This wiki page provides tips and strategies for convincing your manager to approve your attendance at Friendly.rb 2025.

Snippets and Talking Points

1. Highlight the Skills and Knowledge You'll Gain

• "Friendly.rb 2025 offers sessions on cutting-edge Ruby and Rails development, as well as broader topics like SaaS, Security, and algorithms. Attending these sessions will allow me to learn new techniques and best practices that I can directly apply to our current projects, improving efficiency and code quality. For example, I plan to attend the sessions on [specific technology relevant to your team's project] to learn how we can improve [specific aspect of your project]."
• "The conference provides a unique opportunity to deep-dive into areas we're currently exploring, such as [mention specific technologies or methodologies relevant to your team]. I can bring back actionable insights and strategies to help us implement these technologies successfully. This knowledge can directly contribute to [specific company goal or project outcome]."
• " [Speaker] is speaking about [Topic]. Learning about this will improve the speed at which we can deliver new features. I've seen that we have similar features on [project name] and I think we can apply this pattern here too. I plan to write a report about [topic] and give a short talk to the team when I am back."

2. Emphasize Networking and Collaboration

• "Friendly.rb 2025 brings together a diverse group of Ruby developers, industry experts, and potential partners. Attending the conference will allow me to network with these individuals, learn from their experiences, and build relationships that could benefit our company. I can connect with engineers from [mention companies your company might partner with or learn from] to discuss [relevant topics]."
• "The discussions panel and informal gatherings at the conference provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and discover innovative solutions. I can bring back new perspectives and approaches to help us overcome current obstacles. For instance, I am hoping to find people that have been facing similar challenges when using [technology you are currently working with]."

3. Focus on ROI (Return on Investment)

• "The cost of the ticket is a small investment compared to the potential benefits of increased knowledge, improved skills, and valuable connections. By attending Friendly.rb 2025, I can help our team work more efficiently, reduce development costs, and deliver higher-quality products. I estimate that the knowledge gained at this conference could save us approximately [estimate a time or money saving] in the long run."
• "I will create a detailed report summarizing my key takeaways from the conference and outlining actionable steps we can take to implement what I've learned. This will ensure that our company sees a clear return on its investment. The report will include a cost-benefit analysis and a timeline for implementation."

4. Show Your Enthusiasm and Commitment

• "I'm passionate about Ruby development and committed to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. Attending Friendly.rb 2025 would be a valuable opportunity for me to expand my knowledge, enhance my skills, and contribute more effectively to our team. I'm eager to share my learnings with the team through presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions."
• "I'm willing to share my knowledge and insights with the rest of the team upon my return. I can give a presentation summarizing my key takeaways or lead a workshop to teach new skills. I am happy to volunteer for this project as it is a great way to improve my knowledge and learn how to communicate better."

5. Address Potential Concerns

• Cost: "I've already looked into early bird tickets and travel options to minimize expenses. I can also prioritize sessions and activities that are most relevant to our company's needs. I will share my travel plan with you as soon as it is available to make sure it works for you."
• Time Away from Work: "I'm happy to work extra hours before and after the conference to ensure that my work is covered and that deadlines are met. I will also be available remotely if needed. I will also make sure that someone on our team can respond to urgent issues during that time."

6. Leverage Sponsor Connections

• "One of our technology partners, [Sponsor Name], is a sponsor of Friendly.rb 2025. Attending the conference would allow me to strengthen our relationship with them and explore potential collaboration opportunities. I will use this opportunity to understand what can [Sponsor Name] offer us as a company and thus make our jobs much more easy."