EVENT UPDATE: The SQL Saturday Chicago event is always amazing. I presented two sessions at the event: Become a SQL Pro who’s in High Demand and You’re hired! Creating value before and after the interview.

Notable Sessions: Here are two sessions that I attended that were both educational and enjoyable.

• Andy Wickman (t, l, b) “Lessons from Consulting: Third-Party Vendors,” which explained what to expect and what questions to ask when dealing with third-party software that interacts and manages company data. Andy shared what key things to check and look for in 3rd party software that will have an impact on a data professionals role. He also shared advice on how to work with these vendors that can make integrating their software into a company’s enterprise more successful.
• David Klee (t, l, b) “My Brain Has Blue Screened – Let’s Laugh,” which was a fun exploration of unique stories that data professionals have encountered over their career. Since this was the last session of the day it was a much-needed laugh and break from learning.

More below, including  Event Photos.

Event Follow Up:

SESSION 1 DESCRIPTION:

Become a SQL Pro who’s in High Demand.

Speaker(s): Wylie Blanchard

Track: Professional Development

Expertise in SQL is an in-demand IT skill. As demand continues to grow, so does the increase of SQL professionals entering your specific industry. Learn what’s needed to ensure that you become a stronger technology authority in your industry and a SQL Pro who’s always in High Demand.  You’ll learn how to invest in growing your expertise, improve your social/people skills, how to effectively sell and market your talent, what is a “source of truth” and why is it extremely important and more.

Session Materials for Event Attendees: 

Download: Presentation Slides 

Event Follow Up:

SESSION 2 DESCRIPTION:

You’re hired! Creating value before and after the interview.

Speaker(s): Wylie Blanchard

Track: Professional Development

Landing a gig as an employee, consultant or contractor has become highly competitive. You need to differentiate yourself in a way that tells the hiring manager that you are more valuable than everyone else. In this session, I’ll share 3 things that I’ve learned from my experience as an employee, hiring manager and consultant that will help you market your expertise, create new opportunities and get them saying “you’re hired”.

Session Materials for Event Attendees:

Download: Presentation Slides 

Wylie provided excellent tips on how to make yourself stand out when marketing yourself and reinforced important principles like focusing on quantifying your achievements.

Steven A Osacky
Crowe LLP

Event Follow Up:

PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT:

SQLSaturday is a training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Analytics. This event will be held on Mar 23, 2019, at Benedictine University, 5700 College Rd, Lisle, Illinois, 60532, United States.

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

Follow Up:

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

You’re hired! Creating value before and after the interview.

Speaker(s): Wylie Blanchard

Track: Professional Development

Landing a gig as an employee, consultant or contractor has become highly competitive. You need to differentiate yourself in a way that tells the hiring manager that you are more valuable than everyone else. In this session, I’ll share 3 things that I’ve learned from my experience as an employee, hiring manager and consultant that will help you market your expertise, create new opportunities and get them saying “you’re hired”.

Session Materials for Event Attendees:

Download: Presentation Slides 

Wylie provided excellent tips on how to make yourself stand out when marketing yourself and reinforced important principles like focusing on quantifying your achievements.

Steven A Osacky
Crowe LLP

Event Follow Up:

PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT:

RT @stilldrey: Great presentation @WylieBlanchard1 on creating value before and after the interview! #SQLSatChicago

RT @SQLBob: You’re hired! Creating value before and after the interview to be by @WylieBlanchard1 #SQLSatChicago

SQLSaturday is a training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Analytics. This event will be held on Mar 23, 2019, at Benedictine University, 5700 College Rd, Lisle, Illinois, 60532, United States.

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

The resources from this session are now available.

Session 1.

Become a SQL Pro who’s in High Demand.

Speaker(s): Wylie Blanchard.

Track: Professional Development.

Expertise in SQL is an in-demand IT skill. As demand continues to grow, so does the increase of SQL professionals entering your specific industry. Learn what’s needed to ensure that you become a stronger technology authority in your industry and a SQL Pro who’s always in High Demand.  You’ll learn how to invest in growing your expertise, improve your social/people skills, how to effectively sell and market your talent, what is a “source of truth” and why is it extremely important and more.

Session resources and photos are now available.

EVENT UPDATE Mar 23 2019: A speaking slot became available at the last minute, giving me the opportunity to present on another topic. I decided to keep the focus on career enhancement by sharing ways to position yourself as the candidate of choice during the interview process.

Session 2.

You’re hired! Creating value before and after the interview to before and after the interview.

Speaker(s): Wylie Blanchard.

Track: Professional Development.

Landing a gig as an employee, consultant or contractor has become highly competitive. You need to differentiate yourself in a way that tells the hiring manager that you are more valuable than everyone else. In this session, I’ll share 3 things that I’ve learned from my experience as an employee, hiring manager and consultant that will help you market your expertise, create new opportunities and get them saying “you’re hired”.

Session resources and photos are now available.

SQLSaturday is a training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Analytics. This event will be held on Mar 23, 2019, at Benedictine University, 5700 College Rd, Lisle, Illinois, 60532, United States.

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

EVENT UPDATE: The SQL Chicago community is always the best. I had a full house for this session and the audience participation was amazing. Feedback from the audience was that they enjoyed the discussion portion on scaling degrees and certifications to maximize the return on their investment. I didn’t originally plan to share my views on scalability but I’ll definitely include it in my next session on this topic.

Notable Sessions: Here are two sessions that I attended that were great in both content and delivery.

• Henry Treftz’s (t) “Why Third Party Vendors Do The Things They Do,” which gave us an inside look at why ISV’s design their technology in ways that can sometimes make the end user ask, “Why did they do that”. Henry shares the pros and cons to ISV design.
• Ed Leighton-Dick’s (t, l, b) “How to Keep Your Databases Secure in Just Minutes a Day,” because we all need to learn more about database security. Ed is the go-to resource for helping us keep our DB secure.

Follow Up:

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.wylieblanchard.com/wp-content/uploads/Become-a-SQL-Pro-who’s-in-High-Demand_SQL-Saturday-719_Chicago-2018_-Benedictine-University_Wylie-Blanchard.pdf” title=”Become a SQL Pro who’s in High Demand_SQL Saturday 719_Chicago 2018_ Benedictine University_Wylie Blanchard”]

Download: Presentation Slides

Cool slide deck, nice presentation and organization of content as well as an awesome story to be telling others at UGs and SQL Saturdays. Thanks for paying it forward!

— Tim Radney (@tradney) March 19, 2018

SQLSaturday is a training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Analytics. This event was be held on Mar 17, 2018, at Benedictine University, 5700 College Rd, Lisle, Illinois, 60532, United States.

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

The resources from this session are now available (For event attendees only).

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

EVENT UPDATE: I had a great time helping Wausau, Wisconsin deliver its first SQL Saturday event. I presented two sessions: MS SSAS & Business Value and Developing Business-Driven Self-Service BI.

More below, including  Event Photos.

Event Follow Up:

SESSION 1 DESCRIPTION:

MS SSAS & Business Value: Should I choose Tabular or Multidimensional?

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

Event Follow Up:

SESSION 1 DESCRIPTION:

MS SSAS & Business Value – Choosing between Tabular or Multidimensional

SQLSaturday is a training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence, and Analytics. This event was held on Aug 12, 2017, at Ivy Tech College – Noblesville, 300 N 17th St, Noblesville, Indiana, 46060, United States.

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

SQLSaturday is a training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence, and Analytics. This event will be held on Mar 11, 2017, at DeVry University – Addison Campus, 1221 North Swift Road, Addison, Illinois, 60101, United States

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

The Chicago SQL BI User Group hosts monthly meetings for SQL and Business Intelligence professionals to meet, learn, and network. Speakers present a different topic each month covering both SQL BI topics and relevant non-SQL technologies. Dinner, refreshments, and door prizes are provided by sponsors. This meeting will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2017, 6:00 PM at Microsoft Technical Center, 200 E Randolph St. Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60601.

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....

Back in 2013, I participated in a professional speaker training/workshop offered by the National Speakers Association – Illinois Chapter. I enjoyed the training so much that I returned in 2014, as an alumni, to ensure that the lessons taught by their amazing trainers were scribed into by mind.

After one of the workshops I shared my thoughts/feedback regarding the value of the program and it looks like my feedback was mentioned in the recent flyer for the upcoming training/workshop.

Here’s what I stated:

What I really liked about the course was that it forced me to really fine tune a niche that I was credible, confident and passionate about. It was a challenging exercise (course work), that took me a while to complete but it was so very worth it. If you’re interested in learning about the business of professional speaking and live in the Chicago area, then I highly advise that you look into NSA Illinois Speakers Academy.

Wylie Blanchard, Lead IT Consultant – Great Tech Pros

Get more great content at WylieBlanchard.com... Need a great speaker for your next event, contact us to book Wylie Blanchard now.
Learn what clients are saying about his programs....