H. Wade Minter

Public Speaking

As a conference speaker and emcee, I am guaranteed to entertain

Wade Minter speaking to a conference audience

I’ve spent over a decade getting up in front of people and talking about the things I care about: building great software, supporting junior developers, using improv to make teams better, and having fun while doing it. I also emcee events — keeping shows moving, making speakers look great, and giving audiences an energetic experience.

Wade has been an incredible supporter of our region’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem and we are so grateful for his leadership. He is consistently kind, creative, generous, and not to mention hilarious — a true joy to work with. —Bridget Harrington, Executive Director of Innovate Raleigh

If you’d like me to speak at or emcee your event, get in touch.

Building Weird Things With The National Hockey League Using Ruby!

What happens when an NHL PA announcer who writes Ruby decides to automate his car, build game bots, and generally mash up hockey APIs with everything?

Building a Pipeline: The Case for Hiring Junior Developers

Why your team needs junior developers, how to find them, and how to set them up for success. Delivered at both OSCON US and OSCON Europe (London).

You Code Like a Sysadmin

On impostor syndrome, career identity, and what happens when you realize the label you’ve been given doesn’t match the work you actually do.

What I Talk About

Improv for technologists — My most popular workshop. In a few hours, I take a group of introverted strangers and teach them about collaboration, listening, ideation, and empathy using applied improv techniques. I’ve delivered this at OSCON, LISA, RailsConf, and corporate events.

Supporting junior developers — Why hiring junior developers is a strategic advantage, not a burden. How to build a pipeline, onboard effectively, and create a culture where new developers thrive.

Building user-focused software — Lessons from building products for blue-collar users, sports teams, and non-technical audiences. What changes when your users aren’t developers.

The weird intersection of hockey and tech — Bots, APIs, announcer software, and what it’s like to be a technologist inside professional sports.

Emceeing

Wade Minter hosting RTP180, seen from behind at the mic

From 2018-2023, I was the host of RTP180, a monthly talk series at The Frontier in Research Triangle Park, presented by RTI International. I kept the show fun and engaging, made the speakers look great, and facilitated Q&A with the audience. When COVID hit, I helped adapt the show to a virtual format and kept it running as a Zoom-based event from March 2020 through July 2021.

I’ve also emceed the Innovate Raleigh Summit, Innovate Raleigh Candidates Forum, High Five Conference, and the Startup Pitch Contest at All Things Open.

Full Speaking History