Side Quest Unlocked: Community, Connection and the Future of Tech

Every great RPG has side quests. Some people skip them, racing toward the final boss battle. But those who take the time to explore, help others, and build connections unlock skills, allies, and opportunities they never expected. The same is true in tech.

The best engineers aren’t just great at writing code; they also know how to bring people together. Mentoring, organising events, documenting knowledge, connecting people – this work strengthens teams, builds communities, and creates new opportunities. It’s how people learn, share, and push tech forward. This type of knowledge sharing is essential to how our community evolves, how people grow, and how the next generation of engineers finds their way.

You don’t have to take on every side quest to have a great career. But what if the best way to level up isn’t just through your code but through the connections you build, the knowledge you share, and the side quests you choose to take on?

In this talk, we’ll explore how community “glue” work, like mentoring or organising events, teaches essential leadership skills like communication, strategic thinking, and crisis management. We’ll discuss why companies need to start recognising and rewarding this work, and why the future of tech depends on the strength of its communities.

You’ll leave with a new perspective on the work that holds everything together, ideas on how to get involved in ways that fit your time and energy, and a challenge: What role do you want to play in shaping the future of tech?