At the recent DrupalCon North America 2023 in Pittsburgh, more than 1,500 Drupal enthusiasts gathered to explore new ideas, share knowledge, and strengthen the community. As CEO of Seed EM, I had the privilege of attending and want to share with you some notable thoughts on the innovation and impact of this event on the Drupal community.
I. Innovation as a path to success:
One of the important milestones at every DrupalCon is the Dries Note, Dries Buytaert, founder of Drupal, always strives to deliver a “state of Drupal” to community members and this year he emphasized the importance of continuous innovation in the tecnologic world. At Drupal, evolution and innovation are essential to stay ahead and meet the changing demands of our users and customers. As Dries said, "the drop is always in motion." If we stop progressing, we risk falling behind. In this link you can see the keynote: https://dri.es/state-of-drupal-presentation-june-2023
II. Fostering collaboration and common vision:
One of the most inspiring parts of DrupalCon North America 2023 was the Q&A session moderated by Dries, featuring Tim Doyle, CEO of the Drupal Association, and Baddý Breidert, Chair of the Drupal Association Board of Directors. They discussed the association’s strategic goals and actions taken to drive product innovation. This collaboration between community leaders and members is critical to building a common vision and working together toward a more innovative future.
III. Jumping innovation curves:
Dries also spoke about the importance of jumping the “S-curves” of innovation. Drupal has proven its ability to adapt and lead, jumping from one growth curve to another over the years. This has been made possible by our clear vision and purpose, community collaboration, a supportive environment, and the time given for ideas to flourish. At DrupalCon North America, we were able to see how this approach has led to innovative and exciting projects, such as Decoupled Layout Builders, JSON data, schemas FTW, and Drupal API Client, among others.
IV. Recognizing innovation in action:
A highlight of the event and truly a new model that is projected to reward and sponsor contributors of innovative projects, was the Pitch-burgh competition, in which participants presented their innovative Drupal ideas. It was interesting to see how five outstanding projects were selected to receive funding and make their ideas a reality. These projects, such as Using Drupal Gutenberg towards easier use of an enterprise CMS and Contributing and Mentoring, represent the willingness and dedication of the Drupal community to drive innovative solutions and continuously improve the platform.
V. Strengthening Drupal Con as an event:
A medida que DrupalCon North America continúa evolucionando y creciendo, se ha convertido en un evento central para la comunidad Drupal. La asistencia masiva y entusiasta de este año es una clara evidencia de cómo el evento se ha fortalecido a lo largo del tiempo. Con cada edición, se ha vuelto más diverso y global, atrayendo a profesionales de diferentes países y culturas. Además, el enfoque en la innovación y la colaboración ha impulsado la calidad y la relevancia de las charlas, talleres y presentaciones. La comunidad Drupal se reúne para intercambiar ideas, compartir experiencias y establecer conexiones significativas, lo que ha llevado a un crecimiento exponencial de la red de contactos y oportunidades de colaboración.
El crecimiento del Drupal Con como evento también se refleja en el aumento de patrocinadores y el financiamiento otorgado a proyectos innovadores a través de concursos como Pitch-burgh. Estas inversiones demuestran el reconocimiento de la industria hacia Drupal como una plataforma sólida y en constante evolución.
VI. Celebrando la belleza de Pittsburgh y los eventos sociales integradores:
No se puede hablar del DrupalCon North America 2023 sin mencionar la belleza de la ciudad anfitriona, Pittsburgh. Con su rica historia industrial y su escenario artístico en auge, Pittsburgh brindó un entorno inspirador para la innovación y el intercambio de ideas en el evento. Los asistentes tuvieron la oportunidad de maravillarse con los icónicos puentes que cruzan los ríos Ohio, Monongahela y Allegheny, y de explorar los diversos barrios y parques que hacen de Pittsburgh una ciudad vibrante.
En paralelo a la programación de conferencias, el DrupalCon North America 2023 también ofreció una serie de eventos sociales integradores. Las fiestas organizadas por empresas líderes en el ecosistema Drupal, como Acquia y Pantheon, brindaron a los asistentes la oportunidad de relajarse y socializar en un ambiente acogedor y festivo. Estos eventos fueron momentos clave para establecer nuevas conexiones, fortalecer relaciones existentes y compartir experiencias con colegas de todo el mundo. La integración y la camaradería en estas fiestas reflejaron el espíritu colaborativo y comunitario de Drupal.
Additionally, a highlight of DrupalCon North America 2023 was the exclusive dinner for Drupal Agency CEOs. This event brought together leaders from well-known agencies in the Drupal community, providing a platform to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and establish strategic collaborations. The dinner allowed for a valuable exchange of perspectives and experiences, fostering growth and synergy within the Drupal agency ecosystem. The strengthening of Drupal Con as an event over the years demonstrates its importance as the epicenter of the Drupal community. With each edition, the event has become more diverse and global, attracting professionals from different countries and cultures. The focus on innovation, collaboration, and shared vision has driven the success of DrupalCon North America and will continue to be the foundation for future editions.
It is always a pleasure to share the experiences of Drupal Con and we equally love sharing what we learn with our clients and allies. At SeeD we are increasingly supporting the growth of the community and polishing our skills permanently.