“Hello May! Do to our hearts what you do to the earth’s flowers.”
May is here!
Looking for a chance to join the tech community in Nashville? Here’s a list of this month’s networking and learning opportunities such as meetups, job fairs, educational webinars, hackathons, and more here in Nashville, Tennessee, or nationwide.
Note: Due to the pandemic, most meetups have moved from in-person to virtual events. We will try to note which ones are virtual and in-person.
May 3
Thinkful Webinar- UX/UI Design: Creating a Design System | 7pm CDT
A design system is crucial for a successful launch. In this webinar, we’ll explain how to build a system that establishes clear UX goals.
Design isn’t just an afterthought in tech circles anymore, it truly helps drive the direction of the product or service. But how does a design team help guide the rest of the company in the right direction? By incorporating a design system. A design system is a master collection of the key standardized documentation every company needs to define the overall design of the product.
Incorporating a design system in your company brings lots of tangible value: faster to market times, improved UX and customer satisfaction, better internal communication, and consistency across all products. Join us in this webinar as we continue to discuss why having a design system is so important and gain hands-on experience in creating your own.
What you will learn:
What is a Design System?
Notable Real-World Design Systems
Figma Tips and Best Practices
Creating Our Own System
May 4
L.I.F.T. Women’s Business Networking | 9:15am CDT
LIFT Business Women’s Alliance is a professional networking group of female entrepreneurs learning about one another’s businesses, sharing connections, and cultivating strong relationships. Bring your business cards, samples, and other marketing material and meet other amazing women business owners! During the meetings, each person is given 30-60 seconds to talk about her business, and spotlight presenters are allowed up to 10 minutes plus 5 minutes of Q&A whereas the evening social is a time to come and mingle without any formal itinerary or presenters. Your first 2 meetings/socials are 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄!
Microsoft TEALS – Volunteering as a Code Instructor | 5pm – 7pm CDT
The Microsoft Philanthropies TEALS Program will have an info session on Tuesday, May 04th at 6:00 pm EST (5:00 pm CST). This event is for anyone interested in increasing the pipeline of Black students in the computer science or information technology field.
You should volunteer to teach computer science with TEALS if you…
· are a tech professional
· possess a strong background in computer science
· enjoy working with High School students
· are passionate about inclusion and diversity in the tech industry
Play Like a Girl Mentoring | 4pm-5:30pm CDT
Meet + Mentor matches middle school girls with professional women who inspire, connect, and empower them to be their best. The program runs for 12-weeks every Tuesday. Drop-in for one session, or join us for all 12. Tuesday, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM CT. Learn more about each session at iplaylikeagirl.org/events
TCNewTech Pitch Event | 5pm-6pm
A select group of startup founders will pitch their new business or technology ideas then our audience votes via text for the best idea.
Join the TCNewTech Community at their next Pitch Event for startups, investors, innovators, and those that love new ideas. Each presenter will be allowed 5-minutes to present their business or new technology and 5-minutes of questions from the audience. Similar to the show “Shark Tank” with one exception — our audience decides which startup will receive the $500 cash prize by voting via text. Watch via our TCNewTech Facebook page or YouTube Channel. There is no charge to attend or to present your ideas. You must register to get updated information!
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner, Online | 7:30pm – 9:30pm CDT
Finding great co-founders and early team members can make or break your startup. However, the pandemic is making it harder to connect and find people that share your same passion, and that have the specific skillsets you are looking for.
On this fun and interactive event you will learn the best practices for finding and formalizing co-founder relationships, and have the opportunity to network with others looking to connect on startup projects across many different regions.
Practice Solving Algorithms and Data Structure Problems | 6pm – 8pm CDT
During this event, practice algorithms and data-structure coding skills. Whether you are improving your problem-solving skills or practicing for an interview, join the group and tackle coding problems. These problems will be found on websites like leetcode, codewars, and hackerrank. The coding will be done on a google word document or a third-party website. We’ll get into the details in the meetup.
Structure:
10 minutes: Intro and social
5 – 10 minutes: Explain format
60 – 90 minutes: Solving problems
May 5th
2021 Power of Inclusion: Winning the Game: Women in Sports Leadership | 11:30am -12:45pm CDT
For the past 16 years, the Power of Inclusion (POI) Awards has recognized Nashville individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that champion all types of diversity and demonstrate innovative methods to enhance diversity and inclusion. Nominees are evaluated and selected by Cable’s panel of experts on Diversity Best Practice. Awards criteria reflect high standards for a diverse workplace, covering hiring practices, efforts to advocate for diversity in the Nashville community, and demonstrable achievement resolving inequalities between different segments of the workforce.
For the past 16 years, the Power of Inclusion (POI) Awards has recognized Nashville individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that champion all types of diversity and demonstrate innovative methods to enhance diversity and inclusion. Nominees are evaluated and selected by Cable’s panel of experts on Diversity Best Practice. Awards criteria reflect high standards for a diverse workplace, covering hiring practices, efforts to advocate for diversity in the Nashville community, and demonstrable achievement resolving inequalities between different segments of the workforce.
My Path into Tech: Product Management with EventBrite | 12pm – 1pm CDT
Come celebrate Cinco De Mayo (May 5th) during your lunch with Girls in Tech Nashville to hear two amazing guest speakers, Jayme Brook’s and Brannon Desseyn, talk about their path into tech and how they became a product manager at Eventbrite! If you are looking to pivot or eager to explore the Product Manager role this is THE event you won’t want to miss!!!
Boss Moms: Raising Babies and Businesses | 12pm CDT
Balance is the key to successfully unlocking new heights in life. Once established and nurtured efficiently, the sky is the limit to what can be accomplished. In this installment of the Mindful Reset series, we are bringing together a panel of powerhouse Boss Moms, who are balancing their business, career, and life. Join us for a discussion around “work-life integration” and how motherhood has empowered them to keep hustling.
Predictable Pipeline: How to effectively build your sales stack; process | 12 pm CDT
Join the EC and ScaleUp for “PREDICTABLE PIPELINE: How to effectively build your sales stack, processes and prospecting strategy”
Course Description
Having discussed the positive and negative impacts of failing to track your key metrics, you will learn how to create an infrastructure (process, tools, messaging) that will allow your sales team to be most effective. Each of your product features will be quantified by its direct (or indirect) impact to the customer and we will discuss how your messaging needs to be adjusted to align with the most impactful features.
How will Nashville Fill 8,500 MORE Tech Jobs?! | 6pm – 7:30pm CDT
It’s no secret that Nashville’s Tech Community has seen rapid growth for the last five years. The recent announcement of Oracle bringing in 8,500 jobs got everyone’s attention. To meet the unprecedented demand for tech talent in Middle Tennessee, NSS Founder and CEO John Wark believes that how we’ve sourced talent in the past won’t be enough to fill the bounty of employment opportunities in Nashville’s future.
Join this discussion on May 5th at 6pm as John Wark leads a panel discussion on where tech in Nashville is heading, how the local community is already preparing, and how you can help NSS provide more opportunities to adults looking to make the leap into a tech career.
Intro to Backend Development with Java | 5pm CDT
Java can be used to develop web and mobile applications, video games, graphical user interfaces, and even your washing machine! Join us to learn about what makes this language so versatile and how you can get started learning Java.
Nashville Data Nerds: Predicting side effects due to interaction between a Pair of Drugs | 5:30pm-6:30pm CDT
Nashville Data Nerds is a Data meetup that meets monthly to discuss ideas or projects related to data. During COVID, we have switched to virtual meetings. The format of the meetings are:
– 15 minutes networking via Zoom breakout rooms
– 30 minutes for the conversation leader to present a topic with a discussion
– 15 minutes for open discussion
Topic:
Pharma or biotech companies document the side effect profile of medications from the clinical trial data. This usually takes a long time (about 10-15 years) and tons of resources. She was interested to see if machine learning models could be used to predict potential side effects caused due to interaction between two drugs. Such predictions could potentially reduce the cost and time for pharmaceutical companies.
Refuel & Recharge | 7pm-8pm CDT
Join this discussion for season three of Refuel + Recharge featuring inspiring authors, influencers and leaders around the country. From female entrepreneurs, women passionate about mental health to families finding hope after tragedy, we hope this season leaves you refreshed for wherever you may be in life. Learn more about the entire series at www.edgementoring.org
In this episode, you’ll hear from the following inspiring women:
-Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Ministries in Nashville TN and author
-Jillian Edwards, singer and songwriter
-Kristi Blackburn, Physician Assistant, co-founder of Nothing is Wasted Ministries and founder of Simply Wellness, a 10-week online course
-Juanita Molano Parra, Life and Leadership Coach, Accomplishment Coaching
May 6th
NTC Virtual Tech Talk- What to do ‘Before’ you get hit by ransomware with Cohesity | 11am – 11:45am
You have firewalls, SPAM filters, endpoint protection, among other things. However, you are staring at a terrifying screen showing your data has been encrypted and is being held hostage. In this session, we will dive deep into what a few different real-world scenarios of Ransomware look like and how to protect your environment BEFORE you get hit.
May 7th
Tech Coach: Technology & Government | 11am – 11:45 am CDT
The intersection of technology and government – review current legal rulings on tech practices or businesses and how they affect everyday workers
Inclusive Product Management Summit | 11am CDT
An online forum for the product world to connect, learn, and develop.
– Network with inclusion-minded product managers.
– Learn to improve team performance by managing more inclusive teams.
– Develop your product management skills to drive growth by building more inclusive products.
May 10th
UX Fundamentals: Making Tech Approachable | 5:30pm – 7:30pm CDT
At this meetup, Elly will talk through key user experience fundamentals that can help you design and build better software. For example, coaching on how important it is to consider what the customer is doing instead of what your system is doing. How to write in a purposeful, concise, and conversational style. She’ll introduce the concept of conversational design – imaging that a human is saying everything in your app to your customer, and how that might change what you build. The talk will also include pics of cute goats and cats.
Skill Level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced):
Beginner
May 11
Play Like a Girl Mentoring | 4pm-5:30pm CDT
Meet + Mentor is a virtual mentoring program built to help middle school girls think and be outside the box. Each weekly session aligns to a Play Like a Girl principle which is used to kickstart each themed mentoring session focused on confidence, college and careers — and understanding who you are in the world around you.
Drop-in for one — or join us for all 12 sessions.
WiT Virtual Leadership Series: Navigating & Leading Through Change | 11am CDT
Change is inevitable – in work and in life. Each of us has the ability to embrace change and lead through the unknowns in a powerfully positive way.
Join Beth Chase for an interactive session that includes: highlighting the challenges and opportunities that change creates in our lives, introducing practical tools you can leverage to successfully navigate and lead through change, and learning real world situations from your peers in small group conversations.
This is the final virtual event of a 3-event series focused on Advancing Women in Tech: Virtual Leadership, hosted by Nashville’s WiTT and Knoxville’s WiT. Each event in the series focuses on a different aspect of leadership development for current and aspiring female tech leaders in Tennessee. Attend to develop yourself as a high contributing team member and leader, while also building lasting connections with other technologists and leaders.
May 12th
EC Speaker Series: Brian Fox | 12 pm CDT
Hear from VP of Strategic Partnerships at Thomson Reuters President & Founder of Confirmation Brian Fox as he shares his entrepreneurial journey creating his Inc. 500 company Confirmation. Hear how he turned a career in audits into a company used by more than 16,000 accounting firms in 180+ countries across the world, and how he’s circling back to help other entrepreneurs coming up behind him.
May 13th
5 W’s and 1 H of Hiring Your Early Team |1pm CDT
Without a guide, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with hiring your early team, and getting it right matters! We’ll discuss the Who, What, Where,
SignUp
5 Key Ingredients for Product Success and the Buzzwords to Avoid | 11am CDT
Software and data products are evolving faster than most organizations can keep up with. Whether these products are internal or commercial and B2B or B2C, organizations face the same challenge. New technologies are driving change and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused most to either accelerate IT spend or monitor it closely.
The rise of the product manager/owner is now. Here are some tips to help you and your organization on the journey to product success.
Network Under 40 | 11am -12pm CDT
What if you could spend 90 minutes meeting “Under 40” entrepreneurs, rockstar corporate “intrapreneurs”, and diverse subject matter experts from across industries? At this acclaimed virtual, curated, and fully facilitated event series, you are guaranteed to get AT LEAST one lead or referral (or your money back!).
All attendees will receive a short intake form ahead of this experience to curate the most effective and engaging “Lunch and a Lead”, plus you’ll receive the names and emails of all participants following our time together.
Where else can you meet up to 50 other entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and side-hustlers, get at least 1 lead or referral, and achieve all this within 90 minutes with a money-back guarantee?
May 18th
Moving from Excellence to your genius: 4 Questions a Leader Asks | 12pm CDT
Over the past year, countless leaders have faced concerns about working from home, their teams being disconnected, anxiety about the future, and elevated stress across their organizations.
Join Debra Sunderland for a super-interactive session that invites leaders to bring an issue they want to see changed, learn the 4 Questions a Conscious Leader Asks, and walk away with a new, transformational perspective and the tools to create powerful change.
Need Access to Capital …Have You Considered Business Credit? | 1pm-2pm CDT
Many small business owners do not know how to access capital and are “bootstrapping” their businesses and do not know about alternatives. In this webinar, participants will learn about business credit and how they can use it as leverage to access capital. Also, they will learn the differences between personal and business credit and will leave with foundational steps to began building business credit scores and tools to begin the process.
Conversion Rate Optimization for Marketers | 11:30am – 1pm CDT
Just how badly do you want to turn your web traffic into paying customers?
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) is one of the fastest, most effective ways to drive revenue with marketing. “AMP-Nashville” invites you to come learn about this systematic approach based on the First Value of Agile Marketing–“validated learning over opinions and conventions.”
Join us to explore the basics of conversion testing with a panel of marketing experts from Franklin, TN-based Ramsey Solutions in the domains of email, paid social, and content marketing.
Agenda:
•What is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
•Why we do it
•How to create effective tests for email, paid advertising, and web/landing pages
Play like a Girl Mentoring | 4pm – 5:30pm CDT
Meet + Mentor is a virtual mentoring program built to help middle school girls think and be outside the box. Each weekly session aligns to a Play Like a Girl principle which is used to kickstart each themed mentoring session focused on confidence, college and careers — and understanding who you are in the world around you.
Drop-in for one — or join us for all 12 sessions.
Session 11
Over the next two sessions, mentees will work with mentors to build a solution to a real-world problem. The top three solutions will pitch their ideas at the Meet + Mentor spring showcase for a chance to win a prize.
May 20th
Get on Board Azure Monitoring with Log Analytics and KQL | 6pm CDT – 8pm CDT
Azure Log Analytics is the present and future of Azure infrastructure and application monitoring. Use a single query language to report across not only your Azure environment, but your off-cloud environments as well.
In this demo-heavy, information-packed session, Microsoft MVP Tim Warner walks you through:
* Differentiating the various Azure monitoring tools and technologies
* Deploying a Log Analytics workspace and onboarding resources
* Reporting on log data with Microsoft’s Kusto Query Language (KQL
May 21st
B2B Analyst Relations: The Secret Sauce to Your Communications Program | 10am – 10:30am CDT
For some B2B organizations, the risk of becoming an echo chamber when it comes to company strategy is real. Creating a solid communications plan means enlisting third-party feedback. This is where analyst relations comes in! Analysts can help B2B companies solidify marketing messages that resonate with buyers, by offering expert industry advice that deviates from the norm.
Creating a strong analyst relations strategy, even if it is minimal, ensures your annual company plan and pivotal campaigns skillfully meet market needs. During this session, you’ll get the inside track of what industry analysts are looking for from B2B organizations as well as how to build long-term relationships.
You’ll also learn:
Why you should invest in analyst relations
How to schedule and prepare for briefings
How to create a great executive analyst briefing presentation
May 21
Be Fearless Summit Presents the Night Before (VIP EVENT) | 6pm – 8pm CDT
Join the Be Fearless Summit team, Her Campus at Vanderbilt, and Graduate Nashville for a VIP event the night before the 2021 Spring Be Fearless Summit at Vanderbilt University.
Presented by IBY Beauty.
This limited space, COVID- safe event will inspire you to get out of your comfort zone, meet likeminded individuals, and leave you feeling extra glam. Makeup looks & swag bags sponsored by IBY Beauty, Guayaki tea, Moo.com, and Molly Green.
Meet Alexa Curtis, local bloggers & influencers and have the time of your life!
May 22
Be Fearless Summit | 11:30am – 5:30pm CDT
BE FEARLESS SUMMIT PRESENTS THE 2021 SPRING BE FEARLESS SUMMIT WITH HER CAMPUS VANDERBILT
THIS YEAR’S THEME: BABES AGAINST B.S.
PRESENTED BY IBY BEAUTY with a $500 Care Bears Grant with sponsors Guayaki Tea, Graduate Nashville, and Care Bears
The Be Fearless Summit is BACK with our first ever hybrid summit, May 22nd, 2021 at Vanderbilt University. This years theme is Babes Against B.S., in partnership with Her Campus at Vanderbilt. This past year has left us battling a pandemic, fighting for equality, and enduring through a tumultuous presidential election, stirring us more than ever to address the issues exposed. We are over the B.S. we have seen! That’s why we are bringing you a thrilling day filled with inspiring speakers, swag, and a reminder that we are fighting together against the B.S.
Speakers include Kym Gold (True Religion Jeans Co-Founder), Mandy Teefey (Thirteen Reasons Why) and Taylor Cassidy, plus Ernest Owens, Danielle Robay and more
FIRST 25 RSVP’S GET AN EARLY BEARD SPECIAL AND A FAB SWAG BAG FILLED WITH GOODIES.
RSVP for the VIP – networking event the night before at Graduate Nashville next week (link to come).
May 24th
Nashville Area Diversity Job Fair | 10am – 12pm CDT
If you’re looking for a new job or the opportunity to explore career options for yourself, register now for the upcoming Job Fair. This is a multi-profession, multi-industry VIRTUAL event. Job seekers can view details about each hiring company and their job openings and have the opportunity to connect live with hiring managers and recruiters via text chat or video. Avoid spending valuable time submitting resumes with no response. This is your opportunity to maximize your job search efforts from the comfort and safety of your own home.
May 25th
#BeBold: How 2020 Impacted Women | 11am – 12:30pm CDT
Asurion’s WIN Employee Resource Group lead virtual facilitated breakout sessions where you will have the opportunity to share your experience on how COVID has impacted your work and personal life, your feelings about how this may impact your career growth and what support looks like to you. Together we can learn to #BeBold!
Advanced Digital Marketing Meetup | 8 am – 9am CDT
Come prepared to talk SEO, SEM, Email, Social, Content, Analytics & all things Digital Marketing on a high level. Beginner level questions will not be addressed. There is no presentation. Ross will be facilitating a high level discussion and everyone is expected to contribute.
We’ll be meeting at East Park Donuts & Coffee 700 Main St in East Nashville.
Note:
The Advanced Digital Marketing Meetup on the 4th* Tuesday of the month @ 8am. (It’s actually the Tuesday following the 3rd Thursday of the month. Check the date to be sure.)
This meeting is *NOT* appropriate for beginners.
If you have less than 1000 hours of digital marketing experience, make sure to join our Nashville SEO & Internet Marketing Group (http://nashvilleseogroup.com) for beginner-friendly meetups. Also, click here to learn about our Digital Marketing Masters Class: http://imarketingclass.com/digital-marketing-class/
May 26th
Nashville PHP/WordPress BBQ Lunch | 11am – 12:30pm CDT
In collaboration with Nashville PHP, come out and stimulate your mind, mouth and stomach with some finely-crafted BBQ and good ol’ WordPress talk. Look for the PHP Elephpants and you’ll find us!
Grow: 2021 NAWBO Nashville Business University | 11am-2pm CDT
As a business owner, it’s imperative that you take care of yourself so you can take care of others. Being grounded with tools for self-care helps you grow yourself and your business. Whether things are running smoothly, or you’re being challenged by those necessary-but-difficult conversations with employees or associates, having the right tools in place will help you grow, personally and professionally.
Agenda:
Session I: Self Care and Stress Management for Better Mental Health
Presented by Triluna’s Ashley Brooke James and Elizabeth Moore
Takeaways: Understanding the power of vulnerability in mental health and self care, uncovering the source of stress – identify areas of improvement and focus on strength, and how to use meditation for stress management.
Session II: Hard Conversations, New Possibilities
Presented by Angela Wiggins
Takeaways:
How to prepare yourself for a difficult conversation, three important skills to grow, understand how to structure a difficult conversation.
Structure of the Day:
11:00a-11:30a- Bring your own lunch, network, short announcements
11:30a-12:20p-Triluna Session
12:20p-12:35p- Guided Meditation
12:35p-12:45p- Break
12:45p-1:45p- Angela Wiggins: Hard Conversations, New Possibilities
1:45p-2:00p- Q&A and closing poem read by Angela Wiggins
Click the TICKETS button, then scroll down past Sponsor tickets to the donations area to pay what you can.
Girls in Tech Nashville: Let’s Chat! Virtual Happy Hour! | 5:30pm – 6:30pm CDT
RSVP and come join Girls in Tech Nashville to get to know women/men living, studying or working in Nashville! Pour yourself a glass of wine, coffee, sweet tea or sparkling water!
Come as you are. It never hurts to make more friends even if you are wearing pajamas or sweats 🙂
May 27th
Nashville VR Meetup | 6pm – 8pm CDT
Join this group on the last Thursday of each month for Nashville’s VR meetup! They are resurrecting the meetup and have found a generous new host for it: Vanderbilt’s new center for innovation, “The Wond’ry” . A few VR setups (Oculus Rift + Vive) will be provided and also it is encouraged to bring any projects of interest (including hardware, if applicable). This meetup is intended for anyone interested in virtual reality, from those who have never experienced it to full time developers. Our goal is to connect the community, foster networking, and pool our creativity to take VR to its full potential.
May 31st
Womxn at Work: Stop Sitting on Your *ASK*! | 12pm CDT
Research indicates women don’t advocate for themselves at work and it’s to their detriment. Women who sit on their ask don’t experience career mobility, become invisible and in some instances are definitely underpaid.
Join General Assembly and Girls in Tech Nashville learn about why women sit on their ask and how you can strategically adjust your behavior in ways that result in career wins!
