In Praise of the Generalist

Last week, I had the opportunity and privilege of speaking to the monthly meeting of the Kitchener-Waterloo Software Quality Association. It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for a while, as this is the first time I’ve spoken to an audience that was primarily my professional peer group – that is, software testers.

Public speaking doesn’t come naturally to me – I’m usually quite nervous at the beginning, and have to actively work to moderate my pace. That being said, I keep doing it! Why?

One reason is, there are a lot of different ideas floating around in my head. When they coalesce, I have a significant need to get them out in some way, whether it’s a conversation at home or work, writing a blog post, or delivering a talk.

Another reason is, I’m hoping that it might help someone at a time when they maybe need some encouragement. We’ve all had difficult times in our lives, and sometimes a random video or speech can help start to move in a new and better direction.

Finally, going back to the nerves, because it’s good practice! Each time I do a talk, I get a bit more confident in being up in front of a bunch of people.

Anyway, if you’re interested in watching the video, you can do so on the KWSQA’s YouTube channel. If you’d like to see the presentation, they’re up on Google Slides.