"Damian would be a great addition to your event. His engaging personality makes him ideal as a keynote speaker, blending fun with learning to generate energy in the room – especially for so-called ‘soft’ skills which can be difficult to translate to useful application. He can connect with audiences – using his background as an improv ‘performer’ to interact and draw the listener in to become a participant."
-Todd Jones, Wadsworth, OH
Current Offerings
I offer a variety of educational and enjoyable talks and topics that are suitable as keynotes or breakout sessions. Browse my current topics below, click a title for additional information, or click here for a complete list of past and future events!
Summary
Using humor, improv, personal stories, pop culture, and more to examine self-identity.
Audience
Anyone interested in discovering who they really are.
Key Takeaways
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The importance and dangers of labels
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How to deal with anxiety
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Discovering who you are and who you can be
Summary
"Exploring Emotions with Placebos" - A thoughtful and practical look at the importance of emotional requirements in software.
Audience
Anyone involved in making software.
Key Takeaways
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Why we make software
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What are (emotional) requirements
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Ways to get and measure emotional requirements
Summary
"Exploring Semantics, Testers, and Problems" - Introducing, demystifying, and using semantics to better understand testers and testing.
Audience
Anyone interested in learning more about semantics and/or testing.
Key Takeaways
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A deeper understanding and appreciation of semantic discussions
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How causality and relativism affect perception
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What exactly is testing, quality, and bugs?
Summary
A fun, funny, and thoughtful examination of the undesired consequences of inappropriate jokes, and a better way to "think before you speak".
Audience
Anyone interested in avoiding unwanted outcomes.
Key Takeaways
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How Slippery Slopes
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Why empathy is important
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Factors to help you "think before you speak"
Summary
An informal, collaborative session exploring lessons learned from a career and lifetime of talking.
Audience
Anyone interested in learning about or improving their public speaking
Key Takeaways
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Due to the collaborative nature of this talk, the content and takeaways change each time!
Summary
Lightning (and Ignite) talks are very short (1-5 minutes) presentations with few (or no!) rules. I sometimes improvise a talk in the moment, but also have a few prepared Lightning/Ignite talks.
Audience
Anyone at the event!