AWS re:Invent: An Engineer’s point of view
Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the 11th edition of the AWS re:Invent conference. AWS re:Invent is one of the largest tech conferences in the world and introduces the latest features and service launches from Amazon Web Services (AWS). As one of Credera’s more junior team members, I was incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity to attend the 2022 event.
This blog summarises some of my key learnings from last year’s conference as a junior engineer.
What goes on at re:Invent?
The content is vast and delivered in different mediums — from lecture-style breakout sessions, to live demos of small projects that AWS hobby-ist enthusiasts have put together in their spare time, there is a lot to be seen.
To help you visualise just how vast the spectrum is, I attended sessions targeting technologies for the medical, financial, retail, and automotive sectors, which focused on migration from on-prem to cloud, document processing with AI (Artificial Intelligence), open source and observability, thinking asynchronously, and more! I also learned about AWS’s initiatives in the sustainability space and discovered how F1 uses AWS for streaming multiple cameras in real time.
Who attends re:Invent?
Re:Invent attracts a wide variety of attendees — from AWS partner organisations looking to network and developers/engineers looking for a training opportunity, to executives searching for new partners to work with. In 2022, the team in attendance from Credera was made up of consultants and an engineer from various levels within the company. The event also gave us the opportunity to meet some of our US colleagues in person.
What do you get out of attending re:Invent?
As well as all the learning opportunities, re:Invent is a place to meet new people from a variety of different sectors and technological backgrounds. The conference offers various networking options — from studying for a certification, solving challenges as part of the Jams, sector-specific meet ups, diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused opportunities in the All Builders Welcome lounge, and even a re:Play party to wrap up on the final night.
How can I prepare for my first big conference?
Here are some of my top tips as a first-time attendee:
Tip #1: Know the different types of sessions
Re:Invent offers five different types of sessions: Keynotes & Leadership, Breakouts, Chalk Talks, and Builders sessions.
- Keynotes are delivered by AWS executives and focus on new features or other important updates. Leadership sessions are delivered in a similar format but focus more on a particular area.
- Breakout sessions are lecture-style talks, which focus on a particular topic. The talks are usually recorded and held in large groups.
- Chalk talk sessions are more interactive and provide the opportunity for attendees to ask questions. They can be greatly beneficial for subject matter experts or people who are interested in recent updates to services.
- Builders’ sessions are held in much smaller groups and involve an AWS expert leading you through a hands-on exercise. These sessions are not recorded, so don’t miss out if you are interested in a topic they cover!
Knowing all of the above, it is not surprising that spaces for the smallest sessions can quickly fill up. Whilst breakout sessions are a good learning opportunity, I would recommend the more interactive sessions for engineers or architects who are working with these services daily.
Tip #2: Queue early and know when you should arrive
Keynotes are the most popular sessions amongst attendees as they are the highlight of the event. Due to their popularity, I would recommend queuing early to ensure that you can get a spot in the theatre. There are additional overflow rooms for those who miss out on a seat in the main room, where you can still watch the keynote in real time.
Tip #3 Take travel into account
A large-scale conference, held across multiple venues, means the sessions that you are interested in could be 20–30 minutes apart. Usually, you will need to be present ten minutes before your session starts, even if you’ve booked it in advance. For re:Invent, there are multiple travel options available — walking, shuttles, and the rail. Using a few hours to find the fastest route the day before is worth your while.
Tip #4 Being AWS certified gets you perks
Not only did I get an “AWS certified” t-shirt and a cute sticker, but being certified also gave me access to the AWS Certified lounge, where attendees can sit down, enjoy a coffee and a snack, and catch up on some work. You may have different benefits for other conferences, so check what you have access to before arriving!
Tip #5 You cannot see everything
Last year, AWS re:Invent had over 50,000 attendees, spanned across five different conference centres (each in one of the big hotels on the Las Vegas Strip), included over 2000 sessions on different topics, and hosted activities such as the Expo, where you can meet AWS partners. If you are looking to make the most of the event, my advice would be to highlight a key area (or two) and focus your attention on making the most of them.
Tip #6 Maximise your time
A week at re:Invent can fly by. Make sure you have a good strategy for seeing everything you want to see. Don’t spend too long on the Expo, for example, just because you might learn something new. Instead, focus on making the most of your time at the event — make notes or have lunch while travelling in the shuttle, or consider using your lunch time to network with people. It may also be worth considering staying in the same hotel for an afternoon instead of travelling — you may not see all the sessions that you had hoped, but this may allow you the time to attend three different sessions instead of two.
However, if you do need a break, don’t panic — the scale of the event can seem a little overwhelming for first-time goers. Make sure you give yourself enough time, so you are not rushing. It’s all in the balance.
Tip #7 Comfortable shoes
It seems obvious to me now, but wearing the same shoes all day and walking 20,000 steps is not the same as wearing them for your office job! Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothes and bring a backpack containing anything that you will need throughout the day as you will likely not be back in your hotel until after dinner.
Tip #8 Be flexible
Large conferences have a lot going on — new sessions get announced during the event, you may get invited to an industry-specific event after chatting to someone at the Expo, or you might find out someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with is at the same event and you end up needing to reshuffle your schedule. Make sure you have a plan, but don’t worry too much if the plan needs to change. There is plenty to see and do and you’re guaranteed to find something fun to fill your time with.
You can catch up with the 2022 re:Invent here: https://reinvent.awsevents.com/on-demand/ or look out for news on the 2023 re:Invent here: https://reinvent.awsevents.com/
I’m glad I had the opportunity to attend such a large-scale conference and would like to thank Credera UK for providing me and other people from different levels of the company with this opportunity.
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