Data Engineering

BOOK YOUR TICKET 👉🏼 [HERE](https://itsadate.club/event/speed-dating-in-waterloo-1/). Are you 25–38? Single? Fancy a fun evening, a FREE drink, and meeting new people? This one’s for you. Join us for Speed Dating in Waterloo! Steps from the station platforms at Waterloo, you’ll find GRIND (in BrewDog) — a cosy, contemporary and spacious setting, perfect for an evening of introductions to 15 eligible dates. An infinite selection of beers, alongside other lovely beverages, is available at the bar, while your host and a great group of single Londoners await for a feel-good, carefree evening of speed dating. Plus, enjoy a FREE drink provided by the venue — Monday evenings have never looked so good! Our host will be at the venue ready to welcome you at 19:30. Please arrive on time for registration, to grab any drinks from the bar, and receive a summary of how things will work. You will be given an optional name sticker, a pen, and note card to keep track of everyone you’ve met. Ladies will be seated on tables adequately spaced, discreetly numbered, and arranged in a comfortable area of the venue. When speed dating commences, gents will join ladies for 5-minute dates to get to know one another. Your host will notify all guests at the end of each date, signalling for gents to move to the next table in ascending numerical order. During table rotations you will have a moment to record on note cards your feelings towards the previous date and intention to reconnect, for your reference only. Mid-way through the evening, your host will indicate a 15-minute comfort break to use the rest room, head to the bar, or socialise with new connections. Dating will then resume for the second half of the evening. At the end of the speed dating the bar will remain open for more socialising. You can then access the event listing in your dashboard to enter feedback on dates and await your matches. If you have any questions on the event or how things will work, please get in contact with James on 07517 065 492 or james@itsadate.club.

**SPACES ARE LIMITED – BOOK YOUR TICKET BEFORE THE EVENT:** **[https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983445862969?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983445862969?aff=oddtdtcreator)** Step into the vibrant world of artificial intelligence and machine learning at our exclusive London AI & ML Network Mixer. This event caters to innovators, thinkers, and investors in the AI and ML spheres, providing a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, discover cutting-edge projects, and explore potential collaborations. **Who Should Attend:** * **Emerging AI and ML Startups:** Showcase your innovations and seek partnerships or funding in a focused setting. * **Investors:** Find pioneering startups within the AI and ML domains that align with your investment criteria. * **AI and ML Professionals:** Network with peers, discuss advancements and industry challenges, and potentially find your next career move. * **Students and Academics:** Immerse yourself in the industry environment, gain insights, and connect with potential mentors and collaborators. **Why This Event is a Must:** * **Effective Networking:** Tailored specifically for the AI and ML communities, this mixer facilitates targeted networking, helping you build meaningful connections that can lead to collaborative projects or ventures. * **Opportunity for Exposure:** Startups can gain visibility by presenting their projects during one-minute pitches, directly communicating their value to an audience that includes potential investors and collaborators. * **Insight into Industry Trends:** Keep up-to-date with the latest research and commercial opportunities in AI and ML through conversations with industry insiders and thought leaders. * **Career Opportunities:** Professionals looking to advance in the AI and ML fields can discover new opportunities and expand their networks in a dynamic, supportive environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the forefront of AI and ML innovation. Whether you’re looking to invest, collaborate, or just learn about the next big thing in tech, our London AI & ML Network Mixer is the place to be. Secure your spot today and be part of shaping the future of technology! **AGENDA OF THIS NETWORKING EVENT IN LONDON** 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Meet and greet. Upon arrival, ask the receptionist about the business networking event, and they will guide you to our designated area. 8 pm - 8:30 - Presentations 8:30 pm -10 pm: Informal networking Dress code: business smart casual. **Register now - space is limited to 50 attendees only!** **P.S. Click Follow for future event alerts!**

Our next English Conversation Café will be on **Monday 30th March 2026 at** **7:30pm**! Topic for the evening: To be confirmed You will have an opportunity to practice your English and meet new people, through conversation topics and games. This event is mainly for learners of English, so we kindly ask native speakers to give priority to others. The venue is **downstairs** in Costa Coffee, 3 Southwark St, London SE1 1RQ which is a 1 minute walk from London Bridge Station. This is a **free** event, you will not be expected to pay for anything. You will also be able to have a free drink and cake. The café is run by a group of volunteers from [The Globe Church](https://www.globe.church). Please sign up if you would like to attend. If you have any questions please ask us using Meetup. Numbers are limited so please only sign up if you are going to come and change your response if you can no longer come. Look forward to seeing you soon 😊

**SPACES ARE LIMITED – BOOK YOUR TICKET BEFORE THE EVENT:** **[https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983612787244?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983612787244?aff=oddtdtcreator)** Building a successful startup requires the right mix of **vision, strategy, and technology**. This event brings together **business founders, CTOs, and technical experts** who are looking to collaborate, share insights, and form strategic partnerships. Whether you're an entrepreneur in search of a **technical co-founder**, a CTO exploring new opportunities, or a tech expert looking to work with innovative startups, this is the perfect space to connect. ### **What to expect?** **Find the Right People** – Engage with **startup founders, CTOs, engineers, and product leaders** all in one place. **1-Minute Elevator Pitches** – A chance to introduce yourself, highlight what you’re working on, and share what you’re looking for—whether it’s a co-founder, a new role, or business collaboration. **Build Your Tech Team** – Connect with experienced developers, engineers, and tech leads who are open to new ventures. **Explore Startup & Investment Opportunities** – Investors, entrepreneurs, and technical experts will have a chance to **network, discuss ideas, and explore partnerships**. **Industry Trends & Collaboration** – Learn about the latest innovations in **SaaS, AI, fintech, blockchain, and emerging tech sectors**. ### **Who Will Benefit from This Event?** * **Startup Founders** – If you’re building a tech company and need a strong technical partner, this event will help you find the right match. * **CTOs & Tech Leaders** – Whether you’re looking for new startup ventures, potential co-founder roles, or networking with like-minded professionals, this is the place to be. * **Software Engineers & Product Experts** – Get in front of startup founders and explore opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects. * **Investors & VCs** – Connect with promising tech startups and **top-tier technical talent** to explore investment opportunities. * **Growth & Strategy Experts** – Meet tech teams and business leaders looking for insights into scaling, fundraising, and entering new markets. * ### **Why You Should Attend** * **Expand Your Professional Circle** – Meet potential **co-founders, CTOs, engineers, and investors** in a setting designed to foster high-value connections. * **Gain Insights & Opportunities** – Whether you’re looking for a **startup to join**, a **tech partner to help scale**, or just want to connect with the ecosystem, this event delivers. * **Make Meaningful Introductions** – Skip the cold outreach and **meet people who are actively looking for collaboration, investment, or tech solutions**. **Attendance is limited—reserve your spot today and take the next step in growing your startup, career, or investment network.** What to join this event and all our future events for **FREE**? Join **The Business Minds Membership** to unlock free entry to all our 290+ yearly networking events, plus exclusive networking opportunities. Learn more: [https://thebusinessminds.co.uk/membership](https://thebusinessminds.co.uk/membership "https://thebusinessminds.co.uk/membership"). **AGENDA OF THIS NETWORKING EVENT IN LONDON** 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Meet and greet. Upon arrival, ask the receptionist about the business networking event, and they will guide you to our designated area. 8 pm - 8:30 - Presentations 8:30 pm -10 pm: Informal networking Dress code: business smart casual. **Register now - space is limited to 50 attendees only!** **P.S. Click Follow for future event alerts!**

This is a mini-group class for a small number of English students (minimum 2, maximum 4) so that everyone gets lots of opportunity to speak and be corrected. We switch topics as the conversation flows, so that you can get used to talking about a variety of subjects and build your confidence, grammar and vocabulary. The atmosphere is fun and friendly and you'll meet new people to practice with. Look forward to seeing you there!

**PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THE EVENT. YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE. [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983445862969?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983445862969?aff=oddtdtcreator)** Join us in the heart of London for a focused networking event tailored for entrepreneurs, startups, and professionals immersed in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. This event provides a unique platform to connect, share insights, and explore collaboration opportunities without the typical distractions of larger conferences. **Event Highlights:** **One-Minute Presentations:** A rapid-fire session where AI and ML startups can pitch their innovations and business ideas directly to a curated audience of peers and potential investors. Each presentation is limited to one minute, emphasizing clarity and impact. **Structured Networking Opportunities:** Engage in meaningful discussions with fellow innovators and industry leaders. This event is designed to foster connections that lead to collaboration, investment, and growth. **Who Should Attend:** **AI and ML Entrepreneurs and Startup Founders:** Ideal for those looking to showcase their innovative solutions, seek funding, or find potential co-founders. This event provides a platform to pitch your projects to an audience that includes potential investors and partners, maximizing exposure and opportunities for growth. **Investors Specializing in AI and ML:** Venture capitalists and angel investors interested in the latest developments in AI and ML will find a pool of potential investment opportunities. This event offers a streamlined way to identify emerging talents and innovative projects worth backing. **AI and ML Professionals:** Data scientists, machine learning engineers, researchers, and other professionals working in the AI and ML fields should attend to network with peers, discuss industry trends, and explore potential career advancements or collaborative projects. **Technology Enthusiasts and Students:** Those passionate about AI and ML technologies, including students and academic professionals, will benefit from direct interaction with industry leaders and innovators, gaining insights into the practical challenges and opportunities in the field. **Reasons to Attend:** **Networking Opportunities:** This event is specifically designed to facilitate direct connections among attendees, making it an excellent venue for networking with other professionals and industry leaders in a focused setting. **Knowledge Exchange:** Engaging with fellow professionals and industry experts allows for a valuable exchange of ideas, updates on industry trends, and discussions about the future directions of AI and ML technologies. **Career Advancement:** Professionals looking to advance their careers can find opportunities by connecting with potential employers and learning about new openings in the field. **Educational Value:** Students and tech enthusiasts can learn more about the real-world applications of AI and ML, understand the industry demands, and meet potential mentors who can guide their career paths. This event is a must-attend for anyone involved in or interested in the AI and ML sectors, providing a unique opportunity to engage with the community, discover opportunities, and foster collaborations that can shape the future of technology. The event will be held in a sophisticated and vibrant venue, adorned with modern decor and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the day. Get your tickets now and join us for a day that will shape the trajectory of your professional journey! How our event works: 7.00pm - When you arrive your name will be checked off the guest list, the host will direct everyone to the reserved area and explain how the event will work. 7.30pm – Event starts, you will be introduced to each other in a nice relaxed environment in the semi private reserved area. 10 pm - Event ends, all guests are welcome to stay and enjoy chatting with each other. This event will be hosted till 9pm; the key to making the most of speed friending is to follow up with your contacts over time to develop friendships. Dress code is either business or office attire or smart casual, no T-shirts, no trainers. If you have any questions email contact@thebusinessminds.co.uk or call Elena on 07762038437 Ticket for 1 person allows 1 person to enter the venue from 7pm Please Note: **Tickets need to be bought online and are not available at the door.**

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/45252 **Game Description:** Come and join a casual mixed football game in Stratford 😎 **Directions:** 🚶‍♂️5 minute walk from Stratford International DLR Station 📍 Pitch 3 - In the small 6 aside cages NOT the big 11 aside pitch. **Rules** Classic 6 aside rules, can be explained at the start of the session. Please be encouraging and positive to all players 🧡

**Stop Experimenting. Start Delivering. Go from Proof-of-Concept to Production.** We continue with **Part 2** of our **AI Ops with Databricks** series, where we explore how to move from AI experimentation to real, production-scale value. In this session, **Wynand Jordaan** and **Matthew Thomson** will unpack the practical steps, architecture patterns, and operational best practices for delivering **AI at scale** using Databricks. We’ll discuss: * How AI Ops bridges the gap between data science and production systems * Leveraging Databricks to operationalise machine learning workflows * Building robust monitoring, observability, and governance for AI models * Expert heuristics, tips, tricks and rules of thumb for building reliable agentic systems * Real-world examples of accelerating AI delivery and reducing time-to-value Whether you’re a data engineer, data scientist, or tech leader looking to scale AI impact, this session will give you actionable insights and a roadmap to production success. **Speakers**: * **Wynand Jordaan** – AI & Data Engineering Specialist, passionate about scaling intelligent systems in production. * **Matthew Thomson, PhD** –Director for Architecture, Consulting and Enablement for UK&I at Databricks, focused on helping customers build and deploy Apache Spark and machine learning models at scale. Join us to learn, share ideas, and connect with others shaping the future of AI operations.

Welcome to our second London meetup of 2026, where we discuss Gen AI and Kubernetes! Details below: **Location:** Civo Tech Junction, First Floor, 32-37 Cowper St, London EC2A 4AW **Time:** Doors open at 6PM **Drinks, snacks, talks, and networking.** We’re excited to invite you to our second in-person **DevOps Society Meetup** of 2026, proudly **sponsored by Cast AI**. This event is focussed around Gen AI and Kubernetes, with two really exciting speakers lined up for this one in Carly and Kunal. Format of the Meetup: 6:00pm – 6:30pm — Networking on arrival, with food and drinks provided by CastAI 6:30pm – 7:10pm — First speaker + Q&A 7:10pm – 7:20pm — Break for refreshments and networking 7:20pm – 8:00pm — Second speaker + Q&A 8:00pm onwards — More networking at the venue, then at a nearby pub. *Timings can vary slightly depending on Q&A.* We’re excited to welcome everyone to our next DevOps Society London meetup, where we’ll be diving into two incredibly relevant topics in modern infrastructure: observing GenAI applications in production and optimising Kubernetes clusters. We’ll be joined by two brilliant speakers from the ecosystem who are working at the forefront of developer tooling and cloud infrastructure. As always, expect a relaxed evening of technical learning, discussion, and networking with fellow engineers from across the London tech community. *** ## 🎤 Speaker 1 - Carly Richmond **Developer Advocate Lead @ Elastic** ### Observing AI Applications with OpenLit and OpenTelemetry Observability is the ability to measure the current state of a system. With the rapid emergence of LLMs and GenAI applications moving into production, teams now need deeper insight into how these systems behave in real-world environments. In this talk, Carly will explore best practices for observing production AI applications, covering how engineers can capture logs, traces, and metrics to better understand how LLMs interact within their application ecosystem. She’ll walk through a real example of instrumenting an AI agent application written in TypeScript, using OpenLit to generate OpenTelemetry signals. The session will show the types of telemetry data teams can capture to identify usage patterns, detect errors, and troubleshoot issues commonly seen in production GenAI applications. ### About Carly Carly Richmond is Developer Advocate Lead at Elastic, based in London. She’s a UI developer who also writes backend services, a keynote speaker, and a tech writer who is passionate about helping developers build better systems. Outside of tech, Carly enjoys cooking, photography, drinking tea, and chasing after her young son. *** ## 🎤 Speaker 2 - Kunal Kushwaha **Senior Developer Advocate @ CAST AI** ### Optimizing Kubernetes and Unlocking Blockers with Container Live Migration Kubernetes promises automation, yet most clusters run at around **10% CPU utilisation**, leaving large amounts of infrastructure sitting idle. With endless instance types, constantly shifting prices, and the complexity of modern workloads, maintaining efficient clusters can quickly become a full-time job. In this talk, Kunal explores the real-world challenges teams face when running Kubernetes in production. He’ll cover where Kubernetes automation works well, where it falls short, and why optimisation remains difficult for many teams. Topics include: * Why most Kubernetes clusters are underutilised * The realities of autoscaling in production environments * Challenges around instance types and Spot capacity * Common mistakes teams make with HPA and VPA Once these challenges are laid out, Kunal introduces Container Live Migration as a way to overcome some of these long-standing blockers. To bring the concept to life, he’ll run a live technical demo where Pods running a small video game are migrated across nodes in real time, while the audience participates. The game continues running without downtime, demonstrating how live migration can improve cluster efficiency without disrupting workloads. Please register below to secure your spot. Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. We’re really looking forward to getting the community back together again for our first event of 2026. [Our slack community](https://join.slack.com/t/devopssociety/shared_invite/zt-3mswuylw7-MhJg1IZ70rX_GpJTluG2Cw) \- join in and introduce yourself\! [Our Youtube Channel ](https://www.youtube.com/@DevOpsSociety)for regular podcasts with DevOps professionals + more DevOps content. [Website](https://thedevopsociety.com/) [To partner with us](https://thedevopsociety.com/partnerships) CAST AI website - https://cast.ai/ Thanks! From the DevOps Society team [Ben](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwhitmarsh/) and [Vytas](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vytasdevops/)

Bachata Sundays - Weekly Bachata dance classes for beginners/improvers, then social dancing at Park View Healthclub, Colindale. NOTE: Bachata Sensual will be taught, not Bachata Dominican. Ready to spice up your evenings with some Latin rhythm? Location: Park View Gym, 6 Heath Parade, Grahame Park Way, Colindale, London, NW9 5ZN, United Kingdom When: Every Sunday with class starting at 7pm for improvers & 8pm for beginners Spaces are limited to 12 people maximum – 1st come, 1st served! Pricing: \> £15 per session for drop\-in\. \> £54 for 4 weeks block booking of group dance classes \(needs to be paid in advance\) \> Otherwise\, £160 for 8 weeks of group classes \+ 1 private class each week over the 8 weeks \(meaning 16 classes\) \> Get a further discount when you book as a couple\. Couple bookings includes one lead and one follower\. NOTE: Due to limited spaces, you must book and reserve your space ASAP. We do not advise on leaving it too late. What does a class involve? \> 55 minutes warm\-up and dance class \> 5 minutes of social dancing to practice what you learned\. This cosy setup means more personal attention and a great vibe – perfect for learning or improving your Bachata in a relaxed\, social setting\. To reserve your spot, contact Mau on: 07950268600, then make a payment via bank transfer to MR M MCPHERSON, 68649633, 09-01-28

Hi folks! Welcome to our April Cloud Native London meetup! Join us to hear from our three great speakers and network with your fellow techies over pizza and drinks, or alternatively chat and following along on Youtube or LinkedIn! 6:00 Pizza and drinks 6:30 Welcome 6:45 From "Trust Then Verify" to "Verify Then Trust": Securing the AI-Accelerated Software Supply Chain (Meghan McGowan, Cloudsmith) 7:15 Keeping Up: Testing in the Age of AI and Cloud-Native (Ole Lensmar, Testkube) 7:45 Break 8:00 (Speaker TBC) 8:30 Wrap up See you there! Cheryl (@oicheryl) **From "Trust Then Verify" to "Verify Then Trust": Securing the AI-Accelerated Software Supply Chain (Meghan McGowan, Cloudsmith)** With AI accelerating code generation and GitOps driving continuous deployments, testing is under more pressure than ever to keep up. Ole will take a step back to see what’s driving the evolution of testing as adoption of Cloud Native technologies and AI for code generation attempts to drive velocity through the roof. How can engineering and platform teams deliver on the need for continuous testing as a scalable approach to quality assurance across the enterprise? And how can DevOps teams leverage AI in testing pipelines for root-cause analysis, automated remediation and intelligent test scheduling - to help push the AI-infused velocity of their dev teams all the way into production? *Ole started building with XML APIs in the late 90:ies and has since then worked with multiple technologies and startups, most notably as creator of SoapUI in 2004 and Chairman of the Swagger / OpenAPI Initiative in 2015. He joined Testkube at its inception in 2021 and is now entirely focused on ensuring its success at bringing continuous testing to the cloud-native space. When not at his laptop he can be found playing a guitar or riding a bike, but rarely both at the same time.* **Keeping Up: Testing in the Age of AI and Cloud-Native (Ole Lensmar, Testkube)** AI has made software teams faster than ever, but it's also quietly outpacing the security and infrastructure built to support them. Drawing on findings from Cloudsmith's 2026 Artifact Management Report, a survey of 505 engineering practitioners across technology, finance, healthcare, and retail, this session examines the compounding challenges that come with near-universal AI code adoption: expanded attack surfaces, hallucinated dependencies, fragmented AI model governance, and the growing operational tax of manual security remediation on top of aging infrastructure. The session moves from data to diagnosis to direction, challenging teams to rethink a foundational assumption — that you can trust code first and verify it later. At AI scale, that posture is no longer safe. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of where the industry's most critical gaps are, how their peers are investing in 2026, and three concrete questions they can bring back to their own teams to identify where to act first. *Meghan McGowan is Principal Product Marketing Manager at Cloudsmith. Before joining Cloudsmith, Meghan spent nearly a decade in the cybersecurity industry focused on security integrations and automation, helping teams operationalize tooling that actually fits their workflows.* *Based in London, she also worked closely on how threat intelligence can be applied to meet specific regulatory requirements, particularly NIS2 and DORA, giving her a grounded understanding of both the technical and compliance dimensions of modern software security.*
 *About Cloudsmith: Cloudsmith is a fully managed, cloud-native artifact management platform that gives engineering teams a single, secure source of truth for all their software artifacts: packages, containers, binaries, and AI/ML models. Built for the scale and speed of modern software delivery, Cloudsmith provides universal repository support, automated security scanning, and policy enforcement at ingestion needed to meet today's compliance requirements.* *[https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-mcgowan-4b6bb81b/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-mcgowan-4b6bb81b/)* ***Check out [https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon](https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon) if you're interested in speaking or sponsoring.***

***Enter the live meeting room here: [https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u](https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u)*** ***Download the engine here: [https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download](https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download)*** Welcome to the **Unreal Engine Workshop!** In each session we'll tackle essential game design discussions, then transition into hands-on project creation. Participants will build and expand their skills continuously as we explore every aspect of game development. From basic blueprints and interactive mechanics, to advanced rigging, animation, environment design, and lighting, we'll work our way up to creating small complete games. We encourage experimentation and peer teaching, so whether you're a beginner or experienced developer looking to deepen your expertise, our sessions provide a supportive environment to learn, create, and innovate together in Unreal Engine 5.

We're excited to be heading to Civo Tech Junction for our March meetup. We'll have some great talks, detailed below, and drinks and food for everyone. **We are short of volunteers so please get in touch if you can help with logistics on the night**. **6:00pm - Arrival** **6:45pm - Introductions** **7:00pm - The Talks** **Building Secure CI/CD for Multi‑Cloud: An AWS Builder’s Perspective - Alam Ahmad** “Shift left on security” sounds simple until you’re juggling AWS and Azure, Terraform templates, and CI/CD pipelines moving faster than you can keep up. In this talk, AWS Community Builder Alam Ahmed shares how he brought practical, automated cloud security to life across multiple cloud environments without slowing delivery. Through real‑world stories and live demos, Alam shows how to embed policy‑as‑code tools like Checkov and Trivy into GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Jenkins pipelines. Expect working examples you can drop into production and see how open‑source tools (Terraform, Prowler, Trivy, and more) can help teams catch misconfigurations before they ship. You’ll learn how to bridge security patterns between AWS and Azure, apply Security‑as‑Code that actually works, and harness the open‑source ecosystem to move faster while staying compliant. Alam Ahmed began his career in a Network Operations Center before shifting into cloud security and automation. He’s an AWS Community Builder in Security, a regular meetup speaker (Elastic London, Yorkshire DevOps, Cloud Native London), and an open‑source contributor pursuing opportunities as a Junior Cloud Engineer or Application Support Engineer. His talks connect hands‑on ops experience with actionable security automation for the real world. **Into the Agentic Mud Fight: Surviving the Shift from Scripts to Vibes - Ivan Pedrazas** We started with Copilots, then the AI IDEs arrived. Then the Terminal took the spotlight with Claude Code, which was nice... until the OpenClaw landed, and now we're knee deep in an "Agentic Mud Fight", and the DevOps community is caught in the crossfire. While AI Agents promise a future of self-healing infrastructure and autonomous deployments, they introduce a radical paradigm shift. We are moving from deterministic, script-based automation to probabilistic, goal-oriented autonomy. DevOps was built on the comfort of "if this, then that," but Agents operate on the principle of "this is likely the best next step." Suddenly, we’re wondering if an ever-mutating pipeline is actually the way to go (or just a very fast way to break things). In this light-hearted journey through the trenches, we’ll look at the three pillars of our new daily reality: security, observability and reliability. With two decades of experience in distributed systems, Ivan Pedrazas has spent the last year at the forefront of the AI evolution. He is currently building the next generation of developer tooling, integrating AI agents and MCP servers to create seamless workflows between LLMs and (non-deterministic) production environments. **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.

**\*\*THIS IS NOT A FREE EVENT & RSVP ON MEET UP DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENTRY\*\*** **TO ATTEND THIS EVENT A TICKET MUST BE PURCHSED FROM OUR WEBSITE. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A TICKET:** [Speed Dating at The Wren Tavern, Bank (Ages 50-) – Friday, 3rd Apr 2026 | True Dating](https://truedating.co.uk/events/over-50's-speed-dating-3-apr-2026) Join [True Dating](https://truedating.co.uk/), London's #No 1 speed dating and singles party host! With a track record of hosting hundreds of successful events all across London, we've helped thousands of people find their perfect match. **But what exactly is speed dating?** It's simple yet effective: You'll have the opportunity to meet up to 15 potential dates, with each mini-date lasting around five minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to gauge if there's a connection. **Ladies remain seated while gentlemen rotate**, ensuring you meet a variety of interesting individuals. Our events primarily attract working professionals who are tired of the endless swiping and are seeking something meaningful and long-term. At True Dating, you can enjoy a friendly and secure atmosphere knowing that everyone is single and looking for the same thing—love! The day after the event, you can log in to enter your matches and potentially set up a second date using our secure messaging service. **Please remember to enter your matches before 4pm as this is when the matching system closes.** And here's the reality check: In a bustling city like London, where everyone leads busy lives and dating options seem endless, finding the right person can be challenging. That's why our events are designed to increase your chances of meeting someone special who shares your goals and aspirations. Contrary to popular belief, speed dating events are not weird or creepy. They've become increasingly popular as a refreshing alternative to online dating. **What can you expect at our events?** \- Diverse attendees at each event \- Officially signed\-up participants \- Higher odds of finding compatible matches \- Friendly hosts to facilitate introductions **Don't miss out—register now for our next event! Spaces are limited, and our events often sell out fast.** We have years of experience organizing successful dating events and creating meaningful connections. **We're so confident that you'll find someone worth meeting again that if you don't, your next event is on us!** It's time to stop swiping and start dating in real life with True Dating. Join us for an unforgettable experience! **Important details:** Look out for an email from True Dating on the day of the event for account details. Event starts at 7:30 pm with a reserved area for True Dating attendees. Venue closes at 1 am. *Stop Swiping. Start Dating*.

The Fellowship of the Star Schema: Transforming OLTP Data for Power BI One does not simply build reports on OLTP data. Join us on an epic journey from the depths of raw, normalized tables to the shining halls of a well-modeled star schema fit for Power BI greatness. We will demystify the differences between OLTP and OLAP, walk through star schema vs snowflake (and why Power BI has a clear favorite), and show you the compression differences between normalized and columnar storage that will make you never look at an OLTP model the same way again. We will cover the different types of dimensions, when to use them, and how to handle Slowly Changing Dimensions without losing your mind. You will leave knowing exactly how to identify a bad model, how to convert OLTP data into a clean star schema, and how to forge relationships that rule them all. Whether you are a data wizard, a curious hobbit, or somewhere in between, your models will never be the same.

**The Data-Driven Brand: Using Analytics to Shape Perception** Can you use analytics to improve tacos? This being CBUSDAW, we think the answer is probably “yes”, but we’re not sure how to implement or test this theory. For our April meetup we’ve got Sara Kear, CMO of Condado Tacos, to investigate this delicious question. Sara will explore how she blends quantitative data and qualitative customer feedback to shape brand positioning and drive business decisions. We all know that marketing and analytics go way beyond attribution. Sara will show how Condado uses customer insights to inform product and pricing strategy. She’ll also highlight how Condado leverages customer feedback at scale to influence operational priorities, positioning marketing as the voice of the customer across the organization. In the last 12 years Condado has gone from one location in Columbus to 52 locations across 10 states, so we’re guessing there’s more to that growth than really good guac (though the guac probably helps). Ultimately, this talk focuses on the intersection of art and science—using data to inform creativity and build a brand that resonates with customers in a measurable way. **About Our Speaker** Sara Kear is Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos, where she oversees brand, restaurant design, menu and pricing strategy, off-premise including catering, and customer data strategy. Since joining in 2021, she has helped grow the brand from 19 to 52 locations while building a data-driven marketing organization focused on loyalty and customer insights. Condado has since been named to the Inc. 5000, recognized as Breakout Retailer by Chain Store Age, and consistently ranked among FastCasual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. 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)

**First meetup of the Columbus AI Engineering group.** We’ll kick things off with a practical, beginner-friendly discussion on: **How LLMs like ChatGPT actually work — and how to build real applications with them.** We’ll cover: * what’s actually happening under the hood (at a high level) * why LLMs behave the way they do (hallucinations, prompt sensitivity, etc.) * how people are building real systems with them today * where things break in practice This will be a **short, informal talk (\~15–20 min)** followed by open discussion and Q&A. Whether you’re an engineer, builder, or just curious about how modern AI systems work, you’re welcome to join. No slides, no fluff — just real conversation about real systems. We’ll hang out afterward and get to know each other.

The April Ohio North Database Training user group meeting will be held on **April 7th, 2026 at 5:00PM**. This will be a **HYBRID** event and we will be joined online by **Kayla Boor**. You're welcome to come meet in-person at our meeting location, the offices of Improving at **[6000 Freedom Square Dr,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** **[Unit 110,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** **[Independence, OH 44131](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** [Teams Link ](https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22562814501129?p=w1cSxeUXFTVeIpZiMw)if anyone needs it after RSVP-ing for in person. If you would like to subscribe to our email list outside of Meetup, we have changed platforms recently and you will need to register [here in Kit ](https://ohio-north-data-training.kit.com/b8f036f615)instead to receive emails. Agenda: **5:00 PM EST**: Online and in-person meeting begins with a social hour. This is an unstructured hour where you can join us to catch up and meet other group members before the session starts. There will be food brought in for in-person attendees. **6:00 PM EST**: Updates and announcements, followed by our feature presentation. See below for presentation details. **7:30 PM EST**: Optionally after the main presentations, the in-person crowd may go out for snacks and drinks at a local establishment. We hope to see you there! Session Abstract **Accidental friends: How a DBA and an SRE worked together to optimize the system.** This session is focused on how to communicate effectively between teams to improve alert fatigue, performance, and observability. \*\*NEW SPEAKER \*Please note, that we will be using Microsoft Teams for the online portion of this meeting. You may want to join a few minutes early to ensure you do not have any issues. If you are attending in person, there are large TVs at the office, and you do not need to bring a laptop or use Teams.

Pay attention! We’re delaying a week for those of you who may be on Spring break and/or celebrating the holiday. Ok, no pancakes, but waffles-a-plenty. Join the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. Look for us upstairs!

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: Type Annotations with John Cassidy We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

**We'll have two meetings covering AI - this second one is for Positron** We will review which AI features are linked in for Positron, and how to use them. **Location:** The meetup will be at SPARK's ([https://annarborusa.org/](https://annarborusa.org/)) Ann Arbor site: [SPARK HQ (Ann Arbor)](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ann*Arbor*SPARK*Headquarters/@42.2792515,-83.7447708,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x883cae3effe193cb:0x5296a53db2a282bf!8m2!3d42.2792515!4d-83.7447708?hl=en-US__;Kysr!!HXCxUKc!3EEdBNXRJKknP6LCGkZetSuEsdtChFojQnOVitFUC5C0fyilqXEbiMstT9ajBR3Cw-55qoFkrElCjQvjMdTxUw$). There is on street parking, and parking at local structures. **This will be a hybrid meeting - the Zoom session starts at 6:30 PM.** **Time:** The doors will be open at 6:00, with pizza and beverages provided. We will have a meet-and-greet-and-pizza session, and then at 6:30 we'll have a presentation. **Zoom information:** https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86862937929?pwd=woa95D1r85dobjqxQ07NfBLNdTa9hc.1 Passcode: 705462 **If you can't get in, please call me at: 734 223-3307** **Document source:**