Best Practices

👋 General Info Hi friends, We’re excited to kick off our next React meetup on **February 18**! Join us for an evening of practical insights, great conversations, and community vibes — from real-world React talks to networking with fellow engineers. **🗣 Call for Proposals** Have an idea or story to share? Submit your talk proposal through our[ ](https://forms.gle/8gZfT3Qkfd71CxyK6)[CFP form](https://forms.gle/rCiQ8Y4jajiC8AHMA) and take the stage at one of our upcoming meetups! **🤝 Organized by** This event made possible thanks to the support from[ React Summit](https://reactsummit.com/) and[ JSNation](https://jsnation.com/) organizers –[ GitNation](https://portal.gitnation.org/). **🤝 Hosted by** Huge friends to our friends [Figma](https://www.figma.com/) Figma is a browser-based design and prototyping tool enabling real-collaboration. Built for developers, Figma's Dev Mode gives you the power to easily inspect designs and translate them into code—without changing the design file. Headquartered in San Francisco, in 2020 Figma opened its EMEA HQ in London. We’re a team of makers who celebrate our differences and share a passion for our community. Our London based engineering team is growing quickly and working on some of Figma's top company priorities. 🤝 **Want to support our community?** We’re looking for venue partners and sponsors for future meetups. Let’s discuss collaboration — [contact us](https://forms.gle/zWYxsanfbhV64dEr5)! **🕑 Event Schedule** * 18:00 - Doors open - snacks, beer, socialization * 18:50 - Opening notes * 19:00 - **The Lost Art of Debugging: Why Your Browser is Smarter than AI - [Abdullah Ola Mudathir](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cruxcodes/)** * 19:25 - **Why Your Marketing Scripts and Cookie Banners Are Ruining Your Lighthouse Scores - [Christopher Burns](https://www.linkedin.com/in/burnedchris/)** * **19:50 - Networking, Open Mic Lightning Talks** * Mingle until 21:00 pm 🗣️ **Talks** ➡️ **The Lost Art of Debugging: Why Your Browser is Smarter than AI - [Abdullah Ola Mudathir](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cruxcodes/)** *The easiest thing to do is often what causes hours of debugging down the line. With LLMs becoming increasingly normalized in the industry, an overreliance on them can allow bugs to slip through the cracks.* *In this talk, I'll demonstrate a practical debugging workflow: Debug first. Prompt second. I'll show how browser DevTools reveal what's actually happening faster than any AI can guess.* *You'll learn:* * *Essential DevTools features that improve your bug-fixing prowess* * *When to reach for your browser and when AI can actually help* * *The almost forgotten art of breakpoints and strategic console messages* *AI in your codebase represents growth, but understanding your runtime state represents mastery. This talk is about balancing both and knowing which tool to reach for first.* ➡️ **Why Your Marketing Scripts and Cookie Banners Are Ruining Your Lighthouse Scores - [Christopher Burns](https://www.linkedin.com/in/burnedchris/)** *Most marketing scripts and cookie banners run on the critical path. They block the main thread, delay first paint, and inject third-party code before the page is interactive.* *Consent managers often make this worse by synchronously loading vendors, mutating the DOM repeatedly, and re-hydrating UI after page load. The result is slower LCP, higher TBT, and unstable CLS.* *The fix is not fewer scripts, it is better orchestration. Treat consent as infrastructure, load vendors after intent, and keep compliance off the critical path.* — **👍 Code of Conduct** By registering for this event you agree to comply with our [CoC](https://gitnation.com/coc) **📩 Contact** events@gitnation.org https://twitter.com/ReactAdvanced http://youtube.com/ReactConferences https://bsky.app/profile/reactadvanced.gitnation.org

Our acclaimed Wednesday workshop returns - we'll be looking at Lorca's classic drama exploring fate, passion, and societal expectations. A bride elopes with her former lover on her wedding day, triggering deadly consequences. Rich in poetic symbolism and folk traditions, the play confronts love’s destructive force and the inevitability of death and honor. We will be working towards A FULL PRODUCTION in April 2026.. If you'd like to get involved email: actinggymnasium [at] [gmail.com](http://gmail.com/)

​Join **Orchestra**, **Tracer** and **Lightdash** for an in-person evening with London’s data engineering community. ​This event is built for **data engineers, analytics engineers, and platform teams** who enjoy going deep on real technical topics — from modern data stack architecture to reliability, observability, orchestration, and the practical lessons learned from running pipelines in production. ​Expect a relaxed atmosphere, good people, and plenty of time for conversation (with free 🍕 & 🍻). IMPORTANT: MEETUP IS TRYING TO BLEED US ALL DRY SO PLEASE [SIGNUP ON LUMA](https://luma.com/ml500u2m) AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE CALENDAR THERE. IF YOU DONT SIGN UP WE CANT GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT! [https://luma.com/ml500u2m](https://luma.com/ml500u2m) ​**Agenda** ​**6:00 – 6:30pm:** Arrivals, drinks, networking **6:30 – 7:30pm:** Technical talks + Q&A **7:30pm onwards:** Networking **Technical Speakers** * ​Data @ The Economist - **[Luca de Michele](https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-de-michele-232432148)** * Data @ Lawhive - **[Pablo Fernandez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablofergui/) (Head of Data)** * ​**TBA** ​**Who should attend** * ​Data Engineers & Analytics Engineers * ​Platform Infrastructure Data Ops teams * ​Anyone building, scaling, or maintaining production data pipelines

We are delighted to announce an evening of demos and a roundtable discussion on what you want to see from the meetups. There is also still time to feedback with the link below [Umbraco London Meetup Questionnaire](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfISk1q_ZEoN82_vhiBeWwuVG3fUUB4uqkK-PqWtArajUErJw/viewform) We are welcome from 18:30, we shall look to get started around 18:45. We'll finish by 21:00 when we take the conversations to a local pub. \-\-\-\-\- **Experiments in V17** *by Matt Bliss - Technical Director* Matt will guide us through some of his experimentation in V17 and his learnings. **AI: Am I Too old for this \*\*\*\* (stuff)** *by Andy Hawken* Andy asks the big questions and he's going to talk about his experiences with Claude AI in January and a bit of February too. **Meetup feedback rountable** *by Richard Thompson and the meetup team* Richard will run us through the results of the feedback survey on the meetup and we'll have a discussion on what people want to see from the meetups. \-\-\-\-\-\- This is Embrace will be kindly providing some refreshments. Space is a bit limited so if you realise you can't make it please be sure to change your RSVP to No in case there are people on the waiting list. \-\-\-\-\- If you would like to contribute to our meetups please in touch by email ([hello@umblondon.co.uk](hello@umblondon.co.uk)) - we are always looking for people to give talks, or London-based Umbraco agencies to host us for the evening. Please read the [Code of Conduct](https://bit.ly/UmbLondonCodeOfConduct) for all our events.

## EVENT TITLE Free Professional English Diagnostic Session (Working Professionals ONLY) A structured session to discuss your English, identify priorities, and get clear direction. *** ## EVENT DESCRIPTION This session is designed for **working professionals** who want to improve how they use English at work and are looking for clear, practical guidance. The session gives you space to: * talk about how you currently use English professionally * identify where problems are actually coming from * understand which areas to prioritise * get direction on how to work on your English more effectively It’s a focused, professional environment intended to help you **understand your English more clearly** and decide what would be useful to work on next. *** ## WHAT WE’LL WORK ON During the session, we’ll look at: * how you use English in real work situations * typical problem areas (pronunciation, tenses, clarity, confidence) * patterns that may be holding you back without you realising * how to approach improvement in a structured way * which resources are worth using for self-study (and which aren’t) You’ll leave with **clear guidance and direction**, even after a single session. *** ## WHO THIS IS FOR * Working professionals using English at work * People who want structure and clarity * Professionals who want to improve how they sound and communicate *** ## WHO THIS IS NOT FOR * Students * Hobby or casual learners * People looking for passive or listen-only sessions * People who are not working or looking for work This is a professional-only environment. *** ## HOW TO JOIN To attend: 1. RSVP on Meetup 2. Approved attendees will be contacted by email to arrange the 1-1 session - please note that it won't be at the time indicated on Meetup. **Microsoft Teams link will be shared with confirmed attendees who meet the group criteria (working business professionals only).** *** ## QUALIFYING QUESTIONS You'll be asked a series of questions when you RSVP on Meetup. This is to help me understand your situation and needs BEFORE we start the class - which saves us time and means we can spend time on the things that really matter. Please make an effort to fill in the answers properly and with effort. I'm looking for people who want SERIOUS RESULTS. Zero effort people will not be contacted for the free class. Thank you

We're hosting our first meetup of 2026 in collaboration with our friends from **DevSecOps London Gathering**. We'll be generously hosted at the AutogenAI offices near King's Cross, and we'll feature two talks that should be of interest to both audiences. **6:00pm - Arrival** **6:45pm - Introductions** **7:00pm - The Talks** **Concrete Evidence: Two Races, One RCE** - [Adrian Tiron](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tironadrian/) Concrete CMS, a popular open-source content management system, contains a critical flaw in its file upload functionality that can be exploited in two distinct ways. This talk demonstrates how a single upload can lead to a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), allowing access to internal cloud resources, and a double race condition that enables Remote Code Execution (RCE) via a malicious backdoor. We’ll walk through the exploitation process, show how existing protections can be bypassed, and highlight practical steps to secure file upload mechanisms in real-world applications. Adrian is the Co-Founder and Principal Pentester/Red Teamer at Fortbridge, bringing over 20 years of hands-on experience in cybersecurity. Adrian is known for delivering highly technical, practical content drawn from real-world assessments, and is passionate about pushing the boundaries of modern application security. **Keeping login from taking down your product with an SRE approach to auth –** [Viola Lykova](https://www.linkedin.com/in/violaly/) Treat authentication as a production-critical system with its own failure modes and operational risks. In this talk, I break down real-world auth incidents involving JWKS rotation errors, refresh token storms, clock drift, and session store outages. I show how to define SLIs and SLOs that measure user impact and how to build monitoring and alerting that expose real reliability problems. I demonstrate practical guardrails such as token caching, exponential backoff with jitter, circuit breakers, and feature-flagged degraded modes. Finally, I walk through an incident runbook that helps teams diagnose, mitigate, and recover from authentication failures safely and quickly. Viola is a Senior Software Engineer in fintech with an SRE mindset, focused on authentication as a production system. I care about reliability, incident patterns, and the kind of testing that still holds up when traffic spikes, dependencies misbehave, or keys rotate at the worst possible time. Viola speaks on practical auth topics across security and reliability. **Participate in a future Meetup** If you'd like to speak at a future meetup, or if you are able to host or sponsor the event, please fill in this [form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FYGHEWTeBb5vVztGGg2YoUJmKR03o9mZaFIghf6vjzo/viewform?edit_requested=true) and we'll get back to you.

Elixir London Meetup; February 2026 edition. All are welcome. **Session 1: Bryan Hunt - Faria Data Platform: Building a data platform in Elixir** How to build an ETL pipeline using Amazon Athena, and Elixir: techniques, tools, UX, lessons learned. **Session 2: Christoph Beck** **\- Structured Generation and Logits Processing with Elixir** Ever tried to get a poem from an LLM doesn't contain the letter \`e\`? Large Language Models are kind of amazing and surprisingly unreliable at the same time. Using Elixir's Bumblebee and open source LLMs, you can get much better control over the generation. We introduce you to logits processing, and how it can be used to achieve what ChatGPT can not accomplish. *The event is kindly sponsored by* [Verna](https://verna.earth). **Time** Doors open at 18, start at 18.30. **Venue** Geovation F4, Sutton Yard, 65 Goswell Rd., London EC1V 7EN **Refreshments** Food and drinks will be provisioned on the day. **IMPORTANT**: **If you wish to take photos and post online during the event, please notify organisers first, so that attendees can opt-out from being in photos.**

**🏛️ WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 13:45-14:00 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 14:00-14:05 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 14:05-14:45 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 14:45 - We do a group conclusion of the things we discussed, and then we typically take a photo and go on our way :) If you don't want to be in the group photo, there's no pressure, it's just a way to close out the meeting. You are free to walk around Calthorpe's Community Gardens afterwards. **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend, and we operate on donations. Calthorpe Cabin costs £40 per hour to rent. If you'd like to donate to support the cost of the location, that helps keep our group self-sustaining. Donations are 100% voluntary, but your contribution is appreciated! QR codes to donate and a donation jar will be present. Calthorpe charges £4 per person for tea's and coffees and are paid by the individual should they wish to have them. **💛 WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * ​What will we talk about? What's the topic? ​The topic for the week is shared every Sunday in the Whatsapp group. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). 🤝**POLICY** To respect our members privacy, we ask that no one privately message a member without first getting explicit consent. (This looks like speaking in person and being asked to message privately.) Contacting or texting other participants without prior consent is not permitted and may result in removal from the group. Practical Philosophy reserves the right to enforce this policy at its discretion to maintain a safe and respectful environment. **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in 25+ countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ja2H9lXYtWX8RdCKHw6qNK) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club) 👈

🏎️ **If you’re not automating yet… you probably are.** Be honest: how much of your job are you already secretly automating, and how much of it is just automation in disguise? In this session, **[Ellis Pratt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellispratt/)**, director of **[Cherryleaf](https://www.cherryleaf.com/)**, will take a clear, no-hype look at automation in technical communication. He’ll rewind to where things stood just over a year ago, then discuss what’s changed since. We’ll explore how automation shows up across the technical writing lifecycle, and common pitfalls that come with it. Finally, we’ll look ahead. What does increasing automation really mean for our careers as technical writers and documentarians? Join us for an honest, practical conversation about what to automate, what not to, and how to stay relevant as the tools keep changing. **📣 This event is aimed at technical writers and those working in closely related roles. The discussion will focus on automation and AI specifically in the context of technical documentation and technical content workflows.** **When:** Thursday 19 February, from 6.30pm **Where:** The Yellow Room @ Remark! 18 Leather Lane, EC1N 7SU **What:** 18.30 - 19.00 Arrival 19.00 - 19.45 Presentation 19.45 - 20.00 Short break 20.00 - 20.45 Presentation 20.45 - 21.30 Networking *All times are approximate.* **Photos:** Note that the organizers will take some photos for the WTD group.

Orpington BSL conversation group. Open to anyone wishing to brush up or practice their British Sign Language skills in a relaxed, unstructured setting with like minded people. We meet on the third Saturday of the month at The Second Home café, in Orpington High Street (BR6 0NB), from 11am to 1pm. Come join us for a cuppa and brunch whilst practicing your BSL. This is an unstructured group, so anyone is welcome. We only ask that you are respectful of each other, regardless of gender, religion, sexuality and beliefs. During our conversation meetings, we appreciate if we all adhere to a 'voice off' policy, to maximise our BSL use. If you don't know a particular sign, don't just say the word... Fingerspell it; gesture it; paraphrase what you mean with the signs that you know, write it down in paper... Anything is good, as long as you give it your best!

**——————————** **Event Description:** **——————————** Welcome product enthusiasts! We're a meet-up group that hosts regular speaking events for those interested in the world of **digital products** and **doing things differently!** Each meet-up features new guests from some of the most influential product companies around the world, providing unique insights, tangible ideas, and new techniques to help drive change from the inside out. **————————** **Event Format:** **————————** 🚨 **This is an in-person event only.** 🚨 **————** **Venue:** **————** **Our Product Unleashed London Event:** We are hosted in the beautiful event space @ **[Accurx](https://www.accurx.com/)** We're looking forward to seeing you there! **———————** **What to expect:** ⚡ This event will be made up of 3 X speakers dropping knowledge bombs in the form of 20 minute talks straight into your minds 🤯 **———————** **SPEAKER 1** **———————** **Micaela Dixon** Micaela Dixon is a Senior Product Designer at Picsart, working on AI-powered creative growth experiences used by millions of people worldwide. She specialises in designing human-centred AI systems that balance trust, delight, and user agency. Alongside her industry work, Micaela is the founder of The AI UX School, where she teaches designers how to confidently design, prototype, and think critically about AI products. Her work sits at the intersection of UX, AI, growth ethics, and product strategy. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **Building Trust and Encouraging Critical Thinking: Designing AI Experiences That Do Both** In this talk, Micaela explores how teams can intentionally build AI experiences that create trust without encouraging blind reliance. Through real product examples and practical UX patterns, she shows how interaction design, language, feedback loops, and system transparency can help users stay engaged, informed, and thoughtful when working with AI. ***The session reframes trust not as “users believing the system,” but as users feeling supported, capable, and in control.*** **———————** **SPEAKER 2** **———————** **Erin Casali** Erin is a VP/Director of both product and design, with over 10 years of experience in each. She has a hybrid approach with design, product, and engineering in her background, and a skillset including psychology and change management. Her unique blend of skills, including psychology and change management, enables her to foster collaboration and break down silos. Driven by a passion for improving lives through her work, she empowers teams to reach their full potential. She advocates for purpose, transparency, and diversity, fostering a culture of trust and agency. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **Engaging with genAI Beyond the Hype** The world of genAI is split between doomers and boomers (the other kind), where it can be really hard to distinguish between what’s useful and what’s not. According to one side, everything is amazing and our jobs are going to disappear soon. According to the other, genAI is evil and needs to be resisted at all costs. ***This talk will provide pragmatic tools to navigate the world of hype between the two sides, and define how to gain valuable skills.*** **———————** **SPEAKER 3** **———————** **Chris Compston** Chris is a London-based product coach who has led product operations for brands like Bumble, Farfetch and Reward Gateway. He specialises in designing Product Operating Models that drive organisation toward impact. A prolific speaker and writer, Chris focuses on how intentional, repeatable practices help modern product teams thrive. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **How to Woo** How do you steer the ship when you aren't the captain? In product development, your success rarely depends on your ability to give orders. Instead, it relies on your ability to influence people that you have no direct power over. We often call this stakeholder management, but in reality, it is the art of the "Woo". An approachable, human way of winning people over to your side. In this talk, we will explore why the hard sell often leads to friction and how you can shift from pushing requirements to pulling people toward a shared vision. Drawing on real-world successes and failures from Bumble, Farfetch, and Reward Gateway, we’ll look at how to navigate conflicting interests and complex personalities. ***You will learn a practical approach to understanding hidden motivations, shaping the narrative around your ideas, and ultimately empowering others to feel they are making the right choice for themselves. The goal isn't just to get a yes. It is to build a partnership where everyone feels they’ve won.*** **—————————————** **Support from:** **—————————————** We are kindly hosted by our friends at Accurx. **——————————** **About your hosts:** **——————————** Product Unleashed is brought to you by your hosts **[John Griffin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-griffin-designer/)** and **[Dominic Port](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-port/)**. The duo has worked on the design of products of all shapes and sizes and bring their energy and enthusiasm to this unique meet-up, packed with great guests and knowledge - for anyone interested in levelling up their game in the world of products.

**This is a ticketed event and purchases can be made via [eventbrite here.](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-role-of-religion-esoteric-philosophy-and-spirituality-in-history-tickets-1982069225409?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1%2A1pqcc35%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AOTQxMTAzNjU3LjE3Njk3ODM4NTk.%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AczE3Njk4NTkyNTAkbzMkZzEkdDE3Njk4NTkyNTkkajUxJGwwJGgw)** This seminar will consider the spiritual influences in history from religion to esoteric philosophy and look at their impact on society. What are the driving forces of history? The common view is that history is a product of economic forces, struggles for power or simple egomania. However, without denying the above factors, the thesis for this seminar is that there are also spiritual influences at work, such as religion and esoteric philosophy, whose impact has been generally underestimated. It cannot be denied that religion often has a divisive effect, but it is also interesting to consider its benefits for humanity. Even more so is this the case with esoteric philosophy, whose adherents may have been numerically few but whose ideals and practical schemes for the betterment of humanity have influenced whole societies and epochs. The seminar is based on research into the works of the cultural historian Christopher Dawson, a specialist on the role of religion on history, and Dr. Frances Yates, a lecturer at the Warburg Institute, who illustrated in her many erudite works the important influence of esoteric philosophical thought on the Renaissance in Europe.

Hi Architects, Welcome to our the inaugural AWS London Well-Architected User Group Meetup!!! 🥳🥳🥳 The AWS London Well-Architected Meetup is the latest chapter in the most popular AWS Meetup group globally. At each meetup we covered off various pillars of AWS best-practice in detail including insights from industry leaders that specialise in the Well-Architected Framework. And a drones giveaway. We'll be announcing more speakers during the coming months but our speakers this month include: * **Are you Well-Architected? Will Lawrie - Business Development Manager @ AWS** * **Well-Architected as a Business Tool: Translating Pillars into Business Outcomes - James Harding, Technical CSM @ Green Custard** * **Understanding and Remediating Opportunities** **-** **Aoife Egan, Cloud Optimisation Solutions Architect II @ AWS** This month's menu will include: * Pizzas * Beer * Wine: Big and red 🤤 So come join us at 5:30 for a 6pm start, followed by beer, wine, pizza and friendly networking after our talks :-) \*\*\*NB: No entry to the building after 6pm. Photo ID required.\*\*\*

Ready to think clearer, reason better, and express with clarity? Join us for a practical wholesome philosophy practice where we learn essential thinking skills through hands-on group practice. Leave academics and theory at the door— this is a skills-building adventure for everyday life! 🧠✨ This event's focus: **Develop Thinking Habits** 🎯 a part of the Wholesome Philosophy series — that help you build a complete thinking toolkit. **See below** 👇🏽 **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Philosophy?** Practical philosophy for everyday life - helping you build useful skills for thinking clearer and communicating better in work, relationships, and daily conversations. You'll learn through pair work, and group practice. 💬 spread across **different sessions:** * **Clear Thinking & Better Arguments** — How to reason * **Develop Thinking Habits** — Spotting biases and fallacies * **The Art of Dialogue** — Having productive disagreements * **Constructing Your Position** — Building solid viewpoints * **Decision-Making Frameworks** — Choosing wisely under uncertainty * **Self-Examination & Growth** — Questioning your own beliefs Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full (6 parts) series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want to think clearer and communicate better * You feel frustrated when your point doesn't land * You want to spot weak reasoning (including your own) * You enjoy learning through practice, not just theory * You crave thoughtful conversation with curious people * You want practical tools you can use tomorrow No philosophy background needed — just show up ready to practice. 🎉 **What's in it for you?** * Make your points stick (without fighting) 💡 * Think more clearly about any topic even complex ones 🧠 * Have disagreements that don't turn into arguments 🤝 * Understand the world better 🌍 * Connect with curious, thoughtful people ✨ * Gain confidence in your reasoning abilities 💪 **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) 💬 * Pair work for hands-on practice 🤝 * Individual reflection moments 🧘 * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) 🌟 Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage 📝 **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. 🔒 * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing thinking skills 🧠 * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment 🤝 * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day 🛠️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment 💬 **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** 🌊 Join us for a Wholesome Philosophy practice session and walk away with various thinking tools — it's for anyone who wants to navigate life with a sharper, kinder mind. 🌟 We really hope to see you there! 👋 **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. 🧠💡 * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. 🗣️💬 **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – February 25 Business Presentation** **Featuring Jennifer Zitelli, Founder of ESL Thrive** **Wednesday\, February 25 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us at 1 Million Cups Loudoun as we welcome **Jennifer Zitelli**, founder of **ESL Thrive**, for a dynamic conversation focused on workforce communication, business growth, and supporting employees for long-term success. **About the Business** ESL Thrive provides **on-the-job English training designed specifically for business success**. Through customized instruction, Jennifer helps employees gain the language skills they need to communicate effectively, perform confidently, and thrive in their roles — ultimately strengthening the businesses they support. Her programs are tailored to meet the real-world needs of small businesses, ensuring employees learn practical workplace language that directly impacts productivity, team collaboration, and customer experience. **Who Jennifer Is Looking to Hear From** Jennifer is seeking feedback from business owners and leaders in industries such as: * Hospitality * Home services * Restaurants * Retail * Any business with employees whose first language is not English **Current Business Focus & Barriers** As ESL Thrive continues to grow, Jennifer is looking for insight around: * Overcoming barriers to business growth * Strengthening marketing strategy * Expanding business development efforts * Effectively reaching her target markets This is an excellent opportunity to share your perspective while supporting a business dedicated to empowering both employers and employees. **Why Attend?** * Learn about a service that directly impacts workplace success * Provide valuable feedback to a growing business * Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and community leaders * Be part of a collaborative, solutions-focused conversation **What is 1 Million Cups?** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through presentations and discussion. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **February 25 at 9:00 AM** for coffee, connection, and a meaningful conversation about communication, workforce development, and business growth. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us in our English Conversation Practice group where we get to know one another, support each other and practice English! Whether you're a beginner or advanced speaker, we want to help support you wherever you are! What to expect: * introductions & ice breaker game * read current events article * discussion questions * announcements We will eat somewhere afterwards - hoping you can join!

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.

Nervous about reading for others? Or just want to learn how? Do you want an opportunity to practice in a supportive environment? Join Gypsy Dervish as he leads us through the basic practice of reading the Tarot. Ask questions , participate in group readings, and read for other participants. For those of you taking the Tarot 101 classes, this will also be a chance to put into practice what you learned there. ($5 discount on this class, if you take both, making a $10 total discount. Remember to register for both classes individually. You do not need to take Tarot 101 to participate in the practicum.)

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

Our next club meeting is on Sunday will start at 2:15, please join early. if you're coming in-person, parking is free and usually ample at the Community College on Sundays, and most of us park where the spaces are designated for staff and have never had a problem. 👉 Everyone is welcome to join our meeting, participate and practice. You'll get a chance to hear our club members speak and then have an opportunity to play the table topics game. **Agenda for the Meeting:** 1. Warm Up 2. Prepared Speeches (By club members) 3. Table Topics Game (Learn to think on your feet) 4. Feedback **Online - Join us via Zoom** https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86218205188 If you haven't used Zoom before, watch this short video on how to join our meeting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=45&v=vFhAEoCF7jg **In-Person** **\- Join us at Montgomery Community College** Meet us at Science Building, room SC 152. The room is located on the ground floor. The exact building address is https://goo.gl/maps/ZEgQH7bKLvzdqtSQ9 For help, please text or call, 301-917-4202.

⚡ **Reset your mindset. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with new clarity.** Join us for a free, small-group event held in our **Startup Garage** — a **spacious, bright, comfortable living-room style space** inside a single-family home. Think couches, coffee, and real conversation — **not an actual garage 😊** 🔁 You’ll be **paired** with different attendees throughout the event for short, energizing rounds — each sparked by a simple **opening line** designed to make you laugh, reflect, and think bigger about what comes next. You won’t just talk about what’s behind you — You’ll begin to **picture what’s ahead** in a way that actually excites you. *** **☕ Coffee and snacks are on me.** Just show up with a curious mind — and a willingness to laugh. We’ll guide you through questions that blend **wisdom and humor** — the kind that help you see your story through a new lens. *** **🔍 What You’ll Experience** • One-on-one rounds to explore purpose, identity, and new possibilities • Light, energizing activities designed to shift your mindset in under 10 minutes • Fresh insights from people you’ve never met — but may never forget • A laid-back, thoughtful space to connect without pressure *** **💼 Who It’s For** • Divorced/Separated or midlife professionals figuring out what’s next • Entrepreneurs, builders, and creatives in a season of reinvention • Men and women who prefer **meaningful conversation** over surface level talk Whether you’re starting over, scaling up, or just ready for something more aligned — this space is for you. *** 📊 *Most attendees are in their 30s, 40s, or 50s — navigating life and growth with curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.* 🛋️ **Hosted in a spacious living-room setting** inside a single-family home (Ashburn). Full address shared after RSVP. 🌐 Explore more: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co)