2025-03-01 –, F223
I'll share my 6-year journey in the Python community, from starting as a volunteer to becoming a co-chair for both regional and national Python conferences. I’ll highlight the challenges, the lessons learned, and the growth I’ve experienced as a community organizer. Whether you’re new to community involvement or looking to take your organizing skills to the next level, this session will offer insights on how to build, grow, and lead successful tech communities.
Community building is at the heart of open-source technology and the Python ecosystem. This talk will explore my personal experiences in the Python community, detailing how I started as a volunteer and grew into leadership roles, eventually co-chairing both regional and national conferences. Through storytelling, I’ll share practical tips for effective event planning, fostering inclusivity, working with sponsors, managing teams, and navigating the ups and downs of organizing large-scale events. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to start or enhance their own community leadership journey.
30-Minute Outline:
Introduction (5 minutes)
Early Days as a Volunteer (8 minutes)
Growing into Leadership Roles (8 minutes)
Co-Chairing Regional and National Conferences (7 minutes)
Q&A and Conclusion (2 minutes)
Beginner
Category:Community
Kalyan Prasad is a Data and AI Scientist with a strong background as a former Data Science and Analytics Manager, seamlessly bridging academia and industry. He has delivered talks at numerous PyCon, Data Science, and AI conferences, demonstrating his expertise in the field.
As a dedicated community leader, Kalyan currently serves as one of the Chairs for PyConf Hyderabad 2025 and has previously held leadership roles as Co-chair for PyConf India 2023 and PyConf Hyderabad 2022. Beyond these roles, he actively contributes to various Python, data science, and scientific communities worldwide.
Kalyan is also a member of the Code of Conduct (CoC) committee at NumFOCUS, where he advocates for inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that tech communities remain welcoming, respectful, and safe for everyone.