First off, a huge thank you to Deborah for hosting this month’s T-SQL Tuesday and for the invite to contribute! More importantly, thank you, Deborah, for your continued support of New Stars of Data over the years. Your mentorship and commitment to helping new speakers find their voice have made a real impact on our community.
How New Stars of Data Was Born
My passion has always been seeing others strive for success – not necessarily mentoring them directly, but creating opportunities where they can thrive. That’s exactly how New Stars of Data came to life.
Before the pandemic, William Durkin and I ran a dedicated New Speaker Track at DataGrillen – an opportunity for fresh voices to take the stage and share their knowledge. When in-person events became impossible, we knew we had to find another way to support and nurture first-time speakers. New Stars of Data was born out of that need, providing a global, virtual platform where new speakers could step up, be heard, and gain confidence with the support of experienced mentors.
What started as a temporary solution quickly proved to be something more – a vital, accessible, and inclusive platform. That’s why even as in-person events return, New Stars of Data is here to stay. We recognize that not everyone can or wants to travel, whether for personal, financial, or health reasons. By keeping a virtual stage open alongside the in-person equivalent, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow, learn, and share their knowledge in the way that works best for them.
More Events Supporting New Speakers
New Stars of Data is far from the only event supporting new speakers with dedicated mentoring. Huge shoutout to DataMinds Connect and DataScotland, both of which offer New Speaker Tracks alongside fantastic mentoring programs. The more opportunities we create for new voices, the stronger our community becomes. If you’re considering your first talk, these events are an excellent place to start!
Why Mentoring Matters
Public speaking can be intimidating, especially for those taking the stage for the first time. Many of us wouldn’t be where we are today without the guidance of those who took the time to review slides, listen to practice runs, and offer honest feedback – all while cheering us on. That’s what makes mentoring so important: it’s not just about technical skills; it’s about believing in someone’s potential before they believe in themselves.
Every edition of New Stars of Data reminds me how incredibly generous, patient, and passionate our mentors are. They don’t just help shape great sessions – they shape careers. The countless hours they invest in supporting first-time speakers create ripples that extend far beyond a single event.
From New Stars to Rock Stars
If there’s one thing the past few years have proven, it’s that all it takes is a spark to ignite someone’s journey. So many of our former New Stars of Data speakers have gone on to become rock stars in the data community. They now speak at major international conferences, lead community initiatives, and even mentor others. Seeing this transformation first-hand has been incredibly rewarding and is a testament to the power of encouragement and guidance. Or – in other words: I knew them before they were famous 🙂
A Grateful Shoutout to Our Mentors
I can’t say this enough: thank you to every single mentor who has volunteered their time to help someone else succeed. Your contributions fuel the future of our community. Your guidance turns nervous first-timers into confident presenters, and your encouragement inspires others to step up and do the same.
If you’ve ever considered mentoring but haven’t yet – do it. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in this community. Watching someone you’ve mentored deliver their first session, thrive, and then pay it forward is an incredible feeling.
Want to Speak? Need a Mentor? Let’s Talk!
If you’ve ever thought about giving a talk but don’t know where to start – reach out! I’d be happy to personally mentor you or help you find someone who can. The SQL community is built on sharing knowledge, lifting each other up, and creating spaces where everyone can grow.
And if you’re holding back because you think “I have nothing to talk about” – trust me, you do. Your journey, your challenges, your solutions – they all have value. You never know who might benefit from hearing your story, so don’t underestimate it.
What’s Next? Taking the Next Step in Your Speaking Journey
For those who have already spoken at New Stars of Data or another local event and are wondering, what’s next?, we’ve got you covered. The New Stars Track at the PASS Data Community Summit will run for the third time this year and is designed for speakers who have presented before but never at a big international event. This track helps bridge the gap between community-driven speaking opportunities and larger, high-profile conferences. Submissions will open again later this year, so if you’ve been thinking about taking that next step, keep an eye out!
Once again, thanks to Deborah for prompting this discussion and for always being one of those people who lifts others up. And thanks to every mentor out there—you make all the difference.
Let’s keep paying it forward.