The energetic world of open source based not just on code, but on community, collaboration, and diverse perspectives. This was proved at a recent networking session designed specifically for women and allies in the open source ecosystem – an event that left attendees not only informed but deeply inspired. The session was organized as an open, moderated networking space, welcoming everyone who works with, contributes to, or is simply curious about Open Source. Its mission was to create environment for meaningful exchange, bridging technical, legal, business, and community perspectives.
Stepping into the event, I was experienced awesome energy in the place. It wasn’t just women interested in participating; it was a really diverse and welcoming group of people, and everyone seemed eager to chat even before the officially event started. People were already getting to know each other, swapping ideas, and just genuinely connecting. The format of the event encouraged dynamic interaction: two 30-minute discussion rounds were offered to the attendees. They had the freedom to choose themed tables that resonated most with their interests but aligned with broader topics of the Open Chain and Friends event. Participants could explore fresh perspectives, learn from each other, and build connections designed to last well beyond the evening. The diverse range of discussion themes included Communities, Compliance, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Sovereignty, Cybersecurity, Embedded and Open Hardware, Education and many others. Attendees quickly immersed themselves in discussions, sharing experiences and insights which led to dynamic and naturally flowing conversations.
It was fantastic to see so many different companies represented. This really helped us get diverse points of view and think about how we can all work together. The atmosphere was simply vibrant. By the end, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The enthusiasm was so high that discussions quickly turned to planning the next opportunity to meet, underscoring the success of building truly meaningful connections.
This event was a powerful reminder that while technology evolves rapidly, the human element – the desire to connect, learn, and collaborate – remains at the heart of the open source movement. A huge shout-out and thank you to the organizers and moderators – Adamantia Goulandris, Sarah Itt and Kurzmann Marcel – and special thank you for Women at Bosch for sponsoring this fantastic event!
