Gitte Klitgaard reminded me recently that it’s been 10 years since we met at BoosterConf. It seems like yesterday, and it seems like a lifetime ago. I love BoosterConf and I went again in 2019 (another fab experience). And, I treasure the joyful memory of getting to know Gitte there.
Gitte has written her story of courage and friendship about that event. I’d like to celebrate my memories of it as well. I was excited to participate in the conference. And, being a shy person, I was nervous. I knew very few people. Despite meeting new people (some I knew from social media), I just withdrew emotionally, and found myself sitting alone at breaks and mealtimes. My workshop on “changing your testing mindset” went well, as I recall, and I was enjoying the other sessions, but just feeling rather lonely and anxious.
A workshop on courage
So, what could be more appropriate than joining the workshop on courage that Gitte and Torbjörn Gyllebring facilitated? I remember feeling WAY out of my comfort zone when the workshop began. And by the end, I felt like a new me. I can’t find my notes from that workshop, but my tweets are a good reflection:
I left that workshop transformed, with more joy, courage, confidence, and several new friends.
The conference had other highlights. I ended up making many new friends. And after the end of the conference, I saw Liz Keogh in the hotel lobby. With my newfound courage, I asked her if she could help me understand how to use the Cynefin model to help with testing. That was another mind-blowing moment that has stuck with me and helped me ever since.
Making friends in the airport too
The best was yet to come. My husband, Bob, and I got to the airport, and found ourselves waiting for our delayed flightk along with other conference folks including Gitte and Torbjörn. Bob and I couldn’t understand the announcements about the flight, and Gitte and Torbjörn translated them for us. We were nervous travelers and they were such a comfort!
The airport time let me get to know Gitte better, and I felt so lucky to have her as a new friend. In the years since, she has coached me through tough professional experiences. I’ve participated in several more of her workshops, plus keynotes and talks, and learned things like: asking powerful questions, understanding psychological safety, helping establish a safe culture in my own team, leadership.
I’m so grateful that Gitte and I have reconnected many times now at Agile Testing Days, Agile on the Beach and other conferences. Lots of texting each other, and the occasional Zoom call. I feel so lucky. I’m giddy to know I will see her again in late September in Colorado, for Dev2Next! We’ve already booked our pre-conference hotel rooms!
