I am trying to put together my application for exceptional promise and have a concern. I spoke at two main-stage events and want to use them for the optional criteria.
However, I am concerned about this statement:
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?
You can demonstrate this by providing evidence that you have gone beyond your day-to-day profession to engage in a significant activity that contributes to the advancement of the digital technology sector.
One of my speaking events is clearly a technical topic. However, the other one was not technical and focused on the impact of the community on one’s career. Does the second one still count in the context of this criteria mentioned above? If not, will using just the technical one as the evidence for this criterion be sufficient? Is it possible the reviewer will see one as being insufficient and not accept it?
For optional criteria two what you need to ask yourself, how does this topic advance the sector? Also is this a high profile event? Select the topic that advances the tech sector.
Depends on what other evidences are you showing. If one speaking event is part of many other external formats eg. Panel, tech community, articles etc then it’s fine. But if it’s a standalone it won’t be strong enough and esp if it’s close to application date.
There are several elements or validating evidence that can be used to show that one has been recognised for advancing the sector outside a paid job in terms of OC2, and that one is a promising or leading talent for MC.
For context, I will give two examples for MC and OC2 respectively, they both require recognition element.
You created a tech company that built a successful digital product that solved a problem and employed hundreds of young graduates, and you were honoured with a national award. Case in point: In October 2022, the Nigerian Government conferred national honours on the co‑founders of Paystack, Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi. That award can be used to show that they were recognised for starting a viable tech business. In contrast, most applicants present awards that simply mention them for a role. “The Best Product Leader of the Year” without demonstrating what they were recognised for or did that led to the award.
Back to speaking. To demonstrate recognition, you want to show that you were approached by the organisers through an invitation letter or email. Before an organiser can approach you, it shows or demonstrates that they have seen or heard about something you did or achieved in the past, or primarily because you are a voice or domain expert, that’s the recognition element. But you still need to show the speaking evidence and the reach to have a strong evidence piece.
On your question
One of my speaking events is clearly a technical topic. However, the other one was not technical and focused on the impact of the community on one’s career. Does the second one still count in the context of this criteria mentioned above?
To be honest, I have guided some successful applicants whose speaking engagements were not directly in a tech event. Just like with an award from a country. A country is not a tech company nor focused on tech, but they can give an award for a meaningful tech project. That means reputation and credibility are also part of the criteria I believe Tech Nation check.
For example, most TED events are community focused and most themes are not centred on tech, but also on entertainment and design. Yet speaking on a TED stage is an honour for anyone from any field. So speaking on “the impact of the community on one’s career” on a TED stage is big anytime, any day, because of TED’s credibility.
So, there are other dependencies aside from an event simply being tech focused.
To answer your question, if the event is credible and you can show the recognition elements, the evidence can be okay or at least complement other evidence in that criterion.
The Official Guide is specific about what makes a speaking engagement work as evidence. It’s not primarily about whether the topic is technical - it’s about whether the invitation demonstrates you were sought out. The guide requires “a reference letter from the conference organiser with explanation of why you were asked to speak.” A letter that simply confirms your slot isn’t enough; it needs to explain what drew them to you.
On the non-technical talk: assessor feedback has flagged some speaking engagements being rejected as “promotional rather than recognition of established leadership.” A community-impact talk is vulnerable to that read if the event isn’t clearly prestigious. What saves it is the event’s standing and that explanatory organiser letter.
The guide also requires the event to be “widely regarded as sector-leading” with at least 100 attendees, and that the invitation wasn’t paid for through employer sponsorship. If either talk has an employer link - you were put forward because your company sponsored the event - assessors will discount it.
Thank you so so much @Raphael and @Akash_Joshi. Your comments are really helpful. I already gave up by removing the speaking event from my list of evidences but I have proof that the event gathered a large crowd so I will add it back. Thank you again!
I plan to send a comprehensive list of all my evidences soon so I can get a holistic review. I really look forward to your comments when I make the post. Again, thank you!