Five thousand two hundred six miles is a long way to travel, especially when you are heading to give a talk about something emotional. That was my journey to Pressconf. My heart was nervous, and my soul hoped I would be accepted after telling my story. The journey back was in complete contrast; my heart was whole, and my soul warmed by the entire experience.
I can’t compare Pressconf to Pressonomics since I’ve never attended that event. My experience at Pressconf left me tired and confused about my time zone, but it also energised me for my work. I am very grateful for connecting with new people and strengthening existing relationships. Additionally, I shared my story during my talk, which, though challenging, was both cathartic and, based on the feedback, helpful to others.
A space for stories
Many of us who spoke gave talks we hadn’t given before, sharing deeply personal topics. Having spoken to a few other speakers, it was the most daunting event we had ever experienced – sharing yourself, your whole self, is quite something. It was both an incredible privilege and a lot; many of us felt tired the day after. It was a space for stories, humanising the speakers, sharing more than before, and leading to conversations afterwards.
My talk, ‘Burning Bright, Burning Out: The Hidden Cost of Open Source,’ came from my burnout during phase one of the block editor, but it went beyond that and discussed projects. Thank you to everyone who gave me space to share and allowed that talk to be on stage, because it was something I never thought I would do.
The stories, though, weren’t just on stage. I had the privilege of many sharing theirs during breaks, evening conversations and meals. The space itself is set up for casual conversation and groups. Even walking to and from places, these stories flowed and were shared. It truly was a space for stories and sharing them.
A space for opening
One of the reflections is that Pressconf, for me and many others, is a space we could share and be more open than we have been before. Many speakers opened up more in their talks. The conversations went in all directions, and many people became much more than their avatars to others. It wasn’t just the warmth of the weather; everyone I spoke to was receptive, warm and willing to have conversations.
This meant some tougher and stronger conversations. We all need to do that, and I deeply value the people who shared with me not just the warm, fuzzy discussions but also the realities and explored some of the more complex conversations with me. Solutions are hard to find, but you start by talking with each other and being open to that.
At the end of day one, I reflected on how much this hasn’t happened so much in WordCamps lately due to their size. Of course, it can happen at smaller ones, but you don’t get the cross-section of people you did here. The space allowed us to be more open to conversations, spend more time, and take that opportunity.
Taking time for happenings and being included
During the conference, I realised that while I had a few meetings, they weren’t my primary focus. I’ve planted seeds for future conversations, which is encouraging. This conference will nurture my ideas for the upcoming year and lead to opportunities I can only imagine now.
I leave with a wealth of ideas and plans for ongoing discussions. As the conference wrapped up, I didn’t feel rushed; I knew I would have more chances to connect with others. I felt included and welcome, and I had a growing sense of being cared for day by day.
I left with so many happenings filling my heart. I got to eat incredible food with people and share their lives and stories. Together, #vegpress formed in Post Status Slack so we could coordinate beyond this event’s food and include others next time. That alone shows the sense of belonging and inclusion this event had far more than many I’ve been to. Oh and there is amazing vegan ice cream close by if you do attend.
Should you attend?
Whilst this was the first event, I have a few thoughts about attending. First, if you are in doubt about attending alone or in a small company and are concerned about only being able to send one person, don’t be. It is a place where you can feel welcome and have every meal with a group.
The test is whether I would go if I were not a speaker. The answer is without a thought: Yes. It is quite a cost for me to cover right now, which should tell you the value I put in it. If I were to attend next year, I would want some goals, for example, having demos for one of the products I’m working on, or perhaps I’d be looking for specific conversations. This year, my goal was to get my talk done and have conversations. I would measure if I could get the benefit year after year, but if I did, I would be able to. My measure this year will be to reflect and see what happens from planted seeds and openings that have begun.
In reflection
Pressconf offers more than just the typical hallway track. It provides opportunities for casual interactions, including meeting a group for food and having meaning. It’s conversations without the pressure to organise meetings—a rarity at WordCamps.
The entire team is also very open to growing and nurturing the event. They were looking forward, thinking, and gathering feedback before it finished. You can see the care in every detail, from their interactions to the Snack Shack, the plant gift, long lunch breaks, and the later start time of the second day. My heart goes out with thanks to every organiser, from the leads through to media partners. It takes so much to put on an event like this – so much unseen.
I strongly encourage anyone to consider it a welcoming space where they can find a sense of belonging. I felt so welcomed that it lingered until I said goodbye at the airport. That experience is worth the long travel and a gift I can share in my work.