While reviewing the speaker lineups at several prominent Go (Golang) conferences, I noticed some recurring patterns:
Speaker Selection Driven by Influence: Many rosters feature the same familiar faces year after year. While these speakers are undeniably talented, it limits the diversity of perspectives shared with the audience.
Limited Opportunities for New Speakers: Although new voices are occasionally included, the majority of speaking slots continue to go to well-known names.
Lack of Regional & Cultural Diversity: Conferences often miss the opportunity to bring in global voices or regional contributors who can offer fresh, valuable perspectives on Go and its ecosystem.
Sponsor Influence: Corporate sponsorships sometimes seem to shape the speaker lineup and the overall conference agenda, blurring the line between technical discussion and marketing.
Lack of Representation from Non-Enterprise Contributors: Many conferences focus heavily on the enterprise application of Go, while often neglecting the open-source contributors or the individual developers who are responsible for much of Go's growth and innovation outside of big companies.
Ultimately, it would be refreshing to see more intentional efforts to bring new talent to the stage, representing a broader range of voices and experiences.