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Irina Nazarova, head of Evil Martians, shares insights on Rails' enduring value in the startup ecosystem and her journey from Rails user to keynote speaker and community organizer.

• Rails and Y Combinator grew simultaneously, with 90% of early YC startups building on Rails
• Rails helps startups focus on business risks while keeping technology risks under control
• The community still thrives with over 900 Ruby meetups worldwide in the past 12 months
• Flexport's migration from 30+ Java microservices to a Rails monolith demonstrates pragmatic possibilities
• Local meetups create consistent opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration
• Finding companies using Rails in your area is key to building successful local meetups
• San Francisco Ruby Conference launches November 19-20 with early bird tickets at $300
• Conference will focus on new tooling, open source (including AI), and scaling Ruby and Rails
• CFP is open until July 13th at sfruby.com

Use code ODE2RAILSCONF at checkout to get 10% off at GoRails.com.

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David Hill chats with Erin Pintozzi about her journey from anxious first-time attendee to mentor and guide in the Ruby conference community. They explore the Scholar and Guide program, overcoming conference anxiety, and finding unexpected connections while navigating tech events.

• Meeting through mutual connections at RailsConf Detroit
• Experiences as a Scholar Guide at RubyConf and preparing for the upcoming RailsConf
• Overcoming anxiety at Erin's first RailsConf in Minneapolis while pregnant
• Three key pieces of advice for first-time conference attendees: permission to be uncomfortable, flexibility with plans, and sitting with strangers at lunch
• Teaching at Turing School of Software and Design since 2021
• Surprising new passion for chicken-keeping and potential "Chicken on Rails" apps
• Excitement about the upcoming RailsConf Philadelphia and encouragement for first-time attendees

If you or your team wants to learn the latest Ruby on Rails features, Hotwire, Ruby and more, check out GoRails.com. Use code ODE2RAILSCONF at checkout to get 10% off.

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We welcome Shan Cureton, Ruby Central's new Executive Director, who shares her entrepreneurial background and vision for the organization's future. Shan brings fresh perspectives on strengthening open source sustainability, increasing community engagement, and ensuring Ruby's legacy continues for the next generation.

• Founded a tech-enabled ride service for students that grew to 60 drivers across 80 zip codes
• Discovered Ruby Central after working in corporate social responsibility and immediately connected with the community
• Currently on a "90-day listening tour" to understand community needs before implementing changes
• Plans to increase visibility of Ruby Central's role in powering open source beyond conferences
• Aims to bring youthful energy back to Ruby through outreach to students and startups
• Shared public speaking tips from her experience as a communications professor
• Looking forward to her first RailsConf and meeting community members in person
• Post-RailsConf plans include a regional meetup tour and developing a three-year strategic roadmap
• Creating new social impact initiatives to bridge the digital divide and expand Ruby's reach
• Emphasizes this is just the "end of a phase" with exciting new developments ahead for Ruby Central

Feel free to contact Shan on Slack or email with feedback, project ideas, or partnership opportunities. She welcomes everyone to say hello at RailsConf!