A Note from our CEO
There’s a question that’s come up a lot since we launched the Present Yourself book:
What’s next?
This question is understandable. We spent the past year and a half working on a massive project. It’s been released into the world! Now what?
At the same time, if you’ve ever written a book, this question might also make you tense up. Your response might sound something like: “It’s still the book! Now that it exists, I need to make sure everyone knows about it. Hellooooooo marketing!”
Or, it might sound something like this: (Deep sigh) “Rest.”
I’m writing a note to you, the Women Talk Design community, to share my answer to this question.
We started off 2024 calling this the Year of Present Yourself––and it continues to be. Present Yourself is so core to our mission of amplifying the voices of women and nonbinary folks.
As we head into the rest of the year:
We’re continuing to run our public 8-week Present Yourself program.
Registration is now open for Cohort 2 – 2024!
We’ll be hosting quarterly(ish) virtual Lightning Talks events featuring Present Yourself alumni.
Sign up for our upcoming event here.
We’ll keep amplifying the book so that as many people as possible can benefit from the lessons and advice.
Check out our new Present Yourself Hub!
We’re holding open the doors to our community space so that you all can continue to support one another.
If you’re not yet a member, join here.
We’re maintaining the Directory and our online resources.
Find speakers, watch talks, and read about how you can improve your public speaking and design more inclusive events.
You might be wondering, that all sounds about right. Does this really warrant an email? What’s changing?
While we continue this work that is core to Women Talk Design, we’re also scaling back for now.
We won’t be offering short-form workshops or events outside those Lightning Talks. We’ll no longer be posting regularly on social media and The Weekly (this newsletter) will migrate to The Monthly. We’ll be facilitating corporate programs on a limited basis.
Why?
Truthfully, this is a very personal decision.
Women Talk Design has been supported by a village—speakers, instructors, community members, supporters. We’ve also had an incredible small team working behind the scenes for the past couple of years: Jessica who has run WTD’s social channels, Liz who has managed our newsletters and countless special projects (including our Kickstarter and book launch), and Frances who has run our community programming. Their creativity, community-focus, and heart has made Women Talk Design what it is today.
But it’s also taken full-time leadership.
My world turned upside down, in the most incredible way, when Christina Wodtke sent me an email in June 2017 with the subject line, “a thought…”. This email would ultimately set up the meeting where Christina would pitch me on taking over Women Talk Design.
It’s been 6.5 incredible years. You can read more about what we’ve done during this time in this week’s Article of the Week at the bottom of the newsletter. This role has been challenging and also incredibly fulfilling. It’s been so meaningful because of all of YOU—this community who shows up for one another, who is generous with their advice, who shares their experiences, who is willing to be honest and vulnerable and supportive of one another.
I will continue to lead Women Talk Design on a much smaller scale. But professionally, and personally, I’m pursuing a new chapter.
If you want to continue supporting the work that we’re doing at Women Talk Design, here’s what you can do:
- Fund a scholarship to the Present Yourself program
- Tell someone about the book (or better yet, buy it for them!)
- Use the Women Talk Design directory to find speakers for your next event (and pay them!)
- Join our online community
- Share your voice and amplify others!
You can continue to find me in Women Talk Design’s community space. I’ll be cheering you on.
With immense gratitude,
Danielle
