August was an incredibly eventful month, and a standout moment for me was attending the AWS Summit in Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Centre. Here’s a look back at my experience and some insights on how to make the most out of such events.

Arrival, Registration, and Breakfast

I arrived at the venue bright and early, around 7:00 am. After registering and receiving some AWS swag, I found myself eagerly asking the event staff when we could start. By 8:00 am, the doors opened, and I enjoyed a hearty breakfast before diving into the exhibition hall.

Early Morning Sessions

This was my first AWS Summit, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, especially attending solo. Fortunately, Chiche, who had encouraged me to attend, provided valuable tips and helped me plan my day. I browsed the agenda on the AWS events app and selected presentations and workshops that piqued my interest. I was excited to see some of my favorite tech companies among the sponsors, seeing this as a prime opportunity to engage with industry leaders and explore new services.

While wandering the exhibition hall, I stumbled upon the AWS Partyrock hub. As someone who has created around 20 apps on AWS, I’ve encountered limitations and issues with the platform’s UI. This was a perfect opportunity to discuss my challenges and explore alternatives. I learned about Amazon Q, which has a more user-friendly interface and addresses the context quota issues I faced, especially with complex use cases.

First Presentation: Women in Tech

My first session was the Women in Tech presentation. As a woman in technology, it was both inspiring and empowering to hear from successful women who have navigated the industry, balanced personal and professional roles, and achieved significant milestones. Their stories of resilience and success were truly uplifting.

Keynote and Main Presentations

The keynote presentation provided deep insights into how AWS partners and organizations are leveraging AWS for innovation and transformation. We explored various use cases, including how the pharmaceutical industry used machine learning during the pandemic to accelerate vaccine development.

We also learned from the Johannesburg Exchange about AWS’s role in enhancing and innovating the trading industry.

Veliswa’s demonstration of Amazon Q and Amazon Bedrock highlighted how these tools are revolutionizing application development through generative AI. This session made me even more eager to transition from AWS Partyrock to Amazon Q.

Breakout sessions | Activities | Networking

One of the highlights of the summit was the chance to meet and learn from industry leaders such as Veliswa Boya. The event was a treasure trove of information, resources, and networking opportunities. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who reached out to pitch ideas and opportunities.

It enabled me access to organizations as well the opportunity to engage on a level I would not have been able to. I took this time and asked all the questions I wanted to ask and networked with as many people who shared similar interest and goals

Engaging with brilliant minds like Cinga Nyangintsimbi from Batsamayi, who shared insights into the WoW initiative transforming taxi operations in the Eastern Cape, was particularly enlightening. I gained a deeper understanding of the development process, challenges faced, and the company’s future direction.

I concluded my day at the AWS Community Lounge, which featured sessions on topics ranging from AI to FinOps. Engaging in discussions with panelists such as Thoko Mathenjwa, Kudakwashe Manhodo, Rehan van der Merwe, and Mohammed Bangie provided valuable insights and connections across various AWS groups.

Final Thoughts and Tips

To maximize your experience at such events, plan ahead and strategize. Be open to conversations and make connections with as many people as possible. Arrive early to avoid long lines and ensure your phone is fully charged with enough storage for documenting the day. Don’t be discouraged if you’re attending alone; put yourself out there and engage with others.

A huge thank you to all the AWS partners, customers, sponsors, speakers, and the AWS community for making this event memorable. Special thanks to Chiche for convincing me to attend and helping me plan. It was an invaluable experience, and I’m already looking forward to the next AWS Summit.