TECH TALK: The Culture of Open Source Knowledge
Knowledge and ideas may be intangible, but they are powerful enough to inspire, to change, and to create. This is the core reason of why Fizzbuzz initiated Tech Talks, a monthly knowledge-sharing platform.
Tech Talks was borne out of Fizzbuzz’s perspective that our strengths as an organization lie within our ability to teach each other and learn from one another. And when we learn from one another, we find new understanding and appreciation in the work process of our peers. ‘
The result is a far more synergistic work environment of people being conscious of each other’s skills and contribution to the organization.
What Goes On During A Tech Talk?
Well, for starters, there’s the talking part, of course. A set of 5 or more individuals from the different teams or departments take turns in presenting topics to the rest of the Fizzbuzz team. The topics are varied and can range from design to project management to app/web development basics.
Now the quiet ones don’t have to dread their turn to speak during a Tech Talk. The set-up is basically just a very casual peer discussion. So if stage fright is a bothersome boogeyman haunting you all your life, the Tech Talk experience is your step at conquering that fear.
But more than anything else, a Tech Talk really is one part a break from the monotony of crunching away at the computer and another part a team-building exercise—we get to break away from our various departments and congregate as one team.
First Of Many
The first official Tech Talk was launched last June 29, 2018. It featured five agents of cool discussing aspects from their respective disciplines.
First in line was a practical roadmap to productivity by Project Manager Jellica Veloso and her SMART Principles of Goal-Setting.
Next to take centerstage was Ray-an Kudemus and his presentation on the Design Trends of 2018 – a crash course on layout designs, colour schemes, and font styles prevalent across all forms of media in 2018.
The Stop-Motion Animation Team were up next. Each animator presented his/her respective bodies of work in animation. Debbie Tudtud kicked things off with her tongue-in-cheek music video “Pig Out”, about an animated pig singing about the different culinary ways it can be “presented”. Carlyn Ceniza followed suit with her poignant short film above the evolution of romantic relationships in “Bus Stop”. And finally, Marvin Paracuelles finished off with a showcase of his concept artworks and a live illustration demo.
What’s Next?
Tech Talk is, at its primary form, an in-organization event. However, the plan is for it to become inclusive and expansive. The next instalments may see us inviting speakers from outside of Fizzbuzz. Likewise, we see Tech Talk as a resource for select guests from the academe to partake in the experience as well. The future of Tech Talk is for it to become a Fizzbuzz tradition that hones and nurtures a culture of knowledge sharing.
“Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.”
-Robert Noyce, co-founder of Intel and Fairchild Semiconductor