Give a lightning talk: an open invitation, especially to first-time speakers

PyLadies Vancouver and R-Ladies Vancouver are teaming up for a night of lightning talks on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at VISST, and we’re looking for speakers. This is an open invitation. If you have never spoken before, it is especially for you. We would love to help you give your first talk.

Who should give a talk

If you are reading this, you can give a talk. We are an inclusive community, and we welcome speakers of every background and experience level: first-timers and seasoned presenters, students and career-changers, and everyone in between. You do not need to be an expert or hold a particular job title. If you have learned something and can walk others through it, we want to hear from you.

What is a lightning talk

A lightning talk is a short talk. At a conference it is usually a strict five minutes. Because we are more relaxed than a conference, we welcome talks anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. You pick one idea and share it: a tool you like, something you learned last week, a small project, a bug that taught you something. That is the whole thing.

The lowest-pressure way onto a stage

Five to fifteen minutes is short, and that is the point. There is no need for a polished hour, an original topic, or a big stack of slides. You make one point and step down. It is the friendliest first step into public speaking, and a low-stakes way to practise before a bigger stage like a conference.

Questions we’ve heard, and our answers

We hear the same questions a lot. Here is what we tell people:

• “I have never done public speaking.” Then we would love to debut you. A lightning talk is a gentle first stage, and we will help you prepare.
• “My topic is not interesting enough.” Let us be the judge. If you found it useful, chances are someone else will too.
• “Someone already gave a talk on this.” It does not matter that a topic has come up before. We want to hear your version of it: your words, your angle, your experience.
• “I have given this talk somewhere else.” Bring it. We always have new members who have not heard it, so a talk from another meetup, conference, or class is welcome here.
• “My talk was rejected somewhere else.” Then bring it here and you will still get your audience. A rejection usually says more about a packed schedule than about your idea.

What we will help with

You will not be on your own. We will help you shape your idea, share the running order and introduce you before you go on, and keep a gentle eye on time so you know when your slot is wrapping up. The room is warm and on your side, and questions, if you want them, are friendly. You choose whether to take questions when you sign up.

An always-open call

Our call for lightning talks stays open. There is no deadline and no closing form. If August is not the right time for you, your idea is still welcome, and there is always a next meetup. Sign up whenever you are ready.

Lightning talks are not the only format we are looking for. If you have a longer talk or a hands-on workshop in mind, we are open to that too. It goes through the same form.

How to submit

Sign up through Sessionize with a title and a sentence or two. You do not need a finished abstract to start. You can update your title, bio, and details in Sessionize any time, so there is no need to get it perfect right away, and we will reach out if we have any questions.

New to the format, or not sure what to talk about? Our Lightning Talks guide covers what a lightning talk is, how to prepare, topic ideas, example talks to watch, and common questions.

If you would rather talk it through first, reach out in the #city-vancouver channel on the PyLadies Slack or email vancouver at pyladies dot com.

Know someone who would be great on stage? Introduce us by emailing vancouver at pyladies dot com, or forward this post to them. We hope to see you there.