In short, KalX is a conference for software developers that has nothing to do with software development. It’s a focus on the other part of your career. Work-life balance, mentoring, passion, enthusiasm, excuses, you name it. Anyone, in any industry, would have tons to gain from these presentations.
As a speaker, this is my Superbowl of speaking opportunities. It has been said that “every talk at Kalamazoo X would have been the best talk at any other conference.” And it’s true. I am humbled and flattered to be asked back each year, and am astounded by the raw human emotion that each speaker brings to the conference.
Two years ago, the organizers of Kalamazoo X recorded all of the sessions, and you can find them at the link below. The best way I’ve heard these described is as “a braver, more profane version of TED talks.”
https://vimeo.com/kalamazoox/videos
This year, they opted to not record the sessions, but I did set up my tablet to record my presentation before the battery died. My talk was titled “Be A Beginner,” and it focused on the benefits of being a beginner in a situation, and how, as experts, we should recognize and encourage the beginners on our team. There is a moment early in the presentation where the projector fails me, but we rally and get past it in a relatively quick time frame. I’d love your feedback on the content. Click the photo below to view it on YouTube.
JEFF BLANKENBURG 
Leave a Reply