Attending a massive tech event can be one of the most enriching experiences for your career, but also one of the most overwhelming. I was invited by the CNCF to participate in KubeCon Europe, an event with 13,000 attendees 15,000 kilometers from home. To give you an idea of the scale, the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam is enormous — you can easily get lost trying to go from one point to another, racking up over 16,000 steps in a single day.
With the third edition of Nerdearla Chile right around the corner, it felt like the perfect time to share some personal tips for navigating these events. Whether you're attending a local conference or traveling to the other side of the world, here are some strategies that have served me well over the years:
1. Set a clear goal
The most common mistake is attending "just to see what happens." At events of this scale, a lack of planning can leave you feeling like you wasted your time. Before setting foot on the premises, define your purpose: Are you looking for your first (or next) job? Do you want to validate a product idea? Are you looking for clients? Or do you simply want to reconnect with colleagues? Having this clear will allow you to make strategic decisions about how to invest your time.
2. Curate your agenda (and value the "Hallway Track")
It's physically impossible (and not recommended) to attend the 100+ talks a massive conference offers. Take the time to review the agenda beforehand. If you can't do it in the days prior, the train, bus, or flight to the venue is usually a good time for it. Pick the three or four presentations that will truly impact your professional development, and set alarms 10 or 20 minutes ahead to secure your seat (and make sure you don't get lost on the way).
Walking through the RAI hallways. Looks like an airport.
Remember that the most important part of events isn't always the talks. Content is usually recorded and uploaded to YouTube. The real value is in the people and in the hallways. Intentionally leave empty slots in your agenda to chat, meet professionals, and build meaningful connections.
3. Invest in yourself
The scale of these events can physically drain you if you're not prepared. The undisputed mantra is to dress in layers and, above all, wear comfortable shoes. Also, if the event has a coat check, use it — carrying backpacks and coats all day will ruin your experience. Remember to stay hydrated and plan regular breaks; this is a marathon, not a sprint.
A key point is not to skimp on your own well-being. As painful as it may seem, it's less costly to pay for a 15-euro Uber than to walk 10 blocks in 4-degree weather. It might look like an avoidable expense, but getting sick or losing your voice halfway through the trip will cost you a lot more.
4. Strategies for social anxiety and networking
If you're an introvert or feel nervous approaching strangers, don't worry. 90% of attendees are in the same situation as you and are more than willing to network.
- Find the "Superconnectors": These are people who have been in the industry for years and know everyone. If you can identify them, they'll act as bridges, connecting you with exactly who you need to talk to and saving you hours of searching. In my experience, Roberto Luna and Dana Fine, with whom I spent a lot of time at the event and during the after hours, introduced me to many people from different companies.
- Use icebreakers: Sometimes a small detail makes interaction easier. In my case, my KubeCon badge was printed with an error — it said "Jolo Jolo." Instead of correcting it, I used it as a fun conversation starter. Booth merchandise is also an excellent excuse to start a chat.
- Read the badges: Many conferences use color codes on IDs. Green means "I'm open to chatting," yellow means "acquaintances only," and red means "I'd rather not talk." Respect these signals to ensure positive interactions. Also, names or companies on badges can indicate where someone is from. I approached people just because they had a Latin name, and 90% of the time we ended up speaking in Spanish and had two or three people in common.
- The lunch trick: If your "social battery" runs out and lunchtime gives you anxiety about who to sit with, schedule virtual meetings during that time. You can have lunch peacefully with your headphones, working or on a call, and skip the stress of a high school movie cafeteria scene.
5. Professionalism and personal presentation
Even though we're in a relaxed environment, first impressions matter. If your goal is to land a job or close deals, avoid looking like "Santa Claus" dragging enormous bags of swag (merchandise) you don't need. Carry only what genuinely interests you to maintain a polished image.
On the other hand, maintain high standards of personal care: show up well-rested, know your rhythms (if you need coffee before 9 a.m. to function, get it), smile, and always carry breath mints, especially after food breaks. Don't forget your sudo either ;)
6. The value of Side Events
The parallel events or after-parties organized by companies outside the official conference are invaluable spaces. In this more relaxed environment, speakers and company representatives tend to be much more transparent about how their products actually work or what their team culture is really like.
It's vital to note that, even if there's a festive atmosphere or alcohol involved, the conference code of conduct remains in effect. Respect and professionalism are non-negotiable under any circumstances.
Wrapping up
Conferences are opportunity multipliers. They're the space where the virtual becomes real. On this last trip, I not only ran into dozens of Latin American colleagues in Europe, but I got to meet in person professionals I'd been interacting with on social media for over 15 years, like Mauricio Salatino. Those moments validate all the effort of the trip.
I'll close with the coolest trick I learned from Julia Furst Morgado and Nana Janashia: add your LinkedIn QR code to your lock screen. It saves you a lot of time when connecting with someone you've been chatting with for a while.
I encourage you to take the leap, plan your strategy, and dare to connect. We talked about this in this episode of No Hay Backup (in Spanish), where I shared more tips and personal anecdotes from the trip.
See you April 16-18 at Nerdearla Chile. Registration is free at nerdearla.cl, and if you can't travel, the hybrid experience also offers great virtual networking tools. See you there!