talks & speakers

Bologna
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Before It Was Cool: 6 years of our Internal Developer Portal

Around 2019, we were already quite advanced in introducing microservices architecture in an effort to replace our two monolithic systems within the largest HR tech company in Central and Eastern Europe.

Therefore, we were painfully aware of the challenges of having dozens of developers trying to agilely build independent chunks of software that communicate with each other. This talk presents our journey in developing a custom command line tool that significantly reduced the time to set up new applications while enabling us to introduce standardization seamlessly from the developers' perspective.

It will also include current alternatives and how we envision the future of our IDP

Kinga Gazdzinska

Kinga Gazdzinska

Software architect @ Grupa Pracuj

I'm a programmer and architect at Grupa Pracuj.
I have given presentations at multiple software conferences, e.g. Infoshare, .NET Developer Days, SFI IT Academic Festival.
I'm interested in the impact of human factors on the architecture (e.g, Conway's law), tools that facilitate gathering and defining requirements (e.g., Event Storming),
and enhancing Developer Experience. Beyond professional interests, I enjoy travelling, and I'm a keen motorcyclist and rower.

GitOps Secret Management and How Developers Can Survive It

'I will remove it later after the local tests!' The last famous words, before a production secret is written, committed and pushed to a repository.
Secret management is hard in theory, harder when following GitOps principles, and in practice it is even worse for budget limits, technical limits, knowledge limits make implementing a secure and above all usable solution a challenge.
In this talk we will see common GitOps secret management patterns, with their pros and cons, and how they can be improved to offer a better experience to developers and infrastructure teams.

Giorgia Rondinini

Platform Engineer @ Imola Informatica

Software Architecture, DevOps and Platform Engineering enthusiast, always in search of time and opportunities to learn something new.
My interests space from cloud to functional programming.

Creating a Smooth Developer Experience: From Complexity to Simplicity

In the Cloud Native ecosystem reducing cognitive load is essential for a productive and fulfilling Developer Experience (DevX).

This talk explores how Platform Engineering can alleviate cognitive load through automation and self-service access, allowing developers to navigate complex environments without excessive friction. Leveraging metrics like DORA and SPACE to track, understand and optimize team workflows, we’ll examine how to enhance DevX by minimizing interruptions and context switching.

We’ll share concrete strategies to create cloud-native environments that simplify complexity, enabling developers to focus on what truly matters and fostering a sustainable, purpose-driven development culture.

Michel Murabito

CNCF Ambassador & Developer Advocate @Mia-Platform

I'm Michel Murabito, Mich to my friends! Born in 1986 in Turin with Sicilian roots, I now live in Milan.
My journey in software began at 12, coding for fun. At 18, I started my first job as a software developer and have continuously sought new challenges to grow and learn.

Today, I'm a Developer Advocate at Mia-Platform and a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Ambassador, sharing my passion for cloud native technologies with a community of curious minds. Additionally, I founded the DevelopersLife community, which has over 800 members, where we discuss our profession and share experiences.

Enhancing Software Delivery: Optimizing Value Streams through DORA and Platform Engineering

In this talk, we will explore the synergy between DORA metrics, Value Stream Management (VSM), and Platform Engineering, illustrating how these frameworks collectively enhance software delivery in product-based companies. By leveraging DORA metrics—such as deployment frequency and lead time for changes—teams can quantitatively assess and improve their performance, aligning their efforts with business goals to ensure both speed and stability are achieved without compromise.

We will explore how VSM provides a holistic view of the software delivery process, enabling teams to identify bottlenecks and optimize the flow of value from ideation to user delivery. This approach not only reduces waste but also aligns development activities with strategic objectives, ensuring that every step adds value to the customer experience.

Furthermore, we will discuss the role of Platform Engineering in organizing development teams and tools. By implementing Internal Development Platforms (IDPs), organizations can reduce cognitive load, streamline operations, and foster a culture of collaboration. Platform Engineering standardizes workflows and tools, enabling teams to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure management.

Drawing from Team Topologies, we will highlight the importance of socio-technical systems where collaboration and communication are paramount. This perspective emphasizes that technical excellence is intertwined with effective team dynamics and cognitive load management.

By integrating these concepts, we aim to demonstrate how high-performing teams thrive at the intersection of technology and collaboration, ultimately enhancing their ability to deliver continuous value to customers.

Mario Esposito

Head of Software Development @ Immobiliare.it

Mario Esposito is a seasoned professional in the field of software development, currently serving as the Head of Software Development at Immobiliare.it, a leading real estate platform in Italy. Based in Rome, Mario has been instrumental in driving the company's technological advancements and enhancing user experience through innovative web solutions.

Mario's journey with Immobiliare.it began in March 2008, where he initially took on roles such as Web Master and Project Manager. Over the years, he has progressed to lead the Product Development Department, focusing on transforming ideas into high-performance, reliable web software. His expertise spans across full-stack development, project management, and team leadership, with a strong emphasis on using open-source technologies.

Mario holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Università degli Studi di Salerno. His academic focus included information technologies, computer networks, and artificial intelligence, providing a solid foundation for his career in software development.

Throughout his career, Mario has been recognized for his contributions to web development. He has received multiple awards, highlighting his commitment to excellence and innovation in the digital landscape.

Mario Esposito continues to play a pivotal role at Immobiliare.it, leveraging his extensive experience to lead teams in developing cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of users and the real estate market.

Unlocking Potential: Transforming Onboarding into a Journey of Empowerment

In the fast-paced world of software engineering, onboarding is no longer just a welcome; it’s an invitation to thrive, innovate, and transform.
At Swissquote, we've crafted something extraordinary with our Tech Talent Academy—an onboarding experience like no other.
This immersive, three-month journey is designed to spark potential, ignite innovation, and set the stage for a truly inclusive workplace. Imagine an onboarding program that goes beyond the basics, one that’s purposefully designed to:

  • Immerse Engineers
  • Champion Diversity
  • Ignite Innovation
  • Drive Transformation

Join us as we share the heart of the Tech Talent Academy. Discover the strategies that make it a catalyst for growth and impact, hear how it’s reshaping our engineering teams, and walk away with actionable insights to transform your own onboarding process.

Edwige Fiaclou

Head Methodology Tech Talent @ Swissquote

I'm an accomplished technologist deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM* (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
I hold a BSc in mathematics and an MSc in Computer Science from the University Lyon 1 (France), with a FinTech oriented educational background.
With years of experience in various roles, including mobile development and banking applications, I have navigated through many technologies and business domains.
Since joining Swissquote in 2012, I have contributed to technical stacks and software delivery across multiple domains and layers, from Banking operations to Trading Systems Management.
My unwavering dedication to excellence, best practices and innovative perspective earned her a promotion to Vice Director in 2022, where she now oversees Methodologies, Program Management and Tech Talent teams within Software Engineering.
Despite my many accomplishments, I remain eager to learn from others. I actively contributed to many talks, in Switzerland, or at International for Women In Tech or Lead Dev track!

Guillaume Proust

Tech Talent Academy Manager @ Swissquote

Driven by a lifelong fascination with technology, I have built a career connecting people with innovative solutions.
My career spans various industries, from public service (retirement, firefighting) to the private sector (real estate, transport, and finance), where I honed my Java skills in diverse environments.
At Swissquote, he transitioned from a successful five-year tenure as a Java developer (including two years in a management role) to lead the Tech Talent Academy. In this role, I create impactful onboarding experiences, empowering engineers and introducing technical concepts to business-oriented colleagues.
This passion for knowledge-sharing stems from my belief in the power of continuous learning... and, of course, delicious meals!

Beyond Copilot: How Developer Tools Are Evolving from Editors to Agents

The AI revolution in developer tooling is here. GitHub reported over 1M paid Copilot users. 50% of the latest YC batch are AI companies. And with Open AI landing over $6B in funding. It’s safe to say significant shifts are comnig.
But, where's the line between hype and reality?

Join me for an honest, hype-free examination of the state of AI developer tooling. From reimagined editors like Cursor to AI-powered terminals like Warp to autonomous agents like Devin. We look at whether the future is in long-running agents or in hybrid approaches with humans-in-the-loop? And how we can benefit from this new reality in the decade ahead.

Lou Bichard

DX - Product Manager @ Gitpod

I've been working in tech for over 10 years, starting out as a front-end engineer, then back-end, and later into cloud engineering and platform engineering in internal developer experience teams. I now work on product at Gitpod.

Next-Level Runbook: Essential Tools for Developer Productivity and Resilience

Runbooks are the backbone of reliable incident response, but are your runbooks built to keep developers productive and resilient in a 24/7 operational world? In this talk, we’ll guide you through transforming runbooks into streamlined, high-impact tools that both empower developers and drive productivity gains across your teams. We’ll explore the critical balance of detail versus simplicity, how to build runbooks as code, and why consistency and ownership are crucial for alignment across DevEx and Dev Prod teams.

Covering everything from dashboards that track meaningful metrics to next-generation AI features, we’ll walk through the anatomy of runbooks that work - and those that don’t. Learn how to craft runbooks that don’t just sit idle until the next incident but evolve with every touchpoint, staying relevant and impactful.
This session offers practical insights into turning runbooks into assets that save time and reduce stress, even in high-stakes environments.

Leena Mooneeram

Senior Platform Enginee @ Chainalysis

I'm a Senior Platform Engineer at Chainalysis, the blockchain data platform, with a mission to reduce friction and cognitive load for Chainalysis engineers.
I'm at the coalface of Developer Productivity and Developer Experience, working daily to optimize workflows and tools that make engineering smoother and more efficient. When not busy refining DevEx, Leena enjoys playing the flute exceptionally well and the ukulele… less so.
Passionate about building efficient, developer-friendly solutions, I'm always keen to connect with others committed to creating impactful developer experiences.

Diana Nanuti

Senior Software Engineer @ Chainalysis

I'm a Senior Software Engineer at Chainalysis with expertise in Cloud Infrastructure and Data Engineering.
Known for my keen ability to architect resilient, scalable data solutions, I bring a wealth of experience from building and maintaining infrastructure on top of cloud-native and open-source technologies.
At Chainalysis, I'mdeeply involved in ensuring that the backbone of the blockchain data platform operates with reliability and precision, especially under high-stakes conditions. In this talk, Diana will share her hands-on insights into incident management, focusing on how robust runbooks and strategic automation can make all the difference.

From Skepticism to Engagement: Building a Developer Experience Program

Developer Experience (DX) has emerged as a critical factor in fostering collaboration and productivity within engineering teams. At Docebo, we recently embarked on a journey to introduce a comprehensive DX program, and in this session, we’ll share our experiences, insights, and lessons learned.

Eugenio Pombi

Software Architect/Platform Director @ Docebo

Over the last 20 years I have been working in the software engineering industry first as a developer, then as trainer, entrepreneur, team leader, engineering manager, and architect manager.
I love building and enabling high performing teams and I have been doing this for more than 10 years in two countries (UK and Italy).