Folks in software development know how stressful our work can be. Urgent timelines and the large impact of what we create often lead to burnout, harmful coping strategies, and decreased quality of life.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re excited to welcome Dana Slay, MSW, for an empowering talk: “A Mental Health Manifesto.”

Dana will share how the 12 Agile Principles can be applied to support mental wellness and resilience. You’ll discover practical strategies for:

• Managing stress and avoiding burnout

• Boosting resilience and work-life balance

• Building supportive networks and self-organizing teams

• Applying agile concepts like iterative progress, collaboration, and adaptability to your daily life

This talk will help you set achievable goals, continuously improve your practices, and thrive personally and professionally.

About the Speaker:

Dana Slay is a strategic problem solver with over 20 years of experience in business operations and technology across healthcare, automotive, and telecom industries. She is a certified Agile Scrum Product Owner, Scrum Master, Team Facilitator, and Agile Coach.

Before working in technology, Dana was a licensed clinical social worker. Today, she integrates her deep knowledge of human behavior with agile principles to guide teams through large-scale IT projects, helping people enjoy their work more while driving sustainable success.

Who should attend:

• Developers, designers, and tech professionals

• Team leads, managers, and agile practitioners

• Anyone interested in improving their mental health and wellbeing