Mastering Your bbcon Speaker Application

The call for speakers for bbcon 2025 is open through March 14, and we encourage all interested customers to apply. This is an opportunity to showcase your expertise and experience, grow professionally, and get a free ticket to bbcon! 

We recently held a webinar for Blackbaud Champions featuring a longtime bbcon track leader and three experienced bbcon speakers to share their tips for a strong application, and we’ve put together a summary of that conversation to help all potential speakers. 

Feeling a bit nervous or unsure about whether you have the expertise to speak at bbcon? Take inspiration from frequent bbcon speaker Austen Brown, senior automation architect at Prenger Solutions Group: “It’s natural to feel a bit of imposter syndrome when considering submitting a speaker application. Remember, you are a champion in your own right, and there is always something you’re really good at that someone else could learn from. Don’t let insecurities hold you back. We are all champions in our own right, and sharing what we know helps everyone level up.”    

Identifying Your Topic 

 
Focus on Your Passion and Experience 

Ideas for a conference session should originate from your genuine passions, areas of interest, or what you excel at in your daily work. Start by reflecting on what you model well for others at your organization, what product capabilities you have trained or coached people to use, or what task you look forward to the most.  

Austen Brown recommends, “Take a moment to reflect on yourself and your role. What you are really passionate about or what is something that you’re really good at doing. Whether it’s database cleanup, automation, or any other area, your unique perspective can provide valuable insights to others.” 

And don’t worry if it’s a topic you’ve seen at previous bbcons. As Carlene Johnson, who has spoken at multiple bbcons while in her previous role at a private K-12 school and now as the founder and principal consultant at Next Level Services, points out “Just because somebody did a session on tips tricks last year, there will new people at bbcon who did get to attend that extremely valuable session. What is tried and true and can be extremely valuable for folks who have never attended bbcon.” In addition to reaching new audiences, you’ll also bring your own unique perspective and experience to a topic. 

Don’t Undervalue the Basics 

Even if it’s something routine, it can be a gamechanger for others. The conference attracts a mix of skillsets from beginners who are brand new to using their solutions to experts who bring 25 years or more of experience. Amy Dana, development services and data manager at Bat Conservation International, offered an important reminder: “You never know what people don’t know. So, you can’t assume that just because you know something or everybody in your organization knows something that everybody in the world knows how to do that thing.” 

We welcome submissions that cover anything from the basics that will help someone onboard and implement quickly and have a great first experience with their solutions to more advanced topics that lean into automations and customizations. Think about something you wish you knew when starting out, or about something that may be second nature to you now but may have taken you a while to figure out. 

How are YOU, as your organization’s subject matter expert, keeping your colleagues updated on what they need to know? Whatever that is, it tells a great story of how you are influencing change and adoption at your organization and other people want to hear how you do this.  

Fill in the Topic Gaps You Want to See at bbcon 

Think about what you wish you had seen at previous bbcon conferences or what you are hoping to learn in 2025. If there’s a topic or session you felt was missing, consider filling that gap—it’s likely that others would also love to see a session on that topic. And who better than you to rise to the challenge? Your session could be the one that addresses those unmet needs and provides fresh, relevant take on the subject.  

Consider Collaborating with Other Passionate Users  

If you’re nervous about presenting alone, consider teaming up with your colleagues or connect with other customers in Blackbaud Community—you can search for others who have already posted about that topic or put out a call for co-presenters within the bbcon discussion forum or the relevant product discussion forum.  

Patti Hommes, development manager at Jack and Jill Center, shared that one of the benefits of presenters with others is that it “helps the session feel like a “big conversation, which helps you feel more comfortable in the moment because you are talking to your peers who share your interest, and they genuinely want you to succeed in the moment.” And Amy Dana pointed out that when you have multiple presenters, that means that it can take the weight off as you don’t have to prepare to speak for the entirety of the session time because that time is instead spread across the speakers. 
 
Tip: If you have a great idea and haven’t identified a co-presenter yet, we encourage you to indicate that. Nikki Baldwin, senior product marketing manager at Blackbaud and longtime bbcon track lead, shared a key tip: if you’re not able to find peer or a colleague to co-present with and help you carry the session along, Blackbaud can help pair you up with someone, whether it be someone from Blackbaud or another customer. 

Crafting Your Application 

When writing your application, there are some key points you should be able to articulate even if you don’t have the entire details of the session readied before the March 12 submission deadline. Nikki Baldwin shared the key components that help session proposals stand out during her review:  

• Clarify your audience and their expertise level: When you apply you will be asked to designate whether your session is suited for beginner, intermediate or expert-level product users. Do keep in mind, however, that a wide range of organization types and skill levels attend bbcon, so craft your proposal with broad appeal in mind. 

• Describe the topic’s relevance and impact: Explain why your topic is important and how it can benefit other organizations. Your proposal is bound to stand out if you can clearly communicate the importance of the topic. Consider using the following arch to develop an impact statement:  
  • Why is this a problem that needs solving?
  • Why is it important to solve this problem?
  • How did you solve the problem?

• Outline your learning objectives: Be sure to clearly state what you want your audience to learn and what you think they should be able to accomplish after attending your session. These 3-5 objectives should be straightforward and clear. Consider the following questions to develop your objectives: 
  • What do you want others to be able to do back at their organizations as a result of attending your bbcon session?
  • What do attendees need to know how to bridge the gap where they are today and where they want to be when they return to their organizations after bbcon?

• Consider using AI tools: If you need help filling out the shell of an idea or polishing up a description or statement, AI writing tools such as Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT can be great aids for creativity and brainstorming and can provide help for those who feel like they should use help with writing. 

Tip: If you have concerns about demoing a solution or showing an example dashboard that includes sensitive organizational data, you can leave a note on your speaker application to that you prefer to have a Blackbaud employee walk the audience through the solution with sample data. 

More Reasons to Apply to Speak at bbcon 

Submitting a bbcon speaker application is a fantastic opportunity to share your knowledge, connect with others, and enhance your professional growth. The bbcon experience is made better when customers—your peers— are put front and center to help you understand and learn how to utilize your solutions to the fullest capabilities and deliver more mission-impact. 
 
And don’t forget about the free bbcon ticket! As Nikki Baldwin pointed out, “Attending bbcon without paying for the registration fee, while still representing your organization is a mindful and financially responsible way to attend the conference. You’re considering your organization’s bottom line.” 
 
Your voice matters, and your insights can make a significant impact on the Blackbaud community. We look forward to seeing your application and hearing your unique perspective at bbcon! In the words of Patti Hommes, “Just take a deep breath. Then go for it! We love to see people succeed!”