We at gloor&lang were invited to give a short talk at Ilmac. A new experience? Count me in!
It was my very first time speaking in public like this.

The topic: Visible & Successful: Skills, Online Presence, and AI Strategies for Your Dream Job in Life Sciences.

I arrived at Ilmac around noon and took a relaxed stroll through the exhibition. I ran into some familiar faces – and met people I had only ever spoken to on the phone before.

Eventually, I found my little stage and took a quick lunch break to settle my nerves.

Back at the Coffee Talk Corner, I ran into my first challenge: I didn’t have a USB stick to load my presentation onto the provided laptop – only my own laptop. So, time to improvise!

Hook

Imagine standing on a stage for the very first time – in the middle of a major industry fair, facing people you’ve never seen before. Nervous, excited, with a quiet thought in the back of your mind: “What if no one comes?”
That’s exactly how my day at Ilmac began.

Story

At gloor&lang, we were invited to give a short talk at Ilmac. For me, it was immediately clear: this would be a new experience – and I was all in.

The topic? Visible & Successful: Skills, Online Presence, and AI Strategies for your Dream Job in Life Sciences. Exactly the kind of subject I’m passionate about.

I arrived at the fair around noon, took some time to explore the exhibition halls, discovered exciting innovations, and finally met people I’d only spoken to over the phone before.

Eventually, I found my small stage – the Coffee Talk Corner – and decided to take a short lunch break to catch my breath.
Back at the stage, I hit the first technical hiccup: I didn’t bring a USB stick to transfer my presentation onto the provided laptop – just my own computer. Time to improvise!

With five minutes to go, the nerves kicked in.
Would anyone even show up? I was bracing for a small audience – but then, more and more people started gathering in the Coffee Talk area.
Hesitantly, I asked: "Are you here for my talk?"
They nodded. Yes. They were.

So off I went!
The presentation went smoothly – though a bit faster than planned due to the adrenaline. Instead of the full 30 minutes, it clocked in at 25.
But then something unexpected happened: the Q&A turned into a lively discussion, lasting another 30 minutes full of questions, ideas, and exchange.

After wrapping up, I took the chance to dive back into the exhibition – exploring new technologies and connecting with other professionals.

It was a day full of insights, new connections, and learning moments.
And it reminded me:

Growth often starts the moment you step out of your comfort zone.