BSidesSF 2026 - Elevating First-Time Female Voices on Stage (Poorna Rajaraman, Deepika Gupta)

This talk addresses the challenge of speaker intimidation faced by first-time female presenters. Poorna Rajaraman and Deepika Gupta introduce a "Novice-Only" conference blueprint that incorporates a 6-month mentorship program alongside a robust Technical Advisory Committee. They demonstrate how to empower quiet experts to become effective technical presenters, fostering industry inclusivity by connecting new voices with the conference stage.