Talent Unconference

First Thoughts

My first thoughts on the Unconference are over at the SimplyHired blog. More to come (on this site and Talentism) in the future.

Second Annual Taluncon

Don't yet know when, don't yet know where, but the Second Annual Taluncon will be a reality at some point in the future. I will have the date decided in about two weeks (giving people plenty of time to mark it on their calendar), and I will be making some exciting announcements about the next one in the next couple of months.

In a fevered state this past weekend, delirious, as the room was spinning, I realized what we have to do next. Time to take this to the next gear.

Thanks post up next.

Quick Thanks

A quick post to say "thanks!" to everyone who participated in Taluncon and to all those who helped make it a reality.Unfortunately I came off the high of the Unconference and immediately got sick , so I have failed to post my thoughts and the numerous individual thanks that are due. But rest assured, that will happen soon.

Back to bed.

Houston, we MAY have Wireless

EA doesn't have general purpose wireless in its conference rooms, so I stayed up late last night borrowing wireless access points from family and friends and reconfiguring them for general public access. Still testing, but it is looking like most of the conference rooms that we are using will now have wireless public internet access.

Two notes:

1 - Remember, there won't be a bunch of power outlets, especially in our main meeting room, so use you battery power wisely.
2 - Assuming I can get the wireless to work there won't be any "wired" access. There won't be any public Internet accessing Ethernet jacks. And my IT department will boil me in palm oil (mmmmm.... palm oil) if I let people jack into our internal network. So wireless will be the only way to get out on your laptops.

See you all soon.

Directions to the Unconference

Here are the directions for how to get to the Unconference on Thursday morning. Remember, get there early (closer to 8:00 a.m. than to 9:00 a.m.) so that we have plenty of time to get you checked-in and set-up on the Wall of Fame.

You can click on the pictures below to get bigger versions of them:

Electronic Arts
250 Shoreline Drive
Redwood City, CA 94065
Main (650) 628-1500

Click here for general Google Maps directions (won't take you right to the door, but will get you on the right street - you will still need these directions below).

IF YOU ARE DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO:

Take 101 South Towards San Jose.

Take the Holly Street Exit. While exiting you will see a sign for Redwood Shores Parkway Exit - take this. This will take you east over the freeway.

Drive about 1/2 mile.  At the 4th stoplight you will see Shoreline Drive. Turn left onto Shoreline Drive and follow the road around the first turns.  You will see signs for Electronic Arts and there will be a small area for visitor parking. Turn in.   Please go to the first driveway where you will see the small gray EA stone (marker) out in front of the driveway that says 250 Shoreline.

You will see this sign on the left hand side (assuming you follow the directions above and not the Google Maps directions, which may take you in from the other side). Take a left into this driveway.

Please note, you will see this sign and driveway first. DO NOT TURN INTO THIS DRIVEWAY for the Unconference. You will get lost.

Once you have parked in the parking lot (parking in the 4 story parking structure is preferable), head toward the green circle of plants. The lobby is straight ahead.

This is the main entrance to the 250 building lobby. Go through the revolving doors.

This is the main EA lobby. Look for the Talent Unconference registration table near the main security desk. You will get further directions there.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING FROM SAN JOSE:

Take 101 North Towards San Francisco – otherwise the same directions.

IF YOU ARE WALKING FROM SOFITEL:

Ask the desk how to get to the nearest EA building. Follow pictures above to get to the lobby (it will be your first right into a 250 parking lot).

Oh, What to Do?

It's the classic "which track?" dilemma. So, based on the audience of Total Picture Radio, (job seekers, recruiters, HR professionals, vendors, and professionals trying to better manage their careers), I've signed-up for Meaningful Connections and Value of Talent tracks... and, of course, the poker game! At some point you gotta make a decision, and move on.

That said, I will be arriving at the Sofitel around 4pm Wednesday afternoon, leaving on Saturday around 11 AM. If any of the session leaders will be at the Sofitel Wednesday afternoon/evening and would be available for a quick interview, please email me at peter@totalpicture.com, or call my cell: 917.225.1234.

I plan on arriving at EA by 8AM Thursday - and hope I can record a couple of interviews before the sessions start. I would like to record all of the session leaders at some point - this can be done on Friday, in person or by phone. Many of my interviews are done as "phoners" - although I much prefer in person, when possible. I'm not sure what I'll be able to record at the event - it's a very full day - my goal is to connect with as many attendees as possible to schedule interviews Friday/Saturday - or as soon after the event as practical. Look forward to seeing everyone at the Unconference!

Detailed Agenda

The following is the detailed agenda for the First Annual Talent Unconference on January 25, 2007 at Electronic Arts. Since it's the first, and since it's an Unconference, I reserve the right to change it, but I'll make a public announcement ifI do s o.

A couple of notes:

• Please arrive early. On the morning of the event we have to get you checked-in, get your Wall of Fame vitals, and take your picture. If you show up at 8:55 a.m. it will be hard enough just to check you in.
• Dress comfortably. You are going to be walking around the EA campus and have to get up and down to various break-out rooms. So jeans, comfortable shoes... in short, clothing that you would be comfortable learning, teaching and moving in. As an example, I will be wearing jeans, a dress shirt and sneakers.
• Eat breakfast! We will be providing a continental breakfast and a full lunch (sandwiches and drinks) as well as coffee and a mid-afternoon snack (you are on your own for dinner). You will notice in the agenda below that we won't be eating lunch until 12:40 p.m. Given the nature of the conference it was either eat really early and then do the first group session after the meal or push through and get the first group session done so people could talk about it over lunch, which is what I went with. But it means that if you don't eat breakfast it will be a long time before you get to lunch.

If you have any questions or concerns about the agenda please feel free to write (you should already know the address by now).

All times in PST on Thursday, January 25, 2007.

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.  - Registration / Pictures / Wall of Fame
9:00 a.m. to 9:05 a.m. - Quick welcome from Jeff
9:05 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. - Quick welcome from conference sponsor, Cindy Nicola of EA
9:10 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. - Run through days events, get set for breakouts
9:15 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. - Meet your leaders and go to breakout rooms
9:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. - Session 1
11:20 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Head back to main meeting room, bathroom break if needed
11:30 a.m. to 12:40 a.m. - Group session #1
12:40 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Lunch / tour of EA (optional)
1:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. - Back to group meeting room
1:40 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. - Meet session 2 leader, go to session 2 breakout room
1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. - Session 2
3:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Bio break / snack / back to group meeting room
4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. - Group session #2
5:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Wrap-up
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Break between Unconference and Poker Tourney
6:30 p.m. to ? - Poker tourney (make sure to sign-up separately with Jason Davis)

Big Pipe: Morning Session Only

Most of the people who are coming in for the Big Pipe session can only stay the morning (and an exciting group of people it is, if I do say so). So there will be no Big Pipe session in the afternoon.

However, Dennis Hunter, the Big Pipe leader, will be sticking around most of the day, and there will be plenty of room for a side conversation, so if you want to keep talking about education there will be a lot of opportunity.

If you have registered for the Big Pipe in the afternoon please let Sean or myself know what your updated choice for the afternoon session will be.

91 and Done

When I first started talking about this idea back in October I said "Maybe I won’t get any emails at all, and it will just be the people I named above sitting at EA for the day and exchanging incredible ideas." I wasn't just being coy. I really thought that nothing was going to happen. Maybe 10 people total hanging out for a day, talking about cool things, enjoying each other's company.

As of this morning 91 people have signed up, and with that I have to close down the registration. The space I have only holds 95, and I need to account for the worst (best) case scenario. I am sure that some people will have to drop out at the last second, but it seems pretty certain that at least 70 people are going to show up for this experiment. I am truly honored.

I can't predict the future, but I remain optimistic that we will have a good time and that (as I said in that original post) "maybe there is a real opportunity to start to build networks and exchange information about ways to truly innovate in the talent space."

Thanks everyone. See you on Thursday.

Video Anyone

I can bring a small Cannon DV video camera.

Is tripod needed too?