Currently collating my pieces of evidence for the endorsement and I thought to share here
Do these pieces of evidence count under the Optional criteria “How do I demonstrate that I have been recognised for my work outside of my immediate occupation that contributed to the advancement of the digital technology sector?”
1. Being the moderator of a panel at a major Tech Startup conference Proposed pieces of evidence:
Reference letter from organiser (for invitation)
Pictures
Other unpaid/voluntary Contributions to the Tech space such as:
2. Co-founded and leading a tech initiative that allows aspiring tech talents to get real-life product experience Proposed pieces of evidence:
Evidence showing I lead the initiative: Screenshot of doc showing equity and responisbilities with my name
Website of the initiative
Partnerships that I closed with major tech communities
Testimonials from Fellows to show impact of the initiative - someone got a job
Support letter from another co-founder to back up my contributions as Team lead of the initiative
Volunteering at a major Africa Tech Product conference Proposed pieces of evidence:
Flyer
Pictures from the events
LinkedIn mentions
Reference Letter from the organizer
An op-ed or news article that exemplifies thought leadership, evidence of mentorship Proposed pieces of evidence: A Newsletter
Screenshot of chats with the editor
Link to the Newsletter
Invite as a Subject Matter Expert to conduct interviews for an international tech initiative and another tech startup Proposed pieces of evidence:
Letter of Invitation as an SME for the tech initiative’s interviews for PM facilitators
Email of Appreciation for the interview coordination for the tech startup (email as a printout)
Screenshot of Calendar invites for both interviews
To ensure clarity and make it easier for others to understand where the evidence will be applied, I suggest the following:
Please outline the evidence you intend to submit for Mandatory Criterion 1 and the evidence you plan to submit for the Optional Criteria (OC1, OC2, OC3, or OC4). Specify which evidence will support the two optional criteria you choose to use.
Your evidence for OC2 is promising, particularly your tech initiative that helps aspiring talents gain product experience. Make sure you emphasize that this is voluntary work outside your main occupation and highlight measurable impact - the testimonial showing someone secured employment is particularly powerful. For this evidence, I recommend combining the fellowship program documents, impact testimonials, and your co-founder’s reference letter into one comprehensive document.
Your panel moderation and volunteering at tech conferences can work, but need strengthening. Conference evidence needs to show you were speaking on the main stage (not just attending or helping), with documentation of audience size (ideally 100+ attendees). The newsletter could be valuable, but only if it’s published in a recognized publication or platform - personal blogs or self-published content on LinkedIn/Medium alone aren’t sufficient. For the SME interviews, ensure your letters clearly state you were invited because of your recognized expertise in the field.
Remember, the assessment committee looks for evidence showing sustained impact beyond your day job. Each evidence document can be up to three pages long, so organize them strategically. I suggest focusing on your three strongest pieces: the tech initiative with measurable impact, the conference where you had a speaking role, and either the newsletter (if published in a reputable outlet) or the SME role (if you can document recognition of your expertise). Also ensure any reference letters are from senior professionals who have known your work for at least 12 months, and include their credentials.
For the speaking engagement, I cannot seem to find it on the Host’s YouTube but I have the video record showing me speaking, the flyer and picture of me talking. Will these be enough? @Akash_Joshi