Customer Experience

**PLEASE RSVP HERE:** https://luma.com/x1h3sb59 \*\* ​Registrations: 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM (food & drinks are taken care of) **The event will also include a networking break between the talks.** ​This event is kindly hosted at the offices of our partner, **Netlight Consulting.** ​ **​Will Martin** ​*AI Evangelist at Dremio & Author of the upcoming* AI for Dummies (and actually) ​AI is everywhere — but what does it actually mean in practice? ​Will will give a practical, hype-free walkthrough of modern AI and how it fits into today’s data stack and lakehouse architectures. ​🚀 Topics include: * ​What Agentic AI is — and how it differs from LLMs * ​How LLMs work under the hood * ​Fine-tuning vs RAG vs prompt engineering * ​Connecting AI to your data, APIs, and lakehouse with MCP * ​Real-world benefits, risks, and implementation considerations ​A clear introduction to how AI really works — and how to use it effectively. *** ## ​Olena Kutsenko ​*Staff Developer Advocate, Confluent* ​Olena will explore what it really takes to move data from Kafka into Apache Iceberg tables reliably and at scale. ​🔍 Topics include: * ​Schema evolution & data normalization * ​Exactly-once guarantees & late-arriving events * ​Partitioning & table maintenance * ​Trade-offs between Kafka Connect, Flink pipelines, and custom ingestion approaches ​Using Confluent Tableflow as a practical example, this session focuses on building robust streaming-to-lakehouse architectures — regardless of tooling. *** ## ​Bjarne Schröder ​*Software Engineer, STACKIT* ​We're excited to welcome Bjarne from STACKIT, where he works on Data & AI product offerings. ​Having transitioned from Data Engineering to Software Engineering, Bjarne brings experience from both perspectives of the data ecosystem—first as a user of cloud-native data services and now as someone who helps build and deliver them. ​Passionate about connecting with people and exploring technology, Bjarne enjoys diving into all kinds of nerdy topics in his free time and cycling around his hometown of Cologne, Germany. *** ## ​Andrew Madson ​*Head of Developer Relations, Fivetran* ​Andrew has spent more than a decade leading analytics and ML teams across organizations including J.P. Morgan Chase, MassMutual, and Arizona State University before moving into DevRel and developer community leadership. ​He is: * ​Founding Head of DevRel at Fivetran * ​Co-author of *Apache Polaris: The Definitive Guide* * ​Speaker, educator, and creator with a 250K+ global audience * ​A leading voice in Apache Iceberg, lakehouses, and AI-ready data platforms ​Expect practical insights on modern data infrastructure, developer ecosystems, and building AI-ready architectures. *** ## ​Alex Merced ​*Head of DevRel at Dremio & O’Reilly Author* ​Alex will walk through key ideas from his latest work on Agentic Analytics and building data platforms that actually work for AI. ​🔍 What to expect: * ​Why data silos break AI agents * ​The role of the lakehouse, federation & semantic layers * ​Apache Iceberg, open catalogs & modern architectures * ​Why AI agents need context — not just data * ​A roadmap toward autonomous, AI-driven analytics ​A sharp, architecture-focused session connecting modern data platforms with the future of AI.

Experience the joy of floating! Soft aerial yoga is a gentle practice using a structured hammock to support the body in movement and rest. The fabric creates a sense of lightness and ease, allowing tension to release naturally while the body moves in a slower, more intuitive way. Each class begins with simple grounding and breath, followed by soft, supported movement and moments of light suspension. The practice finishes with deep relaxation in the hammock. This approach can help to release tension in the spine, improve mobility and support the nervous system. Classes are small, with only seven participants, creating a calm and personal atmosphere. No experience is needed. Beginners are warmly invited. Instructor: Katya Duration: 75 min Type: aerial yoga Price: €15 / trial class

Join us for a relaxed Monday evening full of new faces, unexpected conversations and the kind of atmosphere that makes the week feel a little more alive. Whether you’re new in Berlin or simply looking to meet open-minded people, this is a space to connect, share stories and start the week with a little more curiosity. Orga The location accepts only card payments. We will be sitting in the first room. Questions? Check our Meetup-FAQs: [https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/](https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/) Meet your host I’m Julia — a Berlin local who loves bringing people together. My path went from growing up in a dance school to studying philosophy to working in IT support, and somehow all of that led me here: hosting meetups and creating spaces where people can show up, relax, and connect. Insta [https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/) About The Social Butterfly Club 🦋 is a Berlin-based community that has been bringing people together for over three years. Each gathering is part of a larger framework designed to help friendships grow through shared experiences in the city — with a long-term vision of turning Berlin itself into a shared, playful experience. Love the vibe? There’s a whole community waiting for you. 🦋 Join the Social Butterfly Club and experience Berlin together [https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/](https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/)

**Spirituelle Gespräche** *„Anerkennung geschieht durch Dankbarkeit, welche unsere Herzen für das ECK geöffnet hält. Wenn Dankbarkeit verloren geht, ist das Resultat spirituelle Armut. . . . Dankbarkeit öffnet Quellen der Kreativität, weil ein dankbarer Mensch entspannt ist.“* Harald Klemp, *Das Lebendige Wort, Buch 1, S.185*

\*This is a free event, but please [donate through Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/read-editing-monthly-writers-meetup-tickets-1981513291596?aff=oddtdtcreator) to support our collective if you are able! Please join us on the 2nd Monday of every month for this event, built for all of your “in between works“ by the [Read Wedding](https://www.instagram.com/readwedding/) collective. Most events for writers are focused around ***creation or performance***. Much comes between this, yet we do not always hold each other through that phase. It is perhaps expected that all of those self-questioning, unsure, multi-path moments between lightbulb idea and snap-inducing performances are to be personal and private--but they do not always have to be. We therefore offer you a space for everything unfinished. Needing bouncing around. Ready for a test run. We will meet in the back room of Cafe Cralle, ***which is a cash only***, collective-run staple of the Berlin writing and queer scene, for a more traditional meetup format than our open mic. The evening will be without any set structure of facilitation, but rather an approach determined based on who's arrived and what their goals are. You may expect some combination of solitary writing time, sharing and feedback, and guided exercises. We'd love for you to show up however you are, and with some writing materials (including your phone, if you prefer). However you arrive, so long as you are feeling curious and open, we will have something for you and your work. See you there! Brooks, Bubamarrë, Maggie & Johanna Re(a)d VVedding Kollektiv \-\-\- **NOTE: Excluding select, small workshops, Read Wedding has hosted entirely free events since we started. If you have the means and would like to support us, it goes a long way. Please consider [donating through Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/read-editing-monthly-writers-meetup-tickets-1981513291596?aff=oddtdtcreator).**

**Hey fellow AWS enthusiasts! ✨** This evening we'll takle our AWS costs! 💪🏻💸 We are happy to have **[Meisi Zhan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meisi-z-52702b61/),** a Customer Facing Cloud Engineer @ codecentric, joining to walk us through **FinOps in Action with AWS Spot Instances**. Thanks to our friends at **[codecentric Nürnberg](https://www.codecentric.de/standorte/nuernberg)** for sponsoring the event with food and drinks and opening their wonderful offices for us! **📆 Tonight's Agenda** 19:00 - Welcoming **19:15 - Talk by Meisi followed by Q&A and knowledge sharing** 20:00 - Food, Drinks & Networking Looking forward to seeing you 👋🏻 **[Nora](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-schoener/)** & **[Frank](https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankprechtel/)** \-\-\- The talk ⤵️ **FinOps in Action: Real-World Cost Optimization using AWS Spot Instance** The talk is about our AWS funded PoC project, this project demonstrates the implementation of FinOps principles by leveraging AWS Spot Instances to achieve significant infrastructure savings without compromising workload performance. It provides a technical blueprint for orchestrating Spot Fleets and Auto Scaling groups, offering a practical approach to data-driven cloud financial management. The speaker⤵️ **Meisi Zhan** is a distinguished Customer-facing Cloud Consultant and Evangelist at codecentric, bringing over eight years of expertise in IT consulting and software engineering. As a highly experienced Pre-Sales Engineer and Solution Architect, she has a proven track record of building trusted advisor relationships and driving customer success across multi-cloud environments, including AWS, Azure, and GCP. Meisi excels at translating complex technical challenges into quantifiable, TCO-justified business value and viable technical architectures. Her approach focuses on Transformation Consulting, DevOps, and FinOps, ensuring that cloud-native solutions are both innovative and financially optimized. Get in Contact with Meis through [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meisi-z-52702b61/). \-\-\- **Please note:** At the event, photos and videos will be taken for marketing purposes both by our hosts and our location sponsors. We try to offer a hybrid experience by providing a video stream of the talk. There will be no recording published after the event. Please also keep in mind, that we try our best effort to provide a good streaming experience. We don't offer a professional stream, so delays, technical issues or other interference are a matter to be tolerated.

You like singing? We’re going to sing some fun tags & tunes and explore the musical style of Barbershop. This is for those curious and eager to explore their vocal talents. It’s an opportunity for anyone to drop in, try their hand at singing Barbershop Harmony and become part of a relaxed musical atmosphere. Bring some water for your voice. Bring a friend. Let’s have some fun and ring those chords! No fee, donations requested. Deutsch / Englisch

What happens when PMs stop watching engineers code — and start shipping themselves? You’ve probably heard the stories. Maybe you’ve already tried it in your own company. AI is changing how product teams build, collaborate, and ship — fast. Join us for an evening with product leaders sharing real-world experience building and shipping customer-facing features with AI, not just internal demos and experiments. We’ll talk about PMs opening PRs, non-devs contributing directly to production, and what actually changes when the whole team gets closer to the codebase. This event is designed for Product Managers and Product Leaders who want to understand how product roles, collaboration, and development processes are evolving in the AI era. **Agenda** 18:15 – Doors open for snacks, drinks, and networking 19:00 – Welcome from ProductTank Berlin 19:10 – Opening the PR is just the beginning, Dmitry Gorshkov 19:40 – What happened when we let non-devs into the codebase, Elena Berendeeva 20:10 – Networking 21:30 – Event ends Please note: - Please bring your IDs as you’ll need it when entering the venue. - The event is RSVP only: to enter, you must RSVP here on Meetup. - We'd like to capture the event with photographs for promotional purposes, such as sharing on LinkedIn after the event. If you have any concerns or preferences regarding this, please feel free to let us know beforehand. **Opening the PR is just the beginning** Dmitry will show how to go deep into the codebase as a PM and make it worth the effort. Crafting code is time consuming, so should PMs code instead of doing PM work? Absolutely. But you must come prepared. About the speaker [Dmitry Gorshkov](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitrygorshkov?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android) is a lead product manager at Finom, a Dutch fintech superapp for small businesses. Dmitry has shipped successful products at N26, Taxfix and Cut the Rope, among others - and has more than a decade of product management experience. **What happened when we let non-devs into the codebase** A year ago, we let PMs, designers, and QA contribute directly to our existing codebase using AI. What followed wasn’t just faster shipping – it was a quiet shift in how our team made decisions, handled ownership, and thought about their roles. This is that story. About the speaker [Elena Berendeeva](https://www.linkedin.com/in/berendeeva-elena?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android) is a PM at JetBrains who spent the last few years building 0-to-1 products – through pivots, sunsets, and a lot of uncertainty. Her most recent product is Matter, an AI prototyping tool that her team – designers, QA, and engineers – used to ship directly to production. She explores AI-native workflows and the evolving role of PMs in agentic product development.

All Infos: [urbanjoy.de/eye](https://urbanjoy.de/eye/) \*\*English below\*\* Ihr Lieben, Bald ist es wieder soweit!! Unser nächstes Eye Contact Erlebnis findet statt. Was: • Komm zu Deiner Zeit in dem 2,5\-Stunden\-Zeitfenster gemütlich vor Ort an \| Je früher Du kommst\, desto mehr Zeit hast Du\, diese wundervolle Praxis zu erforschen • Gib Deinen Beitrag für den Ort direkt am Anfang in die entsprechende Empfangsschale - dann ist dieser Teil schon erledigt • Setz Dich auf einen freien DoppelPlatz – entweder direkt zu jemandem oder warte, bis jemand sich zu dir setzt • Genießt gemeinsam den Blickkontakt für 1-3 Minuten oder länger • An einem selbstbestimmten Zeitpunkt steht eine/r von Euch auf [Wiederhole diese Übung so oft, wie Du magst ] • Mach so oft Pausen, wie Du möchtest • Wer bis 19:45/20:00 bleibt kann am Abschlusskreis teilnehmen Wo: • wundervolle FabrikLoft Location in Berlin Kreuzberg Paul-Lincke-Ufer 40 Hof 4, Seitenflügel, Erdgeschoss 10999 Berlin Kostenbeitrag: • 10€ für Raum und Orga Weitere Fragen? [www.t.me/joejung](http://www.t.me/joejung) Wir freuen uns Dich zu sehen! ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Dear kind explorers, soon another Eye Contact Experience will take place in the Capital All information & details [urbanjoy.de/eye](https://urbanjoy.de/eye/) The Practice • Arrive gently at any time within the 2,5 hours time window on location • Make your contribution directly upon arrival - so this part is directly out of your mind • Sit down in a free duo spot - either in front of somebody or wait until someone joins you • Enter in eye contact for 1-3 Minutes or more • One of you gets up whenever you feel like it [ Repeat the practice as often as you like] • Take breaks as often as you like • If you are here until the end you can join the closing circle - ca 19:45 Location • a beautiful Factory Loft Location in Berlin Kreuzberg Paul-Lincke-Ufer 40 Hof 4, ground floor, right side 10999 Berlin Contribution • 10€ for space & organization Further questions: [www.t.me/joejung](http://www.t.me/joejung) We are looking forward to seeing you!

Tired of dating apps or surface-level social events? This is different. Relational Labs is a guided connection experience for singles who want more honest, playful, emotionally intelligent interaction — without performance, pressure, or endless small talk. This is not speed dating. Not networking. Not “pitch yourself to strangers.” It’s a facilitated relational container rooted in psychology, emotional intelligence, attachment work, social dynamics, nervous system awareness, and real-world human connection — made practical enough that you can actually live it instead of reading another 50 books about it. ## What happens • A 2-hour guided online relational experience • Real-time connection exercises designed to create authentic interaction • A format that adapts in real time to whoever is present • Optional participant-led in-person continuation afterward • WhatsApp connection thread after the session ## This may be for you if: • You’re tired of shallow or repetitive social spaces • You want deeper connection without forced intimacy • You enjoy personal growth, psychology, communication, or relational work • You’re open to meeting people in a more intentional way ## Important This experience runs with whoever is present and takes its own shape each time. Sometimes expansive. Sometimes intimate. Both are the real thing. Booking happens through our website. 👉 Reserve your spot: [https://consciousconnectionsclub.com/join](https://consciousconnectionsclub.com/join) Optional in-person continuation: same day or within 48 hours depending on the city Most people come alone. People often leave surprised by how quickly strangers can feel human, warm, honest, and real. Sometimes awkwardness turns into ease. Sometimes curiosity turns into chemistry. Sometimes people simply remember what it feels like to actually connect again.

**For our 6th Supper Club, we're heading to South India** for a brunch filled with bold flavours, comforting classics and plenty of good company. **Join us for €30 per person.** Love rasam? The sound of tadka sizzling away? The crunch of a papad or curry leaves popping in ghee? Or simply in the mood to try something new? Then this brunch has your name on it. 😉 **What are we eating?** ☕ **Firsts** – Masala Chai & Podi Aloo Cones 🥣 **Slow** – Paniyaram & Gunpowder Butter Sambar 🌿 **To Share** – Ragi Uttapam Canapés with a Chutney Trio 🍛 **Mainstay** – Malabar Parotta & Vegetable Kurma 🍮 **Last Bite** – Rava Kesari We'll be in touch shortly after your registration so keep an eye on your DMs. :)

***Dieses Meetup richtet sich ausschließlich an Frauen*.\*** **\*\*Freiwillige Umfrage vorab, die mir hilft, den Abend auf eure Themen auszurichten: [https://tally.so/r/0QDY76](https://tally.so/r/0QDY76) \*\*** **Warum dieses Thema?** Sexualität mit ADHS fühlt sich oft anders an, manchmal intensiver, herausfordernder und schwer greifbar. Manchmal aber auch überraschend bereichernd. ADHS beeinflusst nicht nur unseren Alltag, sondern auch unsere intimsten Momente. Oft fühlen wir uns hier „anders“ oder stehen vor Herausforderungen, für die es kaum Worte gibt. Trotzdem gibt es erstaunlich wenig Räume, in denen darüber offen und wertfrei gesprochen werden kann. Deshalb möchte ich einen moderierten Raum für Frauen\* mit ADHS zu diesem Thema öffnen, in dem wir uns über die Verbindung von ADHS und Sexualität austauschen können. **Was dich erwartet** Ein Raum, in dem unterschiedliche Erfahrungen und Perspektiven Platz haben und Austausch auf Augenhöhe möglich ist. Mit kurzen Impulsen, Gesprächen und kleinen Reflexionsübungen tauschen wir uns gemeinsam darüber aus, wie sich ADHS auf körperliche Intimität auswirken kann. Dies ist eine reine Gesprächsgruppe mit moderierten Denkanstößen. Du entscheidest jederzeit selbst, wie viel du von dir teilen möchtest. **Kurzer Fragebogen vorab: Anonym & freiwillig** Um den Abend so nah wie möglich an euren echten Themen zu gestalten, bitte ich euch, vorab diese kurze anonyme Umfrage auszufüllen: [https://tally.so/r/0QDY76](https://tally.so/r/0QDY76) Eure Antworten helfen mir, die Impulse auf eure Bedürfnisse zuzuschneiden. **Der Rahmen** Die Gruppe ist bewusst klein gehalten (10 Frauen\*). Eine offizielle Diagnose ist nicht notwendig. Es geht nicht um Therapie, sondern um ein besseres Verständnis für das eigene Erleben. **Kurz zu mir** Ich bin psychologische Beraterin mit dem Schwerpunkt Sexualität und Beziehung und habe selbst ADHS. Meine Arbeit ist davon geprägt, Scham abzubauen und Räume für echtes Verständnis zu schaffen. [mindingpleasure.de](https://www.mindingpleasure.de/) **Teilnahme & Wertschätzung** Bitte melde dich nur an, wenn du wirklich dabei sein möchtest, damit kein Platz leer bleibt. 💶 Zur Deckung der Kosten bitte ich um eine Spende vor Ort (Empfehlung: 8–15 Euro).

**Join us for our next Machine Learning in Healthcare meetup in Berlin — proudly sponsored by the QUEST Centre!** Pizza is still back! We are very happy to announce our speaker **Frank te Nijenhuis**, who is a PhD candidate at the ICAI Stroke Lab at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. With a background in medicine and computer science, he develops deep‑learning models to support real‑time clinical decision-making during stroke treatment. **His talk´s title is:** **Bridging the Implementation Gap in AI for Stroke Interventions: Challenges and Opportunities** **Abstract:** In recent years, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a proliferation of AI models in medical imaging. However, despite promising performance in research settings, many of these models have yet to translate into meaningful clinical impact. In this talk, Frank will highlight several AI models developed for stroke imaging and examine the barriers that hinder their implementation in clinical practice. He will explore potential pathways to overcome these challenges and conclude with an interactive discussion on co-creation as a strategy to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world adoption. *** 📍 **Location:** “Atrium” conference room, 5th floor, Spreepalais, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178 Berlin 🕕 **Doors open at 6:00 pm** — Talks start **at 7:00 pm!** * 6:00–7:00 pm — Arrival, food, and networking * 7:00 pm — Welcome by the hosts, followed by the talk + Q&A * 8:00 pm — More networking (and possibly more pizza) ⚠️ *Pro tip:* Sometimes only one of the four elevators is working! 📢 **IMPORTANT:** If you RSVP but later realize you can’t make it, *please release your spot* so others can join. *** This meetup is made possible with the kind support of the **QUEST Centre for Responsible Research at BIH**, who are providing both the venue and the delicious refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there!x

**​⚠️To apply for this workshop, please fill out⚠️**: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeevIw6xBfMUDMNp_7anTbFQTmnHdi22iQJyBqYYcpM-1n6A/viewform We are excited to host a **BLISS x QuantCo** workshop featuring **Moritz Wilksch** and **Pavel Zwerschke**, who will guide us through an interactive session on building your own AI Agents. ​**Title:** Build Your Own AI Agent with QuantCo 📅 **Date:** 10th June 🕕 **Time:** 17:30 📍 **Location:** Berlin-Mitte (location available after registration) ​The session will last around 2 hours, followed by a networking session with QuantCo and fellow AI enthusiasts. Bring your laptop! **​⚠️To apply for this workshop, please fill out⚠️:** [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeevIw6xBfMUDMNp_7anTbFQTmnHdi22iQJyBqYYcpM-1n6A/viewform](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeevIw6xBfMUDMNp_7anTbFQTmnHdi22iQJyBqYYcpM-1n6A/viewform?utm_source=luma) *** ​**Abstract:** Build Your Own AI Agent with QuantCo: Join us for a hands-on session in our office in Berlin (close to Museumsinsel), where we transition from theory to practice by building a custom AI agent. We will start with a foundation in language model APIs before moving into a live programming workshop to create an agent that automates complex document workflows. You will learn how to equip a model with the tools to independently write, compile, and iteratively fix layout issues in markup code, transforming messy mockups into publication-ready documents. ​**Who is this event for?** ​This event is for AI enthusiasts who are currently pursuing their bachelors, masters or PhD degrees and want to delve deeper into the world of AI agents. *** ​We are **BLISS e.V.**, Berlin’s AI community connecting like-minded individuals passionate about machine learning and data science. Our **BLISS Workshops** connect **students and young professionals with industry partners**, offering an inside look into **how machine learning is applied in real-world settings** \- from research and development to deployment\. ​QuantCo Website: [https://www.quantco.com/](https://www.quantco.com/?utm_source=luma) ​BLISS Website:[ https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/?utm_source=luma) ​BLISS Youtube:[ https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin?utm_source=luma)

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Customize the IDE: Building Extensions for Visual Studio Code* Visual Studio Code is one of the most widely used development environments today, and much of its flexibility comes from its extension ecosystem. Extensions allow developers to customize the editor with new features, integrations, and workflow improvements tailored to their needs. In this session, we’ll cover what extensions are and the different types available, including full extensions written in TypeScript or JavaScript, along with lighter-weight extensions such as color themes, language packs, language support, code snippets, and keymaps. We’ll also look at practical reasons a developer might create an extension, from automating repetitive tasks to adding custom tooling. The session includes a hands-on walkthrough of creating a new extension, testing it locally, and understanding the basic project structure. We’ll close with a brief overview of how extensions are packaged and published to the Visual Studio Marketplace and other distribution options. **YouTube Link** TBD

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!

Join us for our June Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss [The Queer Principles of Kit Webb](https://catsebastian.com/the-queer-principles-of-kit-webb/) by Cat Sebastian in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

## Candle Making Night at The Arcane Foundry \| Design Your Own Custom Candle **SPECIAL PROMOTION**: Buy 3 and get 1 Free! Step into The Arcane Foundry and create your own custom candle from start to finish. This is a laid back, hands-on experience where **you’ll blend fragrances, choose your vessel, and pour your own candle using 100% soy wax**. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, it’s designed to be simple, creative, and a good time. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from picking your scents to choosing between a traditional cotton wick or a crackling wood wick. You can go with one fragrance or mix your own blend to create something completely unique**. No experience needed**, just show up and we’ll handle the rest. While your candle sets, feel free to hang out, play a game, explore the shop, or just relax and talk. Drinks and snacks are available, and the atmosphere leans into the **fantasy**, **dark academia**, and **gothic horror** vibe The Arcane Foundry is known for. Learn More: [Candle Making in Columbus, Ohio at The Arcane Foundry](https://thearcanefoundry.com/candle-making/) *** ### What to Expect: * Guided candle making experience * Choose your own vessel, wax, wick, and fragrance * 100% soy wax candles * Optional drinks and snacks * Time to relax while your candle cools *** ### Important Notes: * Please arrive on time so we can start together * Candles will need time to set before taking home * This is a beginner-friendly event *** ### RSVP Required Reserve your spot on Meetup to lock in your seat. **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $15 8oz Candle Tins $25 12oz Glass Candles $35 12oz Amber Jars $40 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $65 (Limited Edition!) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Credit Card * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL