Valerie Gurka
Technology Leader and Engineering Manager
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Actions
Valerie Gurka brings a wealth of experience as the Director of Engineering at Tech Figures. With two decades of experience in the software development industry, Valerie's expertise encompasses a wide range of topics from technical innovation to project management, making her an esteemed voice technology and business. She has spoken at CodeMash 2026, South by Southwest, Northside Festival, CMJ Conference, Flint Conf, JCONF.dev and various meetups.
Links
Area of Expertise
Topics
Be the Industry: Stop Waiting to Be Chosen
Most people spend their careers trying to get noticed. They chase recognition, validation, and permission — hoping someone will finally say, “you belong here.”
But what if you stopped asking to join the industry, and started becoming the industry?
We often think success is about standing out, but the real power comes from building something others want to stand inside. It’s the difference between pitching your idea at a competition and organizing the competition itself. It’s the shift from hoping for a seat at the table to building the table — and inviting others in.
In this talk, I’ll show how to flip your mindset from seeking approval to creating impact. It’s scary. It requires courage. But the moment you stop trying to be noticed and start becoming a resource, you stop chasing the industry… and the industry starts chasing you.
This session is designed for engineers, architects, engineering managers, and executives who want to build influence and visibility in their organizations and industries. It can be delivered as a 1-hour general session or adapted as a fast-paced lightning talk.
How to Turn Your Intern Into a Rock Star
Interns show up full of possibility — but we often treat them like a checklist. A few small tasks, a couple of coffee runs, and they’re gone. What if instead, we treated interns like future leaders and gave them the space to rise?
This talk explores how extraordinary careers are born when someone believes in us early. I’ve seen interns go from shy and uncertain to leading projects, speaking up in meetings, and becoming the people others look to. It didn’t happen because they were “exceptional” — it happened because someone showed them they could be.
If we want bold, resilient teams, we have to start by growing bold, resilient people. Even the ones who don’t know they have it in them yet. Especially them.
This session is ideal for engineering managers, team leads, and executives who want to cultivate early-career talent into confident contributors. It can be delivered as a 1-hour general session or adapted as a lightning talk for leadership-focused events.
Guess What? You’re in Sales Too: The Hidden Skill Every Engineer Needs
Most developers and architects would never describe themselves as “salespeople.” Yet every time you pitch a solution to a client, justify technical debt to leadership, or convince your team to try a new approach, you are selling. The difference is you are selling ideas, trust, and outcomes, not just products or services.
In this session we will explore the hidden side of technical careers: the sales skills that make the best engineers and architects stand out. You will learn how to frame your ideas in ways that connect with decision makers, how to read what clients really care about, and how to build trust without hype. We will also talk about the traps, like overloading with details or focusing on what you find cool instead of what the business needs, that can sink even the strongest technical argument.
Attendees will leave with practical techniques to “sell” their ideas more effectively without ever feeling like they are doing sales. Think of it as learning how to win support for your work, whether that’s with your boss, your client, or your teammates.
This session is designed for software engineers, architects, product owners, engineering managers, and executives who regularly need to win support for their ideas. It can be presented as a 1-hour general session or adapted as a lightning talk for broader audiences.
The Unseen Script: Documentation in Software Engineering
In the fast-paced realm of software development, documentation is often the unsung hero, pivotal yet frequently overlooked. This presentation aims to shine a light on this critical aspect, exploring its various forms and the immense value it brings to the software lifecycle. We will delve into the different types of documentation—Requirement, Technical (including System and API documentation), End-User, and Process Documentation. Each type plays a unique role, from defining project goals and technical roadmaps to enhancing user experience and ensuring efficient project management.
This presentation is ideal for software developers, project managers, team leads, and stakeholders in the software development industry. It is also highly beneficial for those involved in software quality assurance, documentation specialists, and business analysts.
Valerie Gurka
Technology Leader and Engineering Manager
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Links
Actions
Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers. If you suspect this profile to be fake or spam, please let us know.
Jump to top