Extreme Programming

You're invited to our next Women in Product London event! Join us for an in-person evening with a panel of senior product leaders as we unpack what it really takes to succeed at the highest levels of product leadership — and how to build a lasting legacy along the way. Are you curious about what changes when you move into executive territory? The focus shifts from product strategy to influencing a board, owning commercial outcomes, shaping culture, and building the right leadership team around you to succeed. In this candid fireside-style conversation, our panel will share the realities of executive product leadership, from developing executive presence and navigating complex organisations, to the mistakes and lessons that rarely get talked about, plus how they juggle these pressures alongside their personal life. You'll have an opportunity to ask the panelists questions in a safe and friendly environment, as well as the chance to network with your peers over drinks and canapés before and after our panel take the stage. \-\-\-\-MEET THE PANELLISTS \>\>Faith Forster\, Founder and CPO @ Discoveree Faith is a Chief Product Officer (ex. Wise, Dext, Legl) and advisor to PE owned companies. She is currently building an AI-native platform called Discoveree, which helps product leaders and teams better align product work with customer and commercial goals, and is recording a weekly podcast on the process of building an AI native product called Building Out Loud. Faith also manages a program with the charity Centrepoint, to help disadvantaged young adults access the tech industry. \>\>Cait O'Riordan\, VP Product for Search Verticals at Google Cait O'Riordan has two decades of experience in product management leadership for global companies - Google, FT, Shazam and BBC. As VP Product for Search Verticals at Google she was responsible for multiple products with more than a billion monthly active users - consistently innovating across a portfolio that covers more than 40% of Search traffic. Previously: CPTO at the Financial Times, running product and engineering, driving strategy and huge subscription growth; VP of Product at Shazam driving user and revenue growth that resulted in acquisition by Apple; Head of Product for BBC Sport for the London 2012 Olympics, the first truly digital Games. \>\>Jacintha Love\, Product Director @ Wise Jacintha is a Product Director at Wise, where she leads the development of the Finance and Treasury products that power Wise. She is passionate about building financial infrastructure for the world's money. Prior to joining Wise, Jacintha spent 14 years in financial markets trading and technology. \*Additional panelist to be announced shortly\* \-\-\-\-MEET THE MODERATOR \>\>Lucinda Faucher\, VP Product @ Valve Lucinda Faucher is a product leader with over 14 years of experience and a track record of building high performing, diverse teams. As VP of Product at Valve, she drives product strategy within the commercial real estate tech space. Lucinda has built her career on a simple but powerful belief: that great products are made by great teams, and great teams thrive when they feel seen, heard and empowered. Beyond her role, she mentors, consults, and speaks at events and on panels; and as a fierce advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, Lucinda also founded TheProdBox podcast to champion a more inclusive, empowered product community and to demystify the world of product management helping to open doors for those finding their way into, and within the field. Venue, food and drinks are proudly sponsored by [Wise.](https://wise.com) #careerhackseries #wiplondon #alwayslearning

A fun and hands on introduction to LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, ideal for those who have not experienced the method before. After being welcomed by our experienced facilitator Sean Blair, you will explore building models as an individual and as a group. You will become practiced at several methods of communication and learn to hear and understand others, all using LEGO! Following the workshop we will send you a free pdf copy of the book "SeriousWork" - a hands on guide to using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® yourself (5\*\*\*\*\* reviewed book that sells for £25 on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Facilitate-Meetings-Workshops-Serious-Method/dp/0995664706) Ideal for those who are interested in participatory leadership, better communication and creativity. If you have attended a taster workshop before, you are welcome to attend but please note this introductory workshop will be a similar experience.

Startup Session #12 – The Founder Bottleneck: Reclaim Your Time, Rewire Your Business Let It Go: The Founder’s Guide to Delegation **Date:** Tuesday 24th March 2026 6:15-9 PM UK Time **Location:** [1 Warwick by Maslow’s](https://share.google/MnxwD6w1PqaJ512K6) [Sign up for this event here!](https://founders500.com/session/the-founder-bottleneck-reclaim-your-time-rewire-your-business/) ### The real reason you’re stuck isn’t strategy. It’s you. Most founders don’t fail because they lack vision. They stall because they are the bottleneck. Doing everything yourself feels responsible. It feels lean. It feels “early-stage smart.” Until it isn’t. Until you’re: * **Drowning in admin** * **Reacting instead of building** * **Working 1am–4am “because it’s your baby”** * **Stuck in noise instead of growth** This session is about the moment when doing it all stops being a strength — and becomes the ceiling on your business. ## What this session is This is **not** a motivational talk. This is **not** generic productivity advice. This is a **working session** for founders who are ready to: * Diagnose where they are the bottleneck * Separate **real work** from **loud work** * Reclaim cognitive space * Design a calendar that supports growth * Delegate without guilt, fear, or chaos You’ll leave with clarity, structure, and a practical plan you can actually implement. ## What we’ll explore ### 1) The Founder Bottleneck Diagnosis When does “scrappy” become self-sabotage? We’ll identify: * What you’re doing that no longer scales * What should be **delegated** * What should be **automated** * What should be **deleted entirely** ### 2) Time vs. Cognitive Load It’s not just hours. It’s mental fragmentation. We’ll unpack: * Why cheap outsourcing often keeps you stuck * Why tools and AI increase overwhelm without operational clarity * Why your brain space is your most valuable asset Includes real data on time loss, admin drag, and revenue impact. ### 3) Calendar Architecture for Growth If your calendar is reactive, your business will be too. You’ll learn how to: * Build deep work blocks * Protect non-negotiables * Stop operating in emergency mode * Design weeks that actually move the needle ### 4) Budget-smart operational support Outsourcing isn’t about cost. It’s about ROI. We’ll reframe: **“I can’t afford help.”** into **“What is this costing me in revenue and growth?”** You’ll leave knowing: * When it’s time to get support * What level of support to hire * How to structure it properly No hard selling. Just clarity. ## How the evening works This session is interactive. We’ll move in focused 15-minute blocks featuring: * Short strategic frameworks * Partner diagnostics * Live calendar exercises * Founder discussion * Structured reflection You won’t just listen, you’ll redesign how you operate. ## Who this is for * Solo founders * Early-stage teams * Operators stretched too thin * Founders stuck in admin * Anyone feeling “busy but not growing” If you’re exhausted but ambitious — this is for you. ## About Cecilia Brown Cecilia is the founder of **[Pickle](https://findpickle.com/?privacy=updated)** (formerly Fyxer People) and works with founders navigating growth without burning out. Her philosophy is simple: **“Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should.”** Pickle supports founders in building operational clarity, reducing overwhelm, and reclaiming their time, so they can focus on what actually grows the business. *** ## Evening schedule **6:15pm — Doors Open + Drinks** **6:45pm — Session Begins** **6:45–8:00pm — Working Session (Frameworks + Exercises)** **8:00–8:15pm — Key Takeaways + Q&A** **8:15pm onwards — Optional Networking** [You can sign up for this event here](https://founders500.com/session/the-founder-bottleneck-reclaim-your-time-rewire-your-business/)

Looking for quality **business networking in London**? Join an exclusive evening at **Tide HQ**, organised by **GMax Card**, **Getshop Today,** and **Tide** \- three products built by founders\, for founders\. **WHY ATTEND:** * Free premium digital business card (£65 value) - claim it on the night * Real connections - co-founders, customers, partners & more * 50% off premium GMax Card upgrades for your team * Practical tools & insights to run your startup smarter Connect with **tech founders, startup teams, business owners, and professionals** **across fintech, finance, banking, business and technology.** **Testimonials:** Check out [video testimonials from founders who've attended previous events.](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) **Please note:** Free ticket includes event access only. To receive a physical contactless GMax Card, please purchase a paid ticket when available. **DRESS CODE** Business or smart. Dress as you would for an investor meeting - polished and professional. **VENUE** **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ - Featherstone Building, Silicon Roundabout, London** Right at the heart of UK's tech and startup hub, Tide's modern headquarters provides an open, professional environment designed for founders and operators and built for collaboration. **ABOUT THIS STARTUP AND BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT** In the **startup and business world**, success rarely happens in isolation. The right connections unlock **co-founders, early customers,** and relationships that accelerate **growth**. But most networking events don't deliver that. After hundreds of iterations, we've built a **format that actually works:** * Well-tested icebreakers (optional, but they work) to break the initial awkwardness * "Quick intros" round - 30-60 seconds each so everyone knows who's who in the room * Short talks from [GMax Card](www.gmaxcard.com) on strategic networking and Tide on founder-friendly business tools * On-the-spot [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) consultations - bring your banking and ops questions, get real answers * Drinks and refreshments for real conversations to develop naturally Co-organised by **[GMax Card](www.gmaxcard.com)** and **[Getshop Today](www.getshop.today)**, hosted at **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ** \- the digital bank built for entrepreneurs\. Created by founders who've done it themselves. Whether you're pre-seed or scaling, solo or building a team, this is where you meet the people who get it and can help you move faster. **WHO'S IN THE ROOM** Expect a mix of: * **Early-stage to growth-stage startup founders** * **Tech entrepreneurs** and product builders * **Fintech innovators** and operators * **Indie founders, solopreneurs** and **bootstrapped business owners** * **Finance professionals** and **startup advisors** * People working across **business and technology** Limited to 40 attendees to keep conversations meaningful. **WHAT YOU WALK AWAY WITH** * Free [premium business card (£65 value) ](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop)\- ask the host to claim yours on the night * Real connections - potential co-founders, early customers, advisors, hires, or partners * 50% off [premium digital cards from GMax Card](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop) for your whole team * Actionable insights on tools that actually make running a startup or business easier Part of our bi-weekly series. Check out [video testimonials](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) from founders and business professionals who've attended previous events. **ORGANISERS** **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)**[ - Free digital business cards](http://www.gmaxcard.com/), with Premium NFC smart cards and team networking tools. **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**[ - UK based eCommerce platform ](http://www.getshop.today/)to build your own independent online store in minutes instead of relying solely on global marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. **Hosted at [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)**[ - The digital-first business bank ](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)built to support entrepreneurs and SMEs. **IMPORTANT DETAILS** Dress code: business / smart Capacity: 40 people Photography & Video: Content may be captured by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio in London](http://www.cineeye.co.uk/) for promotional use. If you do not wish to be captured, please refrain from attending. ID Requirements: Attendance for 18+ only. Proof of ID may be requested at reception. Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 1 day before the event if any. Meetup fees are non-refundable (if any). **RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW** **Only 40 places available - secure your ticket today!**

\*\* Please RSVP - this helps the venue plan ahead and ensure enough space is reserved for us \*\* Hey everyone! Are you a young professional in your 20s/30s looking to meet other LGBT young professionals? Then we hope to see you at the upcoming Tuesday drinks! Most people come to these drinks by themselves, and half of the people are first-timers, so these evenings are great to meet new people in London. We have tables reserved on the top floor (loft) of The Yard bar in Soho. Go into the Yard, turn left, and head upstairs. Just ask the bar for the tables reserved for the "Meetup". We usually have the tables opposite to the bar. Many have noticed that it can be difficult to meet up with the LGBT community once you leave university or come to a big new city such as London. For this reason we've decided to start organising drinks for young professionals, intended for those who love to have a drink with like-minded people after a busy day of work. Do spread the word, and bring friends, colleagues and family! Frequently Asked Questions: It's my first time and I'm coming alone, should I be nervous? No, you found the right event! Almost everyone joins these drinks alone and there are always a bunch of first timers. Just grab a drink and say hi to those around the reserved tables and you'll be absolutely fine :) I cannot make it at 7.00pm, can I come later? Yes, definitely! There will always be one of the organisers present from 7.00pm onwards, but most people just join whenever they can. There is no official 'start' so to say, and it usually stays busy till around 10pm-11pm. For first timers it can be easier to mingle if you come before 8pm, when it's not that busy yet. How often are the drinks and where are they held? We have drinks every two weeks from 7.00pm at The Yard Bar in Soho. Sometimes we organise other events such as big nights out, pub crawls and picnics. Just keep an eye on the Meetup page. Is there a dress code? Nope, not at all. Just wear whatever you want. Is there a cost? Only for whatever drinks you buy at the bar. That said, if you enjoy the Meetup, we would really welcome any cash donations to help cover our costs for running the events. However, you will never be directly asked for any money from any of our team. Are the Tuesday drinks for networking? No, the drinks are super casual, and not intended to find your new dream job. We have people from all different professional backgrounds, so it's always cool to hear what others are up to. I don't drink alcohol, can I come? Of course! Since it's on a Tuesday many take it easy, so you won't be an outlier. If you have any questions don't hesitate to pop any of our organisers a message. Looking forward to meeting you all! Xx The young LGBTQ+ professionals team Xx

\*\*Please make sure to head to the [AI Exchange Meetup Page](https://www.meetup.com/ai-exchange/events/313741366/?eventOrigin=your_events) to Register for this event\*\* Join us on Tuesday 24th March for the next AI Exchange event, where we will be hosted at Dawn Capital. We have three great talks lined up; heavily backed startup [Conduct AI](http://ttps//%5Bwww.conduct.ai/%5D(www.conduct.ai/)) will give us insight and lessons on how they've managed to take Agentic AI into some of the worlds largest organisations. [Canonical](https://canonical.com/) will be diving into how advances in AI have been driven by major improvements in customer interaction and [Capgemini](https://www.capgemini.com/gb-en/) are exploring the evolution of Engineering with an AI-native mindset. As always, doors open at 6:30pm and talks start at 7pm sharp. Drinks and food will be provided. **Agenda:** **[Henry Thompson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryithompson/) @ [Conduct AI](https://www.conduct.ai/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23305058141&gbraid=0AAAABCJY88zM3GE_S23wWaidRlqn_riJk&gclid=CjwKCAjwpcTNBhA5EiwAdO1S9vDNKLdlyXUqKM-5bV0MrytI_N6IuNjoIqYTsjZrDQMgMx8VmvWABBoC1EAQAvD_BwE)** **Teaching Old Systems New Tricks: Agentic AI in the Enterprise Core** The most valuable AI opportunities in large enterprises aren't greenfield, they're buried inside legacy landscapes and specialist teams who've operated the same way for decades. Most AI deployments never reach them. This session shares what we've learned taking agentic AI into some of the world's largest organisations: the product decisions forced by legacy constraints, the approaches required to ingest complex business data, and what it takes to embed agents inside teams with little AI experience. We take a dive into the technical, organisational, and commercial questions that only arise at true enterprise scale and how you turn that friction into real value. **[Artur Vartanyan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/artur-vartanyan/) @ [Canonical](https://canonical.com/)** **How Global Technology Alliances enable AI success** Artur will dive into how modern advances in artificial intelligence have been driven by major improvements in how customers experience and interact with AI. These advancements are largely enabled by strategic technological alliances. Instead of competing, leading tech companies are joining forces to make AI more accessible and impactful. This talk will explore the programs and tools that enable collaboration among technology companies in developing AI solutions, supported by real-world examples of successful alliances. Bio: Artur has 20+ years of business development experience in the IT industry across EMEA. Since January 2024 Artur has been working as Dell Alliance Manager at Canonical in London, UK to drive joint Canonical/Dell efforts in the AI, Cloud and Open Source. Prior to joining Canonical, he spent over 10 years at Dell Technologies (EMC) in various sales and leadership roles. Since 2016, Artur has been working as a visiting university professor and developed 12 educational programs on Big Data, IT Infrastructure and Digital Transformation for the leading universities in the CIS. He also authored 15 scientific publications on digital technologies, including SCOPUS. Holding a Phd in Economics, as well as honours degrees in Business Management and International Law, Artur was also certified in digital technologies by top universities (Oxford, Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, Wharton, NYU) and global companies (Dell, IBM, Linux Foundation). As a digital technologies expert, Artur has been invited as a keynote speaker to over 200 IT-related conferences across the world. In 2023, Artur was endorsed as a Global Exceptional Talent in the field of digital technologies, by Tech Nation UK. **[Ezhil Suresh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezhilsuresh/) @ [Capgemini](https://www.capgemini.com/gb-en/)** **Evolution of Engineering Organisations** Ezhil will explore how static governance models give way to adaptive, AI‑driven controls — forming the backbone of a fully governed autonomous engineering control plane. When hundreds of engineers rely on shared platforms, standards, guardrails, auditability, and developer experience can’t be afterthoughts. They must be embedded. Becoming AI‑native demands a new mindset: one where engineering systems govern themselves, teams move faster with trust, and AI becomes the multiplier across the entire technology organisation. Bio: Ezhil Suresh Chockalingham is a cross‑functional technology leader in UK Public Sector , specialising in transforming engineering organisations into AI‑native, autonomous delivery ecosystems. With a background spanning cloud, data platform engineering, developer experience, and large‑scale governance, Ezhil focuses on building high‑trust, self‑governing engineering systems that accelerate value creation across complex enterprises. Ezhil serves as a strategic bridge across engineering, product, and governance functions — championing adaptive standards, AI‑driven guardrails, and scalable platform capabilities that enable hundreds of engineers to deliver securely and autonomously. Their work is centred on moving organisations from static governance to dynamic, AI‑powered control planes that reshape how modern technology gets built. We have a tight capacity for this event, so please RSVP as soon as you can to secure your space. We hope to see many of you at this event! **Sponsors...** The AI Exchange is brought to you in partnership with[ LinuxRecruit](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/) and[ AWS.](https://aws.amazon.com/) LinuxRecruit is building the next wave of Tech Unicorns in Europe. Whether you're hiring or exploring your next opportunity, [get in touch](https://www.linuxrecruit.co.uk/jobs). The types of roles we have currently are across Founding Engineers, Engineers across Product, Software, AI/ML, Data and Platform Infrastructure/DevOps.

**Let's Shoot Noir Street Photography in Soho London After Dark** This mini-workshop event focuses on shooting street photography after dark. You will learn tips for low-light shooting, handheld techniques, and how to creatively use existing city lighting. Soho after dark has a completely different energy. Neon signage, theatre lights, and passing traffic create natural contrast, cinematic tones, and deep, moody shadows. The location itself becomes part of your frame, adding atmosphere without the need for a flash. This session focuses on capturing moody, neon-lit street photography using the city’s existing lights. You’ll learn to see, interpret, and use the available light creatively. Occasionally, a model will be present as a point of focus to help you practice shooting subjects in various real-world night-light conditions. *** **What You Will Learn** * **Reading Available Light:** Observe neon signage, street lamps, traffic, and reflections and use them creatively in your shots. * **Handheld Night Shooting:** Adjust ISO, shutter speed, and aperture for sharp, well-exposed images while shooting handheld. * **Creative Use of Light on Subjects:** Learn how to make people stand out using the available neon and street lighting. * **Exposure and Mood Control:** Balance highlights, shadows, and neon to capture the “noir” atmosphere. * **Quick Observation & Reaction:** Train your eye to spot photo opportunities in challenging night conditions. * **Getting to Know Your Kit:** Understand what your camera and lenses can do in low light so you can react confidently. *** **What to Bring** * **Camera Kit:** A fast lens (prime or zoom, around 35–50mm, f/1.4–f/2.8) is highly recommended for best results at night. You may bring your best lens for practice, but you may struggle more in lower-lit situations. Message me if you want advice on gear before booking. * **Essentials:** Cleared memory card and fully charged batteries. Extra batteries recommended. * **Travel Light:** Comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. *** **Event Info** * **Duration:** 2 hours * **Group Size:** Max 5 * **Meeting Location:** Soho, London *** **Bonus for Members** * **FREE DOWNLOAD – Beginner Street Photography Tip Sheets:** Master Night Street Photography For Beginners Tip Sheet covering the key topics from this event. You will receive a download link to follow along during the session. * **FACEBOOK COMMUNITY GROUP:** A private group for Meetup members to showcase their best work, receive critique, advice, and tips.

Please register here: https://hazelcast.com/resources/resilient-java-in-production-meetup/ ### Modern Java systems don’t fail all at once. They fail under load, during warmup, and sometimes days after a “successful” zero-downtime deployment. Join us for an evening focused on real-world resilience in production Java systems, from JVM performance stability to the hidden risks of mixed-version state during rolling upgrades. Come for the talks, stay for the conversations. Food, drinks, swag, and a LEGO® raffle included. ### **Special Guest: Simon Ritter** Java Champion and Deputy CTO at Azul, Simon Ritter shares how to make JVM performance more resilient by reducing latency risk from GC, warmup, and JIT behaviour without changing application code. ### **Hazelcast Session** Zero-downtime rolling upgrades in distributed Java systems are hard when multiple versions of the same service and data model must run concurrently and share state. Using Hazelcast and Hazelcast Compact Serialization, we’ll show practical Java examples and tests that demonstrate how mixed versions behave and how to make those upgrades resilient in real systems. ### **What’s in Store?** * Two technical talks on resilience in production Java systems * Food & drinks included * Swag + LEGO® raffle * Networking with the local Java community Please register here: https://hazelcast.com/resources/resilient-java-in-production-meetup/

**——————————** **Event Description:** **——————————** Welcome product enthusiasts! We're a meet-up group that hosts regular speaking events for those interested in the world of **digital products** and **doing things differently!** Each meet-up features new guests from some of the most influential product companies around the world, providing unique insights, tangible ideas, and new techniques to help drive change from the inside out. **————————** **Event Format:** **————————** This is a **hybrid** event, offering the option to come along in person or join us from anywhere in the world online! **————** **Venue:** **————** 🚨 We are at Wrap co-working Brighton, a stone's throw from the station. We're looking forward to seeing you there! 🚨 **————————** **Our Supporters:** **————————** Our March event is supported by **[MPB](https://www.mpb.com/en-uk)** the world’s leading platform for buying, selling and trading used photography and videography equipment, making kit more accessible and sustainable for creators everywhere. And as always our friends at **[Silicon Brighton](https://siliconbrighton.com/)**, whose mission is to put Brighton on the map as a technology hub, spotlighting the region for talent and investment. **————————** **Our speakers:** **————————** **Steve Down** **Steve Down is a Senior Product Manager at Channel 4, specialising in building high performing streaming apps for the biggest screen in the home.** He’s spent years shaping TV experiences at major UK broadcasters, tackling platform fragmentation, performance constraints and all the quirks that make doing product on TV Apps a whole world of its own. He regularly writes and speaks about the realities of Connected TV product development, sharing lessons from building and scaling TV apps across diverse platforms and fast changing user behaviours. His industry contributions unpack everything from platform limitations and UX challenges to experimentation gaps and the future of big screen viewing. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **Behind the Streams: The untold story of TV App Product Management** Forget what you know about doing Product Management on web and mobile - TV is a whole different ball game. You’re juggling dozens of platforms & stakeholders, designing for a lean-back user experience, and working in an environment where optimal performance is everything. Add in the giants like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube as competitors, and standing out gets tough. **In this session, Steve will pull back the curtain on:** \- What makes TV product management so different \- The skills you need to succeed in streaming \- How you can break into one of the most exciting areas in product today If you’ve ever thought about working in streaming or just want to know what happens behind the biggest screen in the house, this talk is for you. **Raff Di Meo** Senior Product Design Manager at Optimizely. Raff has spent over 10 years designing products across startups, agencies, and enterprise SaaS, including a startup acquisition. Today, he's a Senior Product Design Manager at Optimizely, where he leads a team of designers reshaping how marketing teams create content across the web. He's an active speaker in the UX community and writes Some Designers on Substack, championing inclusivity and supporting designers through a profession that won't sit still. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **When too easy to use becomes a problem: from e-commerce returns to AI in design** A few years ago, Raff designed a returns flow for an e-commerce product. It was fast, frictionless, and users loved it. It also helped normalise a behaviour that cost businesses millions and generated thousands of tonnes of waste. By every metric tracked, it was a success. By every metric not tracked, it was a disaster. Today, the same pattern is playing out. Not just in the products we design, but in how we design them. Teams are reshaping their entire process around AI tools that can't even retain their own users. We're told the old ways are dead. Move faster. Ship more. Trust the tools. In this talk, Raff will share what the returns project taught him about the gap between a successful design and a responsible one, and how those lessons are shaping how his team is navigating AI right now: what they're using, what's genuinely working, and what they're deliberately protecting. You'll leave with three things you can take back to your team: why understanding the problem still comes first, how to explore with AI without losing your craft, and a dead-simple habit for catching unintended consequences before they ship. **——————————** **About your hosts:** **——————————** Product Unleashed is brought to you by your hosts **[John Griffin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-griffin-designer/)** and **[Dominic Port](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-port/)**. The duo have worked on the design of products of all shapes and sizes and bring their energy and enthusiasm to this unique meetup, packed with great guests and knowledge - for anyone interested in levelling up their game in the world of products.

**About** THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER has about 135 roped/auto-belays numbered routes with each route having up to 6 grades giving it approx 700 routes in total. THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER offers bouldering, top-roping, leading and auto-belays at their center. Some of us prefer bouldering while others will be in the top roping, leading or auto-belaying - this is up to you! We climb for a couple of hours and then the group regroups at 12.00 noon sometimes without me other times with me in The Brownswood pub, 271 Green Lanes, Finsbury Park, London N4 2EX for a spot of lunch and a libation. (https://goo.gl/maps/S4FZ9j1AYMPDs7uQ6) a stone's throw from the castle. **Meetups** We get together every Thursday & Sunday at THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER meeting at 9:00am in the warming up area or else look out for someone wearing a black RAMS t-shirt around the center. If you're joining for the first time let us know via message and we will keep an eye out for you at the start :) **New Climbers!** Unfortunately, if you haven't climbed before it isn't as easy as just turning up and climbing up the wall. To climb safely you need to understand the hazards and be able to use the equipment correctly. You must have basic climbing skills and know how to put on a harness, attach a rope to a harness using a rethreaded figure of eight(figure of eight on the bight) and know how to use a belay device to pay out the rope and secure a falling climber etc. So before your first climb, you may be required by the climbing center to fill out health and safety forms. This may involve a quick test on climbing rules at the counter on arrival. Please add an extra 10/15 minutes before your session if you need to register for the first time. THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER terms and conditions will apply. Please also note signing up for the Meetup session won’t necessarily grant you access to the center. **Other communication** Within these groups, you are possibly likely to develop long-lasting friendships. Don't forget we have a Discord page and WhatsApp https://chat.whatsapp.com/JNJ81oLSKB2JGaNm79em0C. The group will always be very varied when it comes to climbing levels, abilities and modality preferences. Do shout out if you have any questions. If you want to have a chat about this or other meetups, or just to keep in touch, ask to join us on Discord and/or WhatsApp. We have a dedicated THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER chat, but also talk about all things climbing (and some non-climbing!) including trips, gear talks and looking for climbing partner/s situations. **You’ll Rock it** A word of warning this sport is very, very addictive once bitten your its mistress for life. The simple challenge of you against the rock is sublime, there are competitions but then really the only real competition is 'you and the rock'. As climbing can be a very social activity we look forward to sharing our passion with yours. *Happy climbing!* p.s. Eventually, we will be starting and incorporating our climbing academy where we aim to bring skills, ropework and technique etc to enhance your climbing ability, using 25mm chalk bag colored belts to indicate your level. Naturally, THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER will also run courses to help improve your techniques too. Contact THE CASTLE CLIMBING CENTER for more info.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the gold standard for grounding LLMs in proprietary enterprise data. However, the journey from a flashy proof-of-concept to a reliable, secure production system is fraught with complexity. This talk bridges the gap between rapid prototyping and rigorous engineering. We will begin by exploring the actual merit of “vibe-coding”—using AI-assisted, rapid prototyping to build compelling demo apps that secure client buy-in and validate use cases. Once the demo is sold, the real work begins. We will navigate the architectural decision matrix, comparing the trade-offs of off-the-shelf products, cloud-managed services, and fully custom-built RAG solutions. Diving into the technical pipeline, we will cover modern ingestion strategies like agentic chunking and sophisticated retrieval methods, including re-ranking and GraphRAG, to overcome the limitations of simple vector search. We will detail the essential role of telemetry and LLM-as-a-Judge evaluation frameworks in ensuring sustained performance, faithfulness, and relevancy. Join us to learn how to transition from impressive demos to robust solutions that deliver measurable business value. Our Speaker, **[Dr. Enrico Fonda](https://www.linkedin.com/in/enricofonda/)** is a data scientist with a background in physics. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland and New York University, where he studied quantum fluids and applied deep learning to turbulence. In 2019, Enrico moved to London and transitioned his skills to the industry. He has since worked across the MarTech, Telco, and Tech sectors, focusing on machine learning modeling, generative AI applications, and code generation. Today, as a Solution Consultant at Sahaj Software, he continues to solve complex problems in data science and AI. 🗓️ **Save the Date:** 26th March, 2026 📍 **Location:** Sahaj Software, 1 Quality Court, London, WC2A 1HR 🕕 **Time:** 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (BST) The evening will feature: 🎤 **One engaging talk** with Q&A 🤝 **Plenty of time for networking** over free pizza and non-alcoholic drinks Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and share with fellow tech enthusiasts. 👉 Please click the link below to register. https://sahaj.ai/events/the-rag-reality-check-from-vibe-coding-to-production/

## Details Welcome to the DevSecOps London Gathering March Event on Wednesday 26 March. We bring you two amazing talks, as well as the usual conversations, pizza and beer! 📍 **Hosted at Autogen AI, Pentonville Road, London** 📅 **Wednesday, 26 March** 🕕 **6:00–8:00 PM** ## Talk 1 **Abstract:** Software supply chain attacks are no longer rare or theoretical. They are happening every day. Recent ​ incidents show how easily malicious packages can enter trusted registries and make their way into production systems before anyone notices. Today’s package managers host millions of components and support billions of downloads each week. That scale enables modern software development, but it also creates an enormous attack surface. Typosquatting, dependency confusion, malicious install scripts, and credential harvesting are no longer unusual techniques. They are now common and repeatable attack patterns. This session looks at how these attacks are playing out. Using malicious code detection data from Veracode, we walk-through real-world supply chain attack campaigns, the techniques attackers use, and the indicators that separate legitimate open-source packages from malicious ones. Attendees will see how weaponized components are identified, sometimes before they reach production and sometimes after damage has already begun. The talk also draws on industry research, including findings from the Veracode State of Software Security report, to put hard numbers behind the risk introduced by open-source dependencies and transitive trust. The session concludes with practical guidance for reducing exposure without slowing development. Topics include dependency controls, CI CD enforcement, malicious code detection, and continuous monitoring approaches that fit modern engineering workflows. ## Talk 2 **Abstract** [The National Archives](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/") is the official archive and publisher for the UK Government. Our records include physical records such as the Domesday Book and Magna Carta, along with digital records from UK Government departments, Enquiries, and other public bodies, held both on premise and in public cloud. It's vitally important to protect our digital records from accidental deletion and the increasing threat of ransomware. We therefore initiated a programme to implement immutable cloud backups using the AWS Backup service within a central, segregated AWS account. In this talk, we'll share our learnings from this programme of work, including: * why AWS Backup compliance mode vault locks are not always truly immutable * which KMS key types should be selected to support backup and restore to a central vault * the importance of Logically Air Gapped (LAG) vaults * how each AWS service has implemented backups differently * which widely used AWS database option doesn't support centralised backup * cost considerations for setting up backup plans We soon learnt that it's not just a case of "Turn on AWS Backup". To deploy a centralised solution, we needed to: * configure centralised AWS Backup vaults and vault policies * deploy components to workload accounts, including Backup vaults, EventBridge, IAM roles * select the appropriate vault type depending on AWS resource type We decided to implement our solution as an open-source, public Terraform Module which deploys immutable AWS Backups across an AWS Organization, to handle this complexity, and simplify onboarding new accounts and resources to be backed up. You'll come away with an increased understanding of AWS Backup, an appreciation of its complexity and limitations, and the opportunity to greatly simplify deployment of truly immutable backups across your AWS accounts, using our public Terraform module.

Bring your work or your hobby, hang out, and code with us. Follow @buckeyecocoa for more information.

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **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

**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 **Abstract** Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively. This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way. **YouTube Link** TBA

Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you: -Feel isolated -Can't express yourself openly -Get nervous or anxious in front of people -Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied -Feel introverted -Don't feel comfortable in any social setting -Can't make more friends -Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above. This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us! COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center. 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

We connect you with up to 30 Men or Women tennis partners close to your PLAYING REGION and skill level. This program is less competitive, no champions crowned, no league standings just dedicated tennis partners who want to meet up with you on the courts. Players will meet up to play a tennis match or just to hit around. Just go through the [Join Page](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program) to enter this program. [https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program)

Builders, creators, architects, admins, consultants - come one, come all. This one's for you. We're bringing a little friendly competition to the Columbus ServiceNow community while highlighting the cool things people have built on the platform. Five presenters will take the stage to showcase something they've built, solved, designed, or imagined on the ServiceNow platform - and a panel of judges (plus YOU, our amazing audience) will score them live. So basically, America's Got Talent but make it ServiceNow's Got Talent. Bring a notepad if you'd like 'cause you'll definitely be learning something new. Each presenter gets 10 minutes max to wow the crowd with: • A demo • A real-world business solution • A bold idea • A UX transformation • Or a creative use of the platform Judging Criteria: 🏆 Business Value 🚀 Innovation ✨ User Experience This event is about celebrating ideas, sharing knowledge, and showing how ServiceNow can drive both business impact and meaningful user value. Come learn. Come support. Come get inspired. Refreshments and bites will be provided. And maybe next time… you’ll be on stage.