High Performance Computing

Speaker: **Ivana Martić** Title: **When a Prompt Becomes Part of the System: Voice AI in the Recruiting Industry** Prompting is often reduced to writing a few clear instructions for LLMs. In Voice AI systems that interact with humans in real time — without scroll-back, in noisy environments, and with unpredictable human speech — the prompt becomes part of the system, and prompt engineering turns into an engineering problem. Using Voice AI agents in the recruiting industry as a case study, we will talk about key challenges of controlling voice agents and shows how their behavior is designed, monitored and evaluated in production. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Join us on **Wednesday** at MaMa for a first talk of the year. Drinks and a discussion afterwards at [Old Pharmacy Pub](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AeaRdnBrMqPiRhvPA) 🍻🍷🥤

Poznata hrvatska neuroznanstvenica i akademkinja **Vida Demarin** majstorski spaja strogu neurologiju s duhovnim i holističkim pristupom životu. Njezina glavna poruka je snažna i osnažujuća: **mi sami oblikujemo strukturu svog mozga!** Kroz misli, emocije, vizualizacije i ljubav možemo aktivno mijenjati strukturu i funkciju mozga zahvaljujući **neuroplastičnosti** – sposobnosti mozga da se prilagođava i obnavlja tijekom cijelog života. Genetika utječe samo oko **5%**, dok **epigenetika** – naš način života, misli i emocije – čini čak **95%**. Mozak ne razlikuje u potpunosti maštu od stvarnosti, pa pozitivne vizualizacije i emocije poput ljubavi i zahvalnosti doslovno mijenjaju kemiju tijela i mozga. Na ovom meetupu istražit ćemo ključne teme iz Demarinih učenja: * **Ljubav kao najjači stimulus** za neuroplastičnost – jača empatiju, emocionalnu regulaciju i otpornost na stres. * **Upravljanje emocijama**: Kako promijeniti 75% negativnih misli afirmacijama i vizualizacijom te razviti samokontrolu. * **Oproštenje i odgovornost** – ključ oslobađanja od ljutnje i trauma. * **Stres i otpornost**: Razlika između "dobrog" i "lošeg" stresa te kako preuzeti kontrolu nad reakcijama (inspirirano Viktorom Franklom). * **Empatija i odnosi**: Kvalitetni odnosi i ljubav temelj su sreće i zdravlja mozga (prema Harvardovom istraživanju). * **Intuicija srca**: Srce ima svoju "inteligenciju" koja povezuje emocije s mudrošću i emocionalnom zrelosti. Akademkinja Vida Demarin cijenjena je specijalistica neuropsihijatrije te redovita članica Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti. Predsjednica je Međunarodnog instituta za zdravlje mozga te jedna od osnivača uvođenja neinvazivne ultrazvučne dopler dijagnostike i procjene moždane cirkulacije ne samo u Hrvatskoj, već i u ovom dijelu Europe. 📍 Pivana, Ilica 222, Zagreb 🗓 14.01.2026. u 18:00 h Organizator: Međunarodni institut za emocionalnu zrelost – zajednica poduzetnika, stručnjaka i znanstvenika posvećenih razvoju pojedinaca i društva.🌐 http://emotionalmaturity.eu

Where locals, expats & travellers turn Thursday into Small Friday. Hey everyone! As we ease into 2026 ✨, we’re wishing you good health 💛, calm energy 🌿, and plenty of moments that feel human 🤝💬. New starts can be exciting 😌, messy 😵‍💫, or just a bit much 😮‍💨 all of that’s fine 🤍. Wherever you’re at 📍, you’re welcome here 🫶. Here’s to a year of kindness ✨, real chats 🗣️, and small wins 🌱, shared in good company 🍻🛋️. Whether you’ve just landed in Zagreb, been here a while, or live right around the corner, **Small Friday International Zagreb** (**[SFIZ.FUN](https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb)**) is your go-to for winter evenings, language swapping, and good times with great people. 📍 **Where?** The Beertija, Pavla Hatza 16 🕗 **When?** Thursdays, every other week from 8PM ✨ Free to join, just grab a drink and support the bar’s rockin’ vibe 🍺🎸 ✨ Open to all, all ages, all vibes, all language levels welcome 💬 **What to expect?** 🗣️ **Language Exchange:** English, Croatian, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Ukrainian, Russian… you name it 💬🌐 🌍 **Cultural Vibes:** Locals, expats, travellers, Erasmus students . . . sharing tips, stories & laughs 🎭✨ 🤝 **New Connections:** Real convos, real mates, winter evenings to remember 🤗 🍷 **Weekend Planners:** From concerts, winter sports, partying to fests and day trips, let’s plot our winter adventures 🎶❄️🏔️ 🌟 **Why now?** The Christmas markets have closed 🎄❌, the New Year celebrations have faded 🎆➡️🌙, and Zagreb has slipped into its **winter mood** 🏙️❄️. The days are grey 🌫️, sometimes snowy 🌨️, cold 🧣🥶 the kind of weather that pulls people indoors 🏠 and a little closer together 🤍🤝. This is the season of **quiet, grounded pleasures** 🌿✨: winter walks through the city 🚶‍♂️❄️🏙️, snow-dusted hikes on Sljeme 🌲🏔️🌨️, museums and cinemas 🖼️🎬, ice rinks ⛸️❄️ and proper warm food 🍲🔥, followed by long conversations 💬🕯️ over a drink 🍷🍺. Zagreb is also a little unusual in winter ✨ because it offers something rare: a **mini ski holiday within the city** 🏙️➡️🏔️🎿. When there’s enough snow 🌨️, Sljeme serves up slopes perfect for beginners and casual skiers 😊🎿 no mega-resorts 🚫🏨, no queues 🚫⏳, just straightforward winter sport close to home 🏡❄️. And if skiing isn’t your thing 🙃, there’s skating ✨⛸️: **outdoor ice skating at Šalata** 🌌⛸️, or **indoor rinks at Velesajam or the Admiral Ice Dome** 🏟️❄️ playful 😄, social 🤍, and very winter-appropriate 🌨️. After the festivities are over 🎭➡️🌙, what remains is **everyday life** and that’s where genuine connection happens 🤝💬. Winter is for slowing down 🐢✨, sharing stories 📖🕯️, warming up together 🔥🧣, and finding comfort in good company 👥🤍. And the best way to share it? At **[SFIZ.FUN](https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb)**. Our meetups are where plans get made, tips get swapped, and crews form to explore Zagreb together. 🌍💖 🍺 **Why The Beertija?** Because it’s that place everyone ends up wishing they’d gone to 😏✨ Warm beer cellar vibes 🍻🔥, cosy living-room energy 🛋️☕, 🚭 non-smoking inside (happy clothes, happy lungs 😌), plus a covered outdoor patio for quick smoke breaks 🚬😉. Skip it, and you’ll hear about it later 👀💬 💡 Top tip: Turn up early, smile, catch someone’s eye, and dive into conversation, that’s how the magic starts 😉💫 No pressure, just rock up and join the crew. 💖 Let’s ditch the screen, grab a drink, and meet the world! See you soon, **SFIZ Crew** P.S. Spread the word https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb 🔎 **How to Spot Us** New here? Best trick is to swing by right at the start, that’s when it’s easiest to find the crew and jump straight in, or ask the bar staff about the event ✨ Need quick updates or can’t see us straight away? No worries, our [WhatsApp group](https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb/faq/sfiz-whatsapp-guide-keeping-it-fun-and-respectful) is where you can ask quick questions. 💖 #ZagrebGlobalMingle 💖

Speaker: **Ivana Martić** Title: **When a Prompt Becomes Part of the System: Voice AI in the Recruiting Industry** Prompting is often reduced to writing a few clear instructions for LLMs. In Voice AI systems that interact with humans in real time — without scroll-back, in noisy environments, and with unpredictable human speech — the prompt becomes part of the system, and prompt engineering turns into an engineering problem. Using Voice AI agents in the recruiting industry as a case study, we will talk about key challenges of controlling voice agents and shows how their behavior is designed, monitored and evaluated in production. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Join us on **Wednesday** at MaMa for a first talk of the year. Drinks and a discussion afterwards at [Old Pharmacy Pub](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AeaRdnBrMqPiRhvPA) 🍻🍷🥤

Poznata hrvatska neuroznanstvenica i akademkinja **Vida Demarin** majstorski spaja strogu neurologiju s duhovnim i holističkim pristupom životu. Njezina glavna poruka je snažna i osnažujuća: **mi sami oblikujemo strukturu svog mozga!** Kroz misli, emocije, vizualizacije i ljubav možemo aktivno mijenjati strukturu i funkciju mozga zahvaljujući **neuroplastičnosti** – sposobnosti mozga da se prilagođava i obnavlja tijekom cijelog života. Genetika utječe samo oko **5%**, dok **epigenetika** – naš način života, misli i emocije – čini čak **95%**. Mozak ne razlikuje u potpunosti maštu od stvarnosti, pa pozitivne vizualizacije i emocije poput ljubavi i zahvalnosti doslovno mijenjaju kemiju tijela i mozga. Na ovom meetupu istražit ćemo ključne teme iz Demarinih učenja: * **Ljubav kao najjači stimulus** za neuroplastičnost – jača empatiju, emocionalnu regulaciju i otpornost na stres. * **Upravljanje emocijama**: Kako promijeniti 75% negativnih misli afirmacijama i vizualizacijom te razviti samokontrolu. * **Oproštenje i odgovornost** – ključ oslobađanja od ljutnje i trauma. * **Stres i otpornost**: Razlika između "dobrog" i "lošeg" stresa te kako preuzeti kontrolu nad reakcijama (inspirirano Viktorom Franklom). * **Empatija i odnosi**: Kvalitetni odnosi i ljubav temelj su sreće i zdravlja mozga (prema Harvardovom istraživanju). * **Intuicija srca**: Srce ima svoju "inteligenciju" koja povezuje emocije s mudrošću i emocionalnom zrelosti. Akademkinja Vida Demarin cijenjena je specijalistica neuropsihijatrije te redovita članica Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti. Predsjednica je Međunarodnog instituta za zdravlje mozga te jedna od osnivača uvođenja neinvazivne ultrazvučne dopler dijagnostike i procjene moždane cirkulacije ne samo u Hrvatskoj, već i u ovom dijelu Europe. 📍 Pivana, Ilica 222, Zagreb 🗓 14.01.2026. u 18:00 h Organizator: Međunarodni institut za emocionalnu zrelost – zajednica poduzetnika, stručnjaka i znanstvenika posvećenih razvoju pojedinaca i društva.🌐 http://emotionalmaturity.eu

Ciao! L'appuntamento di **gennaio** è per **giovedì 15 alle 19** con un altro interessante talk in presenza, sempre al [Politecnico di Milano](https://www.google.com/maps/place/45%C2%B028'41.3%22N+9%C2%B013'43.6%22E/@45.478127,9.228763,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d45.478127!4d9.228763?entry=ttu)! Questo mese lo speaker sarà **Marco Nicastro**, con il talk **Il mondo dei gestionali con WordPress fra sogni e realtà.** Durante questo talk vorrei parlare di come è possibile realizzare dei veri e propri gestionali direttamente con WordPress e dei vantaggi e degli svantaggi in cui si incorre se si decide di intraprendere questa strada. Oltre a questo vorrei poi presentare un caso studio per rendere il tutto più pratico. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Saremo in diretta streaming** Non puoi partecipare di persona? Noi non ti giudicheremo! :) Se vuoi, puoi seguirci anche in diretta streaming su YouTube. Il link sarà visibile solo una volta che avrai fatto la tua iscrizione all'evento. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **In breve, ecco come sarà organizzata la serata:** 19:00 Benvenuto + networking 19:20 Presentazione (di circa 50 minuti) 20:10 Domande e risposte 20:30 Fine; Chi vuole può continuare il networking in un bar o pizzeria vicino al luogo dell’evento. All’inizio dell’incontro faremo il conteggio per prenotare: per non creare disguidi conferma la presenza solo se sei sicuro di venire. Networking significa che ci sarà tempo per chiacchierare con chi partecipa e fare amicizia. Potresti trovare una persona interessante, un futuro cliente, un futuro fornitore o un nuovo partner di lavoro, chi può dirlo? Non riesci a venire, o devi dare la tua disdetta? Nessun rancore, sarà per la prossima. Ti chiediamo solo di farci sapere 24 ore prima così - liberiamo il tuo posto per altre persone. **Vuoi essere speaker?** Beh, nulla di più facile: **Compila il modulo [cliccando qui](https://wpmilano.org/speaker-form/)**. Ti risponderemo per fornirti tutti i dettagli. Ci vediamo lì! 😉

**Doing KPIs Right: a KEY to Analytics (and AI!) Impact!** On the one hand, KPIs are such a Business 101 concept that it may seem a little silly to dedicate an entire session to the topic. On the other hand, KPIs get handled so poorly so often that a case could be made that this meetup could just be one of the most impactful sessions of the entire year! We’re starting off the year at a new location: [COhatch Upper Arlington](https://www.cohatch.com/locations/columbus/upper-arlington/) but with a familiar speaker, Tim Wilson! We’ll be back at Rev1 in February, when the speaker will presumably not be Tim. Tim will make the case that effectively measuring performance of projects, campaigns, and initiatives (and even meetups!) should be a foundation for any data analytics program. Topics covered will include: the “two magic questions” of performance measurement, how to help business partners distinguish between outcomes and outputs, and effective tactics for collaboratively establishing KPI targets. He will also stick his neck out by demonstrating some of these techniques in real-time by measuring whether his talk lives up to the promise of this description! All CBUSDAW events are free thanks to our 2026 Sponsors: Clarivoy, Conductrics, What Box Consulting Group, and Piwik PRO. Check out [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com) for more information.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group × DevOps Columbus** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

**NEW LOCATION: 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). For this first meeting of the year, we will be reviewing submissions for the Your Program is Hideous and Obfuscated Challenge (YPHOC). Submissions for this challenge are due by January 12th, 2026. The details can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13zbxwElpJqPMuAN4Ele2hUgsqtFKzH3OCTL5NEeiLKQ or on our website http://www.cohpy.org 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 centralohpython@gmail.com

Hear how 3 investors went from broke to 8 figures and learn what’s working now in real estate, private money, and scaling your business. 🎟️Register **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/broke-to-8-figures-live-panel-open-qa-tickets-1969996398258?aff=cicmeetupapp)** ## **Broke to 8 Figures: Live Panel + Open Q&A with 3 Young Investors Who Built Real Wealth Through Real Estate** A decade ago, none of them were “set.” 10 years ago, these three weren’t millionaires. They weren’t influencers. They were broke, doubting themselves and fighting to make their first deal work…just like a lot of people trying to get into real estate today. Now, two of the Columbus Investors Club’s founders, **Tiffany and** **Josh High**, sit down with **Austin Rutherford**… a fellow Columbus native who went from parking cars as a valet to owning a **$30M+ real estate portfolio.** Together, they’ve flipped and wholesaled **thousands of homes**, raised **millions in private money**, and built businesses that run without them in the day to day… creating both wealth and freedom before 35. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a real conversation about what it actually takes to build something that lasts… the fears they had to face, the habits that changed everything, and the systems that got them there. You’ll laugh, you’ll take notes, and you’ll walk away seeing what’s truly possible no matter where you’re starting from. **What You’ll Learn** * How three broke twenty-somethings built 7–8 figure real estate businesses * The mindset shifts that separate wishful thinking from real wealth * How to raise private money even if you’ve never done a deal * What’s working right now in flipping, wholesaling, and building a portfolio * How to create financial and time freedom through systems and people **Open Q&A - Ask Them Anything About** * Raising private money with confidence * Finding and structuring profitable deals * Getting past fear, self-doubt, or “I’m not ready yet” * Scaling your business without burning out * Building a team that actually performs **Who You’ll Hear From** **Austin Rutherford** – From valet to a $30M+ rental portfolio. He has flipped and wholesaled hundreds of houses alongside his rental portfolio and recently got into commercial deals. **Tiffany & Josh High** – Founders of **Heels Homes** and **Results Driven REI**. They’ve built multiple 7- and 8-figure companies, including a fully virtual real estate operation closing 250+ deals a year. Through Results Driven REI, they help experienced investors install the people, processes, and infrastructure needed to build a truly self-managing company. **Event Details** **Location:** *To Follow* **Date & Time:** January 29th, 6–8 PM (Doors open at 5:30) **Cost:** Free (Seats are limited - RSVP required) 🎟️Register **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/broke-to-8-figures-live-panel-open-qa-tickets-1969996398258?aff=cicmeetupapp)**

## Details \#\# Learn Infrastructure\-as\-Code \(the FUN Way\) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: DevOps Columbus - Azure CBUS - Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint DevOps Columbus, Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. \#\#\# What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time \#\#\# Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐