There are just a few months until AWS re:Invent 2022, so it’s time to start planning your time, booking your schedule, and thinking about making community connections. I’ve put together a list of five tips and the sessions I’m looking forward to. I hope you find them helpful too.
Build your schedule
Seating reservations open on October 11th at 10:00 am (PDT). That’s 6:00 am here in New Zealand so it’s going to be an early morning for me! Spend some time looking through the session catalogue and pick your favourites from the 1500+ options. If you’re after some suggestions check out the attendee guides to get you started.
If you don’t manage to lock in a spot keep in mind there will be room for walk-up attendees and overflow rooms with silent-disco-style headphones. Don’t forget, you can catch the breakout sessions on Youtube after the event and keep up with the conversation on Twitter.
Plan your travels
This year sessions will be all across The Strip at the Encore, Wynn, The Venetian, Caesars Forum, MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay. To get around the campus you can use the campus shuttle that will be serving venues more than a 15-minute walk apart. This is a great way to get where you need to be, and maybe start a conversation with someone along the way.
In addition to the campus shuttle, don’t forget to use the monorail to avoid traffic, and if you’re planning on walking, make sure you bring comfortable shoes and check how long your journey will be. Those hotels may look close, but they can be quite some distance away!
Mix it up
The session catalogue is full of different options to keep you learning all week. But not all sessions are created equal. Breakout sessions are 60-minute lectures for beginners at the 100 level, right up to advanced topics at the 400 level. If you’re looking for something more hands-on try a workshop, builders session, or lab. Here are some of the sessions I’m looking forward to:
Advice from an ex-FBI agent who took down Silk Road and Anonymous – PRT308
This session features Chris Tarbell, one of the most successful cybersecurity law enforcement officials of all time. He has extensive expertise in cybersecurity and computer forensics. Tarbell shares the adrenaline-pumping tale of how he infiltrated and took down two notorious cyber criminals on the dark web networks Anonymous and Silk Road.
A day in the life of a cloud-empowered aerodynamics engineer – CMP402
Imagine yourself as an aerodynamics engineer who uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to design new cars and planes, and you want the fastest turnaround times while retaining accuracy. This interactive chalk talk walks through techniques for optimizing complex workflows by combining AWS capabilities with optimization tricks to reduce simulation time for popular CFD codes such as OpenFOAM and Siemens Simcenter STAR-CCM+.
Boost productivity and avoid becoming overwhelmed – INO101
In this workshop, practice how to use emotional intelligence techniques such as self-awareness and self-management to understand hidden rules that are impacting your ability to find balance. Build your vision for success and learn about the techniques used to help more than 25,000 Amazonians supercharge their productivity.
Get to the Expo
Take some time between sessions to visit the Expo hall, to meet AWS experts, vendors, partners, and maybe even an AWS Hero at the Community Developer Lounge.
This year the Expo is also home to the AWS Builders’ Fair. This is a fun, interactive way to learn about real-world applications of AWS services. Discover how projects were built by talking to the experts who built them, and learn how to implement their ideas in your own projects.
Community Connections
re:Invent is a great opportunity to learn all you can about the latest in technology and hear about new features. But it’s just as important to make connections with the community and thousands of cloud enthusiasts and AWS experts. You can meet new people at restaurant receptions, bingo nights, World Cup viewings, and re:Play – the coolest party in tech where you can end the week on a high note.
Look after yourself
It may only be a few days, but re:Invent 2022 will be full of learning, walking, early starts, and late finishes. Schedule time for exploring The Strip, making connections, and taking a break to escape the crowds when you need to.
It’s going to be a great week, I hope to see you there!
Photo by Produtora Midtrack
