April 2025 - What music and global teams can teach us

Are you ready for an evening of insightful talks and great company? Join us on Thursday, April 17 for an exciting JUG Noord meetup in Groningen, featuring two fantastic speakers!

📅 Date & Time:

• Venue opens: 16:30
• First talk starts: 17:00
• Food & drinks: Provided between the sessions

📍 Location: Kempkensberg 12, Groningen
Their are a lot of road works around the location. Check [https://www.groningenbereikbaar.nl/actuele-verkeersinformatie ](https://www.groningenbereikbaar.nl/actuele-verkeersinformatie) for the latest information and calculate some extra travel time.

🚨 Important: Signing up and valid identification are mandatory for entry. If the name on your Meetup profile does not match your ID, please contact Martijn (organizer) with your full name.

Tulips to Turmeric: Lessons Learned from a Global Team
By Rijo Sam
Ever wondered why working in global teams feels like unravelling a mystery? You're not alone! The reality of working within such a team can differ from expectations. Often, the greatest challenge for developers isn't the actual work, but rather navigating the distance, understanding cultural disparities, and maintaining meaningful connections with team members.

Today, whether we work in Amsterdam or New Delhi, Brussels or Beijing, we are all part of a global network where success requires traversing vastly different cultural realities. But how do you deliver constructive feedback to colleagues from Asia, America, or Europe? And why does your Indian team really need an hour for lunch? Also, do you know the secret that a ‘NO’ can come in many disguises?

In this session, I will share personal stories and practical strategies from my years of working with multicultural teams. These strategies aim to enhance communication, bridge cultural gaps, and foster strong collaboration across continents. Join me as we embark on a journey filled with laughter, learning, and limitless possibilities.

About Rijo Sam
Rijo works as a Java Chapter Lead based in the Netherlands. He possesses extensive experience in developing applications within the payments and credits sector of the banking domain.

Rijo is originally from India, and now settled in Netherlands.
Embracing Dutch culture, he enjoys eating his sandwich while riding his bike 😉

What "Stairway to Heaven" Can teach us about Software Development
One of the most iconic rock songs ever written starts with the line “There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold…” and chances are you know the rest of the lyrics by heart. Though one could argue that this ability is rather useless. It’s not like it makes you a better software developer, right? Right?!

Allow me to change your mind! I know that the lyrics to “Stairway to Heaven” have sparked countless online debates over its meaning, but being a developer and a musician I think it is actually about software development. In fact, I even believe it contains a few good lessons on it and if that is the case, knowing the lyrics by heart can really benefit you.

So during this talk I will perform snippets of the song, explain why I think it is about software development and how your next software project can be better because of it. I’ll make sure to cover the identity of ‘the lady’, interpretation of requirements, reverting architectural decisions and the cost of overly ambitious guitar solos.

About Hanno Embregts
Hanno Embregts is a Java Developer with a passion for learning, teaching and making music.
In his day-to-day job as a Teacher / Technology Advocate at Info Support, Hanno prefers work that is fast-paced and versatile. This is why he juggles Java development, software architecture, public speaking, leading Info Support’s Speaker Community and teaching courses at Info Support’s Knowledge Centre.
Hanno is both a Java Champion and an Oracle ACE Pro. He is also one of the editors of the Dutch Java Magazine. Outside of work Hanno likes making music with his friends. He plays the flute, the guitar and he likes to sing.
Software conferences are Hanno’s favourite thing in the world, because they allow him to do the three things he loves most at the same time: learning new things, teaching others about stuff he discovered and yes: even making music from time to time!