VKD barcamp in Cologne

There are encounters that drain your energy, and then there are encounters that leave you feeling energised.

For me, the latter definitely includes last week‘s barcamp at die wohngemeinschaft organised as part of the mentoring programme of Germany’s professional association for conference interpreters VKD.

One of my personal indicators that an event will boost my energy is when I find myself surrounded by truly like-minded peers and an inspiring atmosphere that gets my creative juices flowing. The barcamp ticked every box. I went home feeling enriched, both personally and professionally.

With three time slots and a total of nine sessions, choosing my top three was no easy task!

In one session, I learned more about resilience and self-care (not only) in challenging times. I also discussed new tools and apps for accounting, project management, and time tracking with fellow interpreters.

And finally, I had the pleasure of co-hosting the session on personal branding and client acquisition together with my mentee Valentine. Preparing and leading the session gave me plenty of fresh ideas and valuable food for thought.

If there’s one thing I took away from the day, it’s that the best professional development happens when knowledge is shared openly, curiosity is encouraged, and people genuinely enjoy learning from one another. I’m already looking forward to our next meeting!