Our scholar journey to Berlin had a clear purpose – to attend the We Are Developers conference, discover the latest trends in the IT world, and connect with like-minded individuals. They also participated in a diaspora networking event organized by USAID and BH Futures Foundation. Their exciting adventure began on 17th and lasted until 20th of July. We bring you all the exciting things that our scholars experienced in past few days.

Day One: Spielfeld Digital Hub

It all started with a networking event organized by USAID Diaspora Invest Project and the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation. This gathering provided a platform for business leaders to exchange their views and experiences and explore potential investment opportunities in BiH. It was incredible to see how strong and widespread our community is. Along with the USAID presentation, we also presented the work of our foundation.

Over 150 entrepreneurs gathered to connect, share experiences, and explore investment opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The presentation showcased the positive outcomes of the diaspora's social engagement in BiH. Our scholar, Dalila Arapović was one of the speakers: "It was a great pleasure for me and my fellow volunteers to represent the BH Futures Foundation at this event, so I want to thank USAID for organizing it. As representatives of the BH Futures Foundation, it is very important for us to continue creating connections with our diaspora because we believe that we have a common vision of creating better conditions for everyone in our BiH society. We look forward to future events and initiatives." said Dalila.

Following the presentations, our scholars attended a panel discussion moderated by Elvir Bećirović. The panel, featuring Amela Malja, Amar Begović, and Amra Kotschau-Krilić, focused on the topic "Germany-BiH: Strengthening Diaspora Connections."

This event provided an excellent platform to connect with prominent Bosnian professionals based in Berlin and nearby cities. The aim was to foster connections, share knowledge, and explore new opportunities for young professionals. The event was notably successful, drawing a substantial crowd of young, motivated individuals.

“The BiH diaspora event supported by USAID, was truly inspiring. Listening to the stories of successful individuals who have achieved so much in Germany and are actively working to support Bosnia and Herzegovina filled me with pride and motivation.” said Mirza Sijamić.

Day 2: WeAreDevelopers Conference

15,000 attendees, over 10 stages, two days of learning, and more than 50 exhibitors

WeAreDevelopers was a two-day conference that featured lectures by some of the greatest experts in the world of technology and development. The event brought together a diverse group of speakers, including leading professionals and innovators from various fields. Our scholars had the opportunity to learn from and network with top industry experts, gaining valuable insights into the latest trends, best practices, and groundbreaking advancements in technology and development.

The event kicked off with an opening speech by Sead Ahmetović, CEO of WeAreDevelopers, who shared the story behind the idea and inception of the congress. Joining him on stage was Thomas Pamminger, CPO and Co-Founder of WeAreDevelopers.

After the opening lecture, our scholars explored the expansive expo area, which was bustling with activity. They had the opportunity to engage with engineers from well-known companies such as Hetzner, Okta, RavenDB, Twilio, Infobip, Docker, and Couchbase, among others. Lectures and workshops were held across three different buildings, giving us the flexibility to choose the activities we wanted to attend. We managed this using their innovative app, which provided detailed information, a comprehensive map of the event, and schedules for all sessions.

”The first official day of the conference was truly spectacular. The venue was enormous, featuring ten stages with nonstop presentations and company booths that were always bustling with activity. It was incredible to see so many developers gathered in one place. We spent the day meeting new people, attending insightful lectures, and exploring innovative startups and companies.” said Jasmin Oruc.

“On the first day of the conference, we registered, received a welcome drink, and met many fellow citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina who also attended the event. The atmosphere was vibrant, and it felt wonderful to be surrounded by familiar faces in a new city,” said Mirza Sijamić.

Ibrahim’s highlight of the conference was an intriguing session on why HTMX is surpassing React, Vue, and Svelte, offering fresh insights into the evolving front-end landscape. Additionally, an applied introduction to eBPF with Go provided a comprehensive look at eBPF’s powerful capabilities in modern development. Both of these talks, along with many others, greatly expanded Jasmin’s understanding of current technology trends and their future implications.

Jasmin tells us about his most interesting topic that he attended at the conference. The topic talked about using generative AI to accelerate learning, by Duan Lightfoot. “Duan demonstrated how to use large language models to build a customized learning assistant that helps in quickly acquiring new skills. He showed step-by-step how to create your own learning assistant using team documentation, collective knowledge, and online resources to provide on-demand support. He also discussed the current capabilities and limitations of AI assistants from a developer's perspective, emphasizing the need for human oversight to ensure responsible adherence to best practices,” said Jasmin Oruč.

As the event continued on the next day, there were various lectures that were being held. Something that caught Mirza’s eye were numerous panels he attended. Some of the standout sessions he included were about some interesting topics:

"You're a Great Coder? That Alone Won't Get You Far: The Soft Skills Secret in IT Success" by Pierluigi Meloni: This session emphasized the importance of soft skills in the IT industry and how having them gives candidates a significant advantage.

"Quantum Computing - The Tiny and the Big Challenges" by Alex Waldherr: A young expert who provided insights into the fascinating world of quantum computing. “Her enthusiasm was contagious, and her explanations made this advanced topic understandable and fascinating.”

"Unlocking the Future: Breakthrough Application Performance and Capabilities with NVIDIA" by Ankit Patel: He discussed the possibilities of accelerated computing and the tools, technologies, and programs enabled by NVIDIA. Showcasing the future of computing in a way that was both inspiring and informative.

He adds: “These panels and encounters were just a few highlights of an incredibly enriching experience. The job fair was equally impressive, with numerous companies showcasing their innovations and sharing their enthusiasm with us. The energy was infectious, and the opportunities seemed eply grateful to BH Futures Foundation and everyone involved in making this experience possible. It has limitless,”

“This journey to Berlin has left a profound impact on me. The connections made, the knowledge gained, and the inspiration felt will undoubtedly shape my future attempts. I am deeply grateful to BH Futures Foundation and everyone involved in making this experience possible. It has been a transformative experience, filled with learning, growth, and a renewed sense of purpose,” said Mirza Sijamić.

Our scholars had the unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders and gain valuable insights into cutting-edge technology. Two standout experiences were shared by participants Ibrahim Okić and Dino Burić, who highlighted the exceptional presentations and connections they made during the event:

“We also had the opportunity to meet two exceptional engineers from the automotive industry who work for Cariad SE. They gave us an in-depth tour of the infotainment system in the Audi Q6 E-tron, which they were directly involved in developing. Their presentation was the highlight of the expo side of the event for me, and I’m truly grateful for the chance to have met them. They offered fascinating insights into an area of IT that I had no previous experience with, and I greatly appreciate the knowledge they shared.” said Ibrahim Okić.

“Another interesting connection we made is Abdul Hamdan, Partner Sales Engineer at Google. Abdul told us about his interesting journey from electrical engineer to software developer and now an employee at Google. He also shared the tough process of getting the job at Google and the many interviews he had to pass. I am grateful to hear these amazing stories and insights from such interesting people.” - adds Dino Burić.

“The conference fully met my expectations. Although the conference promised a strong focus on innovation, technology and AI, it also emphasized unity, diversity, and a thirst for knowledge, which was actually the core purpose of the entire event. We initially thought it would be just another one of many similar conferences where we simply attend and listen to lectures, but instead, we returned with a significant and valuable experience. We quickly integrated into a community of like-minded individuals, exchanged ideas, heard intriguing stories, learned many new things, and genuinely enjoyed ourselves. I was delighted with the new knowledge I gained through the workshops and lectures, as well as the opportunities that opened up through meeting people from different parts of the world. I felt inspired, motivated, fulfilled, and grateful for the new insights and professional connections I made. The event broadened my horizons and gave me wings for future challenges.” said Lejla Nezirović.

Reflecting on her recent trip to Berlin, Dalila shared how deeply the experience impacted her. The diverse range of events and the opportunity to connect with professionals from various fields provided her with invaluable insights and motivation:

"Berlin, along with all the events I attended, left a significant impact on me. The professionals I met, the experiences and stories we shared, despite coming from vastly different backgrounds and professions, was incredibly valuable to me. Listening to numerous professionals, gaining insights into their thoughts and perspectives, and finding common ground with people from outside Bosnia and Herzegovina was incredibly motivating. Meeting people who share the same energy and passion for design, especially since such opportunities are rare in Bosnia was something new for me. For instance, making friends while standing in line for Figma for an hour was an unexpected delight—let's just say, the passion we shared was incredible. I am immensely grateful to BHFF, WeAreDevelopers, and all the individuals who participated and made this experience possible.” said Dalila.

At BH Futures Foundation, we are committed to continuing our support for our scholars by providing them with opportunities to attend and engage in similar events. We believe that exposure to such high-caliber conferences is essential for their growth and development, enabling them to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and become future leaders in their respective fields. Our scholars achievements are a testament to their hard work and our shared vision of empowering the next generation of innovators. The experiences, connections, and memories from this trip will undoubtedly shape the future paths of these talented young individuals.

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Nine Scholars Embark on The World's Leading Event for Developers and Tech Decision-Makers