Start a Developer Group and take TrailheaDX Home With You! (TDX'17)

Vivek M. Chawla@VivekMChawla

Start a Developer Groupand Take TrailheaDX

Home With You!

#TDX17

Speaker

Vivek M. ChawlaFounder, Co-Organizer – San Diego Salesforce Developer Group | 2015 Salesforce MVP

@VivekMChawla

Agenda

• Developer Group Basics – Who, What, Where, When, Why?

• How to start your own developer group

• Lessons learned as a developer group founder/organizer

• Next steps, final thoughts, and Q&A

Developer Group BasicsWho, What, Where, When, Why?

Who are the People in the Developer Community?

• 3+ million developers worldwide

• Wide range of technical skill sets

• Genuine enthusiasm and warmth are the rule, not the exception

The What/Where/When of Salesforce DGs

• NOT a User Group! Topics are relevant to Developers

• 203 global meetups with almost 56,000 members

• Well established groups meet every 4-6 weeks

Why are Salesforce Developer Groups Valuable?

Shared Expertise

New and Expanded Points of View

Professional Fellowship

How to Start Your Own Salesforce Developer Group

Research, Recon, and Reach Out

• Visit the Salesforce Developers Meetup page to find the DG nearest you

• Go to the next meetup to see how they do things

• Get in touch with the program coordinators via [email protected]

Find a Location (Venue)

• 10-15 person capacity

• Projector/Screen/Whiteboard

• Tips for finding venues– Local tech companies– Look at other meetups– Co-working Spaces– Public Libraries– Yelp

Pick a Topic, Pick a Date, and Promote!

• Start with food, beverages, and socialization

• Tuesday 6-8pm is an ideal day/time

• Promote your event using Meetup.com

Lessons Learned as a Developer Group Founder / Organizer

Make the Transition From “Wishing” to “Doing”

• Believe that you have what it takes

• Be more tactical than aspirational

• Passion today trumps perfection tomorrow

Lean on Others...Organizing a DG is a Team Sport!

• Find a reliable co-organizer ASAP

• Work with people who you get along with

• Ask for and accept help from others

Find a Groove That’s Right for You

• Start with quarterly meetups and adjust from there

• Decide on your group’s identity/brand

• Create a backlog of potential content

Next Steps, Final Thoughts, and Q&A

Audience Challenge – Take Your First Step TODAY!

• Visit bit.ly/salesforcedg and find the DG nearest you

• Send me (@VivekMChawla) a tweet naming your city and the city with the nearest DG

• You’re taking the first step to go from “wishing” to “doing”

Leading a Developer Group can be Very Rewarding

• Co-organizer became one of my best friends

• I’ve developed skills that help me in my job every day

• I’ve watched over a dozen people learn, grow, and find jobs they love