Welcome to the Sonar User Group Speaker’s Guide! This guide will walk you through everything you need to become a speaker at one of our Sonar’s community events.
If you’re considering your first technical talk, this guide will help you submit a talk, prepare, deliver, and what to expect upon a successful presentation.
Why Become a Speaker?
Speaking at a Sonar User Group offers:
- Recognition within the technical community
- Professional photographs of your presentation
- Develop your public speaking skills in a supportive environment. Our speaking staff and organizers are with you all the way
Talk Formats and Topics
Standard Format
- 20-30 minute presentation
- 10 minutes for audience Q&A
- Total time: 30-40 minutes
Topics
Suggested topics and not limited to…
- SonarQube Server Implementation: Case studies on deploying and scaling SonarQube in various environments
- SonarQube for IDE: Integrating Sonar tools into development workflows
- SonarQube for Cloud: Cloud-native implementations and best practices
- Language Analyzers: Deep dives into specific language analyzers
- Real-world Problem Solving: How you’ve used Sonar to address specific code quality challenges
- Adoption Stories: How you introduced Sonar tools to your organization and measured success
- Integration Strategies: Combining Sonar with other tools in your DevOps pipeline
- And more! We’re pretty open to topics adjacent to the Sonar ecosystem and always open to feedback from the community.
General Process (Submit your talk!)
1. Submit Talk Form
Submit your talk idea to this >> Speaker Form << with the following details:
- Talk title
- Brief description of the talk
- Key takeaways for the audience
- Your brief (speaker’s) bio
These details will be the description copytext on the meetup page.
2. Proposal Review
A DevRel team member will review your submission and may suggest refinements before acceptance of the talk. Please get in touch with steve.chen@sonarsource.com if there has not been a response in 24 hours.
3. Speaker Support
Once accepted, you’ll receive personalized support from our DevRel team!
Liz Acosta or Jonathan Vila will be your direct contacts to help:
- Refine your presentation content
- Structure your talk for maximum impact
- Prepare clear and engaging slides
- Practice delivery
- Address any questions about Sonar products
4. Pre-Event Preparation
- A technical rehearsal will be scheduled 1-2 weeks before the event
- Final slide deck submission deadline: 3 days before the event
Crafting an Effective Sonar Talk
Example: Talk Structure
For maximum audience engagement, consider the following structure.
Not mandatory, a suggestion:
- Introduction (2-3 minutes)
- Brief self-introduction
- A clear statement of the problem or challenge
- Why this topic matters to the audience
- Context Setting (3-5 minutes)
- Brief background on your project/organization
- The specific challenges you faced
- Initial state before implementing Sonar solutions
- Main Content (10-15 minutes)
- Your implementation approach
- Technical details and decision points
- Solutions to challenges encountered
- Code examples or demonstrations
- Results & Learnings (5-7 minutes)
- Measurable improvements achieved
- Lessons learned
- Recommendations for others
- Conclusion & Next Steps (2-3 minutes)
- Summary of key takeaways
- Future plans or enhancements
- How to connect with you afterward (LinkedIn, email, etc)
Presentation Best Practices
Content
- Focus on real-world applications rather than theoretical concepts
- Include specific metrics where possible (e.g., “Reduced critical issues by 42%”)
- Provide concrete examples and screenshots
- Consider including a brief live demo if appropriate
- Be honest about challenges and limitations encountered
Slides
- Limit text on slides — aim for visual storytelling
- Include code examples where relevant
- Use consistent formatting and terminology
Delivery
- Practice your timing — staying within the allotted time is essential!
- Speak clearly and at a measured pace
- Consider the diverse technical backgrounds of attendees
- Have a backup plan for demonstrations in case of technical issues
New Speaker Support
Again, if this is your first technical presentation, we HIGHLY suggest you apply and we offer additional support!
- One-on-one coaching with our DevRel team
- Practice session with constructive feedback
- Speaker mentorship matching with experienced speakers
We actively encourage new voices and perspectives in our speaker lineup. Don’t hesitate to submit a proposal even if you have no previous speaking experience—our team is committed to helping you succeed.
Speaker Requirements
- Please bring your own laptop with the appropriate adapters
- Standard A/V equipment will be provided at all venues
- Presentations should be in PDF or PowerPoint/Keynote format
- Backup your presentation on cloud
Typical Timeline
- 4 weeks before event: Speaker selection and notification
- 3-4 weeks before event: Initial content review with DevRel team
- 2 weeks before event: Brief Rehearsal
- 4 days before event: Final slides submission
- Event day: Arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled speaking time
Contacts
For all general questions, logistics, and blockers, please contact:
- Steve Chen - Program Manager - steve.chen@sonarsource.com
For any questions about speaking assistance at Sonar User Groups, please contact:
- Liz Acosta - Developer Advocate - liz.acosta@sonarsource.com
- Jonathan Vila - Developer Advocate - jonathan.vila@sonarsource.com
After Your Talk
- Any feedback will be shared after one week of the talk
- Professional photos will be taken and uploaded to social media
- You’ll be invited to join our Sonar Speakers Network for future opportunities!
Upcoming Events for Speaker Opportunities
- New York: May and June 2025
- Austin: June 2025
- Geneva: June 2025
- Additional cities to be announced later in 2025
Looking forward to hearing your proposal and supporting you in sharing your Sonar knowledge with our growing community!