You write great code? Cool. So does everyone else. In a world where AI can churn out decent code in seconds, coding alone won’t make you stand out. You can't call yourself a “senior” just because you've written great code, let alone have a higher career. The real game-changer? Skills beyond code! Your ability to influence decisions, communicate complexity in simple terms, and navigate the messy, human side of tech. Whether you like it or not, tech is ultimately a people business: People make business with people and people create solutions for other people collaborating with…guess what? Right, people!

This talk will cover practical, no-BS career hacks to:

- Make (non-technical) people listen to your ideas and drive real change - from killing legacy code to shaping big decisions.
- The secret to breaking out of job stagnation and getting noticed.
- Unlock the potential that you already have within you: The human skills that separate you from AI.

If you want to level up, this talk is for you.

- Preferred duration: 40 minutes.

- This talk is for software developers, from junior to principal and for team lead positions and team owners.

- The talk is the evolution of the previous version "You’re a great coder? That alone won’t get you far: The soft skills secret in IT success", that was held on many conferences across Europe in 2024 including a conference opener keynote at the DevDaysEurope in Vilnius.

- This talk is also intended to raise awareness for soft skills, especially communication skills in the tech industry, that statistically proven (see CAHOS report) are the biggest lever for success or failure of IT projects. It is also intended to inform, that skills beyond code make or break a tech career. Especially in the age of AI coding skills alone are nothing special anymore and just not enough.