the wealth of knowledge available, I assisted in matching individuals with sessions that aligned with their interests and skill levels. This interpersonal connection created a sense of camaraderie among attendees and reinforced the collaborative spirit of the Summit community.
Reflecting on my time at Summit, certain moments stand out as truly memorable. Whether it was engaging in thought-provoking discussions at Birds of a Feather tables over lunch with industry leaders, or witnessing groundbreaking demonstrations, each experience left an indelible mark on my SQL Server journey. As a volunteer, the satisfaction derived from helping others make the most of their conference experience added an extra layer of fulfillment to these cherished memories.
Attending Summit underscored the global nature of the community as I was the only one representing Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The conference served as a melting pot of diverse perspectives, fostering international collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Connecting with professionals from around the world showcased the universal appeal of SQL Server and the strength of a community bound by a shared passion for database technology.
My inaugural visit to PASS Data Community Summit in Seattle was nothing short of transformative. As a volunteer, I not only had the privilege of contributing to the success of the event but also deepened my connection with the global data community. From attending enlightening sessions to facilitating meaningful connections, every aspect of this experience enriched my understanding of SQL Server and solidified my commitment to being an active participant in the ever-evolving world of database technology. The memories created in Seattle will forever hold a special place in my journey as a SQL Server enthusiast from Saudi Arabia. Lastly, I strongly recommend every data professional to attend this event in person!
PASS Data Community Summit 2024 will take place November 4-8 in Seattle.
By Ben Weissman
In the fast-paced world of data and technology, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage – it’s a necessity. One way to keep your skills up-to-date and grow your personal and professional network is to attend events like PASS Data Community Summit, one of the most impactful events our Data Platform ecosystem has to offer.
From a content perspective, every event’s success rises and falls with its schedule and agenda – which are based on the submitted and selected sessions. This is where the Program Committee comes into play!
As a member of the Program Committee, you become an integral part of shaping the Summit’s agenda. This involvement allows you to curate sessions that resonate with the community, ensuring that the content is not only relevant but also diverse and inclusive.
Being on the Program Committee is not only about reviewing proposals; it’s a chance to refine your skills. Evaluating session submissions, providing constructive feedback, and participating in committee discussions hone your critical thinking and analytical abilities. Additionally, exposure to a diverse range of topics and speakers broadens your knowledge base, transforming you into a well-rounded professional with a deep understanding of various facets of the data landscape.
Being part of the Program Committee isn’t just about advancing your career—it’s an opportunity for personal growth and leadership development. Collaborating with diverse individuals, managing timelines, and making strategic decisions all contribute to your leadership skill set. The sense of accomplishment derived from successfully contributing to Summit’s success adds a fulfilling dimension to your professional journey.
The content at PASS Data Community Summit is organized into multiple themes or tracks. Every track will have a lead and multiple reviewers. In a first step, while the Call for Speakers is open, start thinking about the content, sessions and maybe also speakers you would like to see at Summit and encourage them to submit their proposals.
Once the Call for Speakers closes, the submitted sessions will be made available in an anonymized way to the entire team with the goal of every team member reviewing and rating every single submitted session. The effort for this varies vastly between the different tracks from a few hours up to multiple days (just my track last year had more than 400 submissions for example).
After the sessions have been reviewed by the entire team, it is up to the team lead to pick the top sessions to be recommended for the agenda. While they should heavily rely on the team’s vote, this process has the speaker’s names visible so this is also where avoiding the same speaker having 5 sessions and diversity come into play. It’s up to the team lead to decide if this is done in a collaborative way with other track leads, with their own team, or just by themselves.
If we call it a ‘Community Summit’, the community part must be more than just a fancy label. I want the community to be well represented – meaning that most sessions should be by community speakers. But I also want the content to be shaped by the community, and that can’t be done without someone putting in all this work behind the scenes.
While the Program Committee for PASS Data Community Summit offers a unique and enriching experience, I understand that it may not be the perfect fit for everyone.
Thankfully, the volunteering landscape is vast, offering numerous opportunities to give back to the community and make a meaningful impact. If you want to volunteer for this year’s Summit but in a different capacity, watch this space for more upcoming opportunities! You might also like to read this blog post from Musab Umair about his experience volunteering at Summit 2023.
The Call for Program Committee volunteers goes out at the end of February or early March this year so keep an eye out – otherwise, please reach out to speakers@passsummit.com.
The only real restriction you need to be aware of is that you can’t vote on a track that you intend to submit your own session ideas for! All selected team members need to sign an NDA, and in exchange for your time, you will be given one non-transferrable ticket to the 2024 Pass Data Community Summit 2024.
Please reach out to me:
In this blog post we’re pleased to share attendee feedback on Summit 2023 (using data gathered from our post-event attendee survey).
The attendee survey is a vital step in helping us evaluate our event offering and ensure that Summit remains the best event for database professionals to attend. So, with that in mind, we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated!
We’re delighted that 2023 attendees were very positive about their Summit experience:
Attendees praised the dedicated conference app (this is something we’ll continue to develop over the coming year), and 99% of attendees said that receiving Summit emails was their preferred method of contact. So, if you haven’t done so already, make sure that you’re signed up to our mailing list to get the very latest news and information from us.
Please note that the above percentages are based on those who participated in the 2023 Attendee Survey.
Attendees come to Summit for many reasons, but in keeping with findings from previous years, respondents told us that they particularly love:
We also asked attendees what their favorite thing about Summit 2023 was, and, with their consent, we thought it would be nice to share their direct feedback here:
We also welcome attendees’ recommendations for ways we can improve future events, so stay tuned as later in the year we’ll share an update on what new and improved aspects you can look forward to in 2024 as a result of the feedback we’ve received.
The attendee survey isn’t the only opportunity to share thoughts with the organizing team however, at the end of January we’ll launch our Community Insights Survey which will be open for 3 weeks. Attendees and non-attendees alike are welcome to take part in the survey as this helps us gather opinions on what content the data community would like to see at PASS Data Community Summit 2024.
To be the first to hear when our Community Insights Survey launches, and to get notified as soon as Summit 2024 tickets go on sale, make sure that you’re signed up to our mailing list.
During the five days of Summit last November the wonderful community and supportive partners we work with contributed a total of 229 content offerings!
This included keynotes, pre-conference sessions, deep dives, learning pathway sessions, general sessions, panels, lightning talks, ecosystem sessions, luncheons, a breakfast panel, and multiple Community Zone sessions – all in all this totaled 350 hours of content and experiences by 224 speakers.
Whew, that’s a lot of content!
The 2023 PASS Data Community Summit theme focused on ‘Connect, Share and Learn’, and one of the many reasons why attendees return to Summit time and time again is because they love the quality and variety of the sessions on offer. But with so much amazing content available we know that attendees can sometimes find it difficult to decide which session to attend. After all, you can’t be in more than one place at the same time, right?
Fortunately, there is a solution. With on-demand access attendees and non-attendees alike can catch up on any sessions they missed at Summit! Recordings are available to watch until November 17, 2024 (if you purchase extended access), so that means you’ve got almost an entire year to recapture that Summit magic and learn at a pace that works for you.
Development:
Analytics:
Database Management:
Architecture:
Professional Development:
*popularity measured by in-person attendance at Summit 2023
We’re pleased to offer on-demand access to attendees and non-attendees alike. For more information check out this blog post, or visit our Pricing page.
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