Phoenix Zerin
On a mission to help Aotearoa New Zealand close its digital tech skills gap by developing cultures of technical excellence and creating career pathways for new devs. I have been developing and architecting software applications for nearly 2 decades, at companies of all sizes in different parts of the world. I am passionate about the *meta problem*: creating value for value creators, and I thrive wherever I can āwhina others to build, create and grow. My favourite development mahi is working on open-source libraries and frameworks, and I mentor developers of all skill levels in New Zealand. Also, I really like cat emojis. A lot 😸
What do motorcycles, cooking, and mountain climbing have to do with software development? A lot more than you'd think! When it comes to advancing your career as a software developer, most people tend to focus on skills development. But what if I told you that focussing on skills is the least efficient way to go about it? Instead, learn how to cultivate effective habits for managing cognitive load, and not only will you find yourself developing new skills faster, you'll also make yourself a more effective developer, regardless of your skill level. In this talk, we're going to cover the seven habits of highly-effective software developers, why they matter, and how to cultivate them 😺
Great careers don't just happen; they are the product of strategic planning and careful execution over many years. Unfortunately, a number of "anti-patterns" have emerged in career development that feel intuitive – and may even work in the short term – but in the long term will torpedo your career faster than advocating switching to microservices! In this presentation, we'll look at the 4 most common career development anti-patterns, why they don't work, and what you can do instead.
By the end of 2013, I realised I was in trouble. My startup had failed, and I was running dangerously low on funds. In fact, it was looking pretty likely that I would not be able to pay rent the following month. To make matters worse, I was in Chile, nearly 8000 kilometres
from the nearest country where I had right to work. I needed a new job, a freelancing client, anything that would keep me from getting kicked out of my flat in a foreign country where I barely spoke the language... and the clock was ticking!
Fortunately, thanks to the investment I had made in building and maintaining professional relationships over the preceding two years, what could have been a catastrophic setback instead became the catalyst for one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
In this talk, you will learn the mindset and skills that you can start practising right now, to build up your professional network and accelerate your career. Whether you are looking for a career change, a promotion, or you just want to keep your options open, professional networking is the skill that everyone needs, but nobody's talking about!