SHARE St. Louis, taking place August 12-17, is right around the corner. As you pack your bags and get ready to meet us in St. Louis, here are a few things to know before you go.
- Come for the technical sessions…
With more than 500 technical sessions to attend, there’s ample opportunity to catch up on the latest in mainframe technology and bring back new ideas to your organization, whether you’re interested in security in the enterprise, analytics and machine learning, or other hot topics SHARE St. Louis will offer. Get a preview of a session on practical artificial intelligence (AI), presented by Jeff Bisti, Cognitive AI Architect at IBM, here.
- …and stay for the networking.
Networking is a top reason SHARE members attend events year after year. The week-long event is a chance to branch outside your day-to-day professional circle and meet new people who are likely facing the same challenges and triumphs as you. It may even lead to impromptu teaching opportunities – like the time Keith Sisson started his day presenting on Agile DevOps at SHARE Sacramento and ended the day as a guest lecturer for a graduate-level DevOps seminar at Sacramento State University. You can read more about Keith’s experience here.
For those new to the mainframe, like Ron Ash, a Student Career Day attendee at SHARE Sacramento, SHARE events are also a chance to get valuable career advice in real-time, from experienced individuals. “For me, the best part of [Student Career Day] was being able to sit down with three engineers at lunch and get a chance to talk with them. I am studying computer engineering, so someday I hope to do what they do,” Ron said in a recent interview.
- New this year: The Z Escape
Similar to popular Escape Room games across the country, The Z Escape is a collaborative workshop that puts participants in the role of newly hired security staff. Your company recently fell victim to a massive data breach, believed to be an insider threat. Through a series of puzzles and IBM Z security challenges, you’ll need to identify the source of the breach. This hands-on experience is a great way to think outside the box, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. Availability is limited and advance sign-up is recommended to secure a spot.
- Two Keynotes to Up Your Performance and Gain Insight into Future Trends
Can you use improv to improve performance and collaboration? The answer is “yes, and.” Our Monday keynote speakers, Andrew Bright and Elijah Tadema will present “The Improv Perspective – Using ‘Yes, And’ to Own Your Role and Perform with Excellence.” Part entertainment, part inspiring teaching, attendees will learn how key improv techniques – listening, trust and respect – can be applied to teamwork within your organization.
On Tuesday, executives from IBM, CA Technologies and Rocket Software will discuss the latest innovations for IBM Z and the z/OS environment. Plus, a panel of new tenure mainframers will discuss what attracted them to the platform. If you’re seeking ways to help your organization propel itself to the forefront of innovation and increase ways to recruit the next generation of mainframers, this keynote is a must-attend.
Learn more about the keynote presentations here.
- Got down time? We’ve got recommendations.
We asked a few of our own SHARE members who are St. Louis natives to give a list of their favorite spots in town. Whether you’re in the mood for Italian food, a St. Louis brewery, ice cream, or a walk through the park, we’ve rounded up a list of places to see and things to do while you’re in town.