Personal Branding

**Hey fellow AWS enthusiasts! ✨** This April we welcome **[Philipp Hoyer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-hoyer-621555174/)**, Lead Engineer at Rackspace Technology. He'll walk us through a journey of AWS' popular containerization services Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS running on Fargate by discussing which fits best for which use case, where EKS can make you go nuts and when ECS might shines brighter - or vice versa. **📆 Tonight's Agenda** 19:00 - Welcoming **19:15 - Talk by Phillip** 20:15 - Networking Thanks to our friends at **[CodeCam:N](https://www.codecamp-n.com/)** who open their offices for us and sponsor food and drinks for this evening. Looking forward to seeing you 👋🏻 Nora & Frank \-\-\- The talk ⤵️ **An AWS Container Journey - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly featuring ECS and EKS** EKS on Fargate promises fully managed Kubernetes with zero node management—but the reality is often more complex than expected. This talk explores the journey of building a production workload on EKS Fargate, starting with the initial motivations and architectural decisions. It uncovers three non-obvious pitfalls that only surface during real-world implementation, including challenges with load balancing, EFS integration, and logging. For each case, the underlying issues and the required workarounds are dissected to reveal the hidden operational complexity behind the “serverless” promise. Based on these insights, the talk takes a critical look at whether ECS on Fargate would have been the simpler alternative. It provides a concise overview of ECS, highlights its own limitations, and delivers a direct comparison between ECS and EKS. The session concludes with clear, experience-driven guidance on when to choose which service—helping teams avoid costly assumptions and make better architectural decisions in AWS container environments. The speaker⤵️ Philipp is a Lead Engineer at Rackspace Technology who enjoys turning complex cloud architectures into solutions that actually work in practice. He started in software development, moved through the DevOps world of pipelines, containers, and Kubernetes, and eventually specialized in AWS. He has built and operated cloud solutions ranging from big data and streaming platforms to containerized and serverless workloads. With experience in both insurance and automotive, his focus today is on real-world cloud challenges—especially the ones that don’t show up in the docs. Get in contact with Philipp on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipp-hoyer-621555174/) \-\-\- **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.

**⚡ AI & Coffee – In-Person Meetup in Metz** Since the community has been growing very fast in Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Vienna 🇦🇹, Bucharest 🇷🇴 and Belgrade 🇷🇸 we’re hosting now also events in Metz 🇫🇷! Join our in-person event on Saturday, 18 April from 15h00-17h00 in Les 3 lumières [65 Place St Louis, 57000 Metz, France](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4794ddfb97809c5f:0xa3fbaf4da6636c4d?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111). During the first part of the event, we will all gather in a circle/square format and introduce ourselves for 1–2 minutes. This gives everyone the opportunity to share who they are, what they do, and what they are looking for, while also getting to know the entire room by listening to others do the same. This has proven to be the most effective way to network with 15–30 people within one hour, and afterwards it allows you to connect more easily with those who sparked your interest. The introduction round is the most exciting part of the event, so please try to arrive a bit early to avoid missing the start 😊👆 Based on the great feedbacks, feel free to bring also your laptops if you’d like to show your work. People were very open to sharing approaches and projects, which sparked some truly deep conversations. AI is moving so fast that it’s hard to keep up alone. The best way to make sense of it is by meeting others, exchanging ideas, and hearing fresh perspectives. That’s what this meetup is about. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ☕ We’ll gather in a local café for open conversations about: * AI news and trends (what’s real, what’s hype) * Sharing projects, ideas, and feedback * Supporting each other and creating new stories * Building connections with like-minded people 👥 **Who’s welcome?** Developers, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, students, researchers, creatives — and anyone simply curious about AI. 💡 **What to expect** * Casual atmosphere, no commitment, no pressure * The host will share small icebreakers and sparks of AI news * The rest is up to you: meet, talk, connect, and exchange 🎉 The only cost is your own coffee or drink. Bring your curiosity and an open mind — and let’s build one of the most exciting AI communities in the area. Looking forward to meeting you all and building the AI&Coffee Metz community together.

⚡ **AI & Coffee — Luxembourg's In-Person AI Community** AI is moving faster than any of us can keep up with alone. The best way to make sense of it — and stay ahead of it — is by getting in the same room as people who are just as obsessed with it as you are. That is exactly what AI & Coffee is about. We are bringing together Luxembourg's most curious, creative and driven minds for an afternoon of open, honest and energising conversations about artificial intelligence — not in theory, but in practice. No slides. No pitches. No pressure. Just real people, real ideas and real connections over great coffee. ☕🤖 *** 📅 **Sunday 19 April \| 15:00 – 17:00** 📍 Updown Bar (Downstairs), [28 Mnt du Grund, 1645 Ville-Haute Luxembourg](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x479548cd7e0b9b45:0x5081bbff1793354b?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111) *** ☕ **What we will talk about** AI & Coffee is an open conversation — guided by curiosity and driven by the people in the room. Expect discussions around: * What is actually happening in AI right now — the real breakthroughs, the real hype * Tools, projects and experiments people are building and testing * Practical AI use cases across industries — finance, marketing, tech, healthcare and more * Ideas, feedback and fresh perspectives from people at different stages of their AI journey Feel free to bring your laptop if you want to show something you are working on. Some of the best conversations at our last event started with someone sharing their screen. 💡 *** 👥 **Who is this for?** Developers and engineers building with AI Founders and entrepreneurs exploring AI for their business Investors and mentors looking to understand what is coming Researchers and students at the forefront of AI Creatives experimenting with AI tools Corporate professionals curious about AI's impact on their industry And anyone who simply cannot stop thinking about where AI is heading If AI excites, challenges or intrigues you — you belong here. *** ✨ **What to expect** A warm, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere where everyone has a seat at the table. Our host will kick things off with a few conversation sparks and the latest AI highlights — then the rest is yours. Meet, talk, connect and exchange freely. No commitment. No agenda. No pressure. Just the kind of afternoon that leaves you energised, inspired and already looking forward to the next one. *** 🎉 **The only cost is your own coffee or drink.** Bring your curiosity, your ideas and an open mind — and let's keep building one of the most exciting AI communities in Luxembourg. 🇱🇺 👉 Register now — spots are limited and they go fast!

**Do you want to step up to the stage with more confidence, and less self-doubt? Are you looking to be in charge of your** **thoughts, emotions and behaviours? This workshop has just the answer.** Going up on stage and exposing yourself (pun intended) can be very scary. But also very empowering. And also triggering. But also liberating. And can for sure bring on some self-doubt: Am I good enough? Why should anyone listen to me? Doesn't everyone else know more than me? Isn’t everyone else funnier? And when you get of the stage, the questions keep popping in your head: “was it good?”, “I should have said it differently”, “what was I thinking?”, “were those pity laughs?” Your inner critic is always hard at work… A lot of emotions come up when doing stand-up. No matter if you are a beginner or a more experienced comedian, it can still bring about the dread of not being good enough, making a fool of yourself, and confirming your worst fears. But, it can also be a brilliant and almost therapeutic way to overcome self-doubt, self-sabotage, gain confidence and find that sweet spot where masks come off and you find yourself flying! In this workshop, psychologist Alexandra Neves will guide you through the following: * Impostor syndrome: the pattern in which a person doubts their skills, talents and achievements * and is afraid of being unmasked as fraud, an imposter. * Identify and bring into awareness your limiting beliefs and develop practical tools for * overcoming and releasing them. * How you can tame your inner critic, and use it to your advantage, in comedy and in life. * The masks we wear, and why we wear them. * And ultimately how to develop more self-confidence. These are all transferable skills that can positively impact your stage presence, but also your professional and personal life. Participation in this workshop is by advanced registration. Places are limited. [Book your spot here. ](https://fienta.com/mental-health-in-comedy-2026) **About the instructor:** Alexandra is a psychologist and has over 20 years of experience in training, personal development, and coaching. Alexandra specializes on mental health coaching, imposter syndrome, overcoming self- sabotage, and gender equity. A newcomer to the comedy world, she has been doing stand-up for over a year, and discovering the positive effects comedy can have on mental health – and the positive effects mental health can have in comedy! Find out more about [Alexandra here](https://academy-mind-tree-coaching.lu/) **This workshop is part of [Festrogen](http://festrogenfestival.com/), a women-centric, multi-part comedy festival hosted in Luxembourg.** **Have specific needs or questions? We'd love to help make this place as welcoming as possible. Drop an email to [info@festrogenfestival.com](mailto:info@festrogenfestival.com) and tell us how we can do that.**

Use your pause time efficiently for connecting with other professionals. It is designed for those who are looking for expanding their connections in a relaxed, no-pressure setting! 🍽️ What to Expect: ✔ Open introductions – Share who you are and what you do with the group ✔ Valuable connections – Meet like-minded professionals and potential collaborators ✔ Casual & fun atmosphere ✔ Pay-as-you-go – Order what you like (no fixed cost, just cover your own meal and drinks) 🎯 Perfect for: Small business owners, independent professionals, sales people, and anyone looking to grow their network. Bring your business cards, your appetite, and your energy. Let’s make meaningful connections over great food. See you there!

Living in Luxembourg can feel intense — pressure, decisions, sometimes a quiet sense of being stuck. This is a small, informal coffee meetup to slow down, reflect, and get a bit more clarity on what’s going on in your life right now. No pressure, no expectations — just a real conversation in a relaxed setting. I’ll guide the discussion so you leave with at least one clearer next step. 👉 Limited to a small group to keep it personal

Casemates is one of Luxembourg's English-speaking Toastmasters clubs - here you’ll find a supportive and friendly environment which will allow you to develop your communication skills, become a confident leader and have fun! Each meeting is clearly structured with three parts: improvised speaking on various topics, prepared speeches by members, and an evaluation part where all the speakers receive feedback. Members are holding the various roles necessary for the organisation - a different one at each meeting. You can come as a guest and see how it works for yourself - we guarantee that you will feel welcomed and will have fun in our learn-by-doing environment!

Our April book is "The Highly Sensitive Person" by Elaine Aron. Join us for exploring the fascinating trait of high sensitivity, in Dr. Aron's pioneering book! Researchers believe approximately 20% of the human population has this trait that affects every dimension of a person's life, including mental and physical health, relationships, and more. Curious if you are highly sensitive? Dr. Aron's Self-Test Questionnaire is available on her website. [Are You Highly Sensitive?](https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/) Also, there's recently been a documentary on the topic of high sensitivity, where Dr. Aron discusses the trait. Here is a trailer. The full movie is available for free on YouTube. [Sensitive: The Untold Story](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXlOyGuvfVE) We'll start the meeting with each person sharing their name and one thing they found interesting or helpful about the book, then have open discussion. Here is the Amazon description of the book: "ARE YOU A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON? Do you have a keen imagination and vivid dreams? Is time alone each day as essential to you as food and water? Are you noted for your empathy? Your conscientiousness? Do noise and confusion quickly overwhelm you? If your answers are yes, you may be a highly sensitive person (HSP) and Dr. Elaine Aron’s The Highly Sensitive Person is the life-changing guide you’ll want in your toolbox. Over twenty percent of people have this amazing, innate trait. Maybe you are one of them. A similar percentage is found in over 100 species, because high sensitivity is a survival strategy. It is also a way of life for HSPs. In this 25th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking classic, Dr. Elaine Aron, a research and clinical psychologist as well as an HSP herself, helps you grasp the reality of your wonderful trait, understand your past in the light of it, and make the most of it in your future. Drawing on her many years of study and face-to-face time spent with thousands of HSPs, she explains the changes you will need to make in order to lead a fuller, richer life. Along with a new Author’s Note, the latest scientific research, and a fresh discussion of anti-depressants, this edition of The Highly Sensitive Person is more essential than ever for creating the sense of self-worth and empowerment every HSP deserves and our planet needs."

**💻 Reimagine Your Second Half of Life – AI Vision Board Immersive Experience (Ashburn)** ✨ **Early Access Rate: $35 (5-Hour Immersive Experience — Lunch, Coffee & Snacks Included)** 🗓 Saturday\, April 25 \| 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 👥 Limited to 10 participants **“This was such an awesome event! … Once you see that you can’t unsee it. It’s in the making and you will start to discover ways to make that dream materialize.” – Tracy J.** (Comment from January 2026 AI Vision Board session) *** **☀️ Not Just a Vision Board — A Mirror** Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s your comeback story. This immersive is built around the **R.I.C.H. Quadrant™**: • Relationships — who you let in • Ideal Life — what you actually want • Career/Finance — how you show up • Health — the energy that fuels it all If you’d like a deeper look at the framework, you can preview it here: 🔗 [https://midlifereinvention.co/blog/f/the-rich-quadrant%E2%84%A2-living-with-clarity-in-every-part-of-life](https://midlifereinvention.co/blog/f/the-rich-quadrant%E2%84%A2-living-with-clarity-in-every-part-of-life) **In under 5 minutes, you’ll uncover your values.** And when your vision board is aligned with that truth? It stops being decorative — and starts becoming directional. People often have multiple “aha” moments during this session. Not because it’s dramatic — but because something quietly clicks. *** **🕐 What the Day Feels Like** This isn’t a lecture. It’s structured, but human. It’s focused, but energizing. **Morning —** Identify your core values + 2 priority quadrants. **Midday —** Lunch + intentional networking. **Afternoon —** Complete the remaining 2 quadrants + short coffee reset. *** **💻 Laptop Required — Please Ensure ChatGPT Is Logged In Before Arrival 💻** This workshop moves quickly and works best on a laptop. • **Laptop required** (phones will not work well for this experience. **iPads** may be used, but the experience is significantly smoother on a laptop.) • **ChatGPT account created and fully logged in before arrival** (please bring your login credentials with you; free version is fine) To protect everyone’s experience and keep the session on schedule, ***we cannot pause for account setup***. Please arrive fully prepared. If you need help setting up ChatGPT in advance, message me after RSVP. *** **🧠 What You’ll Walk Away With** • Clarity on which area of life needs alignment • A personalized AI-powered vision board • Defined 3, 6, and 12-month direction • Better prompts to use AI intentionally • Real conversations with people who are building, not drifting *** **🥗 What’s Included** • Full 5-hour guided immersive • Pizza + salad lunch • Coffee + curated snacks • All prompts and digital templates • Small-group collaboration *** **👥 Who This Is For** • Divorced/Separated professionals rebuilding intentionally • Entrepreneurs mapping their next chapter • Adults in a season of reset • People who prefer clarity over vague motivation This is thoughtful work — done in community. *** 📍 Ashburn area (exact address shared after RSVP) 💵 $35 Early Access Rate 👩‍💻 Bring laptop + ChatGPT ready 🔔 These are early-access rates as we expand the format. Future sessions will be priced higher. Space is intentionally limited to 10 to keep this interactive and meaningful. Come design what’s next — with structure, clarity, and a little help from AI. 🌐 [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co)

Come join us atthe Pickle & International Food Festival in Sterling, VA. There will be pickle inspired foods, international cuisine, craft beer, and live music. THIS IS NOT A TICKET: Tickets can be found on the link below and general admission is $5 + credit card fee Buy ticket here: https://www.crookedrunfermentation.com/pickle-international-food-festival-2026

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.
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Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Optional Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Optional Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Optional Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Optional Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Spring Social** **Community, Connections, and Coffee** **Wednesday\, April 22 \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for a special **1 Million Cups Loudoun Spring Social** — a morning dedicated to what makes this community so powerful: **connection**. ## **About the Event** This gathering is all about slowing down, stepping away from presentations, and creating space for meaningful conversations. Whether you’re a longtime member or joining us for the first time, this is your opportunity to: * Build new relationships * Reconnect with familiar faces * Share ideas and experiences * Strengthen your network in a relaxed, welcoming environment No presentations. No pressure. Just community, connection, and coffee. ## **What to Expect** * Open networking with fellow entrepreneurs and professionals * Intentional conversations that go beyond surface-level connections * A welcoming environment for both new and returning attendees * A chance to continue relationships beyond the meeting Enjoy a **light breakfast sponsored by E.L. Strategic** as you connect with others who are building, growing, and navigating business alongside you. ## **Why Attend?** At 1 Million Cups, we believe businesses grow through relationships. This Spring Social is designed to strengthen those connections and create space for collaboration, support, and shared momentum. ## **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us on **April 22** for a morning that reminds us why showing up matters. We look forward to seeing you there.

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