Career Mentoring Melbourne

Dungeons and…Developers? Building skills in tech teams with table top RPG

Developing your team's "core skills" like communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership can be challenging. What if we could make skill-building fun and impactful? In this session, Kirsty will introduce ‘Ultimate Tech Team’, a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) designed specifically for tech teams. Inspired by games like Dungeons & Dragons, this TTRPG creates a playful, immersive environment where tech professionals can develop core skills through engaging gameplay. Instead of awkward role-playing scenarios, ‘Ultimate Tech Team’ allows participants to use their imagination, work together, and roll some dice as they navigate challenges set in a “make-believe” company. In this meetup session, we'll spend a bit of time going through some of the research, and what benefits playing TTRPG's can provide. BUT most of the session will be a hands on scenario! **Agenda (time in Melbourne/AEST)** * 5:30pm Meetup starts - Networking * 6:00pm Welcome * 6:05pm Main Presentation * 6:20pm Workshop * 7:00pm Networking * 7:30pm Close **This will be a HYBRID event:** **Zoom link -** will be posted 1hr before event starts. **Our Speakers** **Kirsty McDonald** A Senior Platform Engineer @ Up Bank. Working in tech for 10+ years in a variety of roles (dev, cloud, delivery lead), she has worked across many organisations helping to solve difficult technology problems. Her current focus is on assisting teams improve the way they build, deploy and run software in the cloud in a safe and sustainable way, while also creating supportive, collaborative environments where teams can thrive. A player of Role Playing Games for 5 years.

TechWalking Birthday - Networking Event for Tech Professionals

# 🎉 **TechWalking Melbourne Turns 3!** 🎉 Three years of walking, talking, connecting, and building a tech community IRL! Come join us for a very special Birthday Walk as we celebrate 3 years of TechWalking in Melbourne! 🎂 Whether you’re a Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Project or Product Manager, UX Designer, Architect, Cyber Security specialist, tech leader or simply working somewhere in tech — you’re welcome! 👋 No awkward networking. No pitching. No standing around trying to figure out what to say. Just grab your walking shoes and come meet interesting people from Melbourne’s tech community. And because it’s our birthday… 🎂 We’re making this one extra fun! 🎉 * 🏆 Random awards — because why not? * 🎟️ Raffle prizes — you might actually win something! * 👗 Best Dressed Award — so make an effort! **Dress bright!** This is a birthday celebration, so bring the colour! Think orange 🧡, red ❤️, purple 💜, pink 🩷 — the brighter, the better. ✨ Let’s make those colours stand out and turn our walk into a moving celebration! 🕙 **10:00 am sharp** 📍 **Meeting point: Albert Park Fitness Station** Please don’t be late! ⏰ We’ll head off around the lake as soon as everyone has gathered. We’re walking anti-clockwise around the lake , so if you miss the start… you might have to put your sprinting skills to the test to catch us! And after the walk… We’ll head out for coffee together too! ☕️ Come ready to meet new people, reconnect with familiar faces, and celebrate three years of TechWalking Melbourne. A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors who have come on board to support TechWalking and help make this celebration extra special: **[Ben Wood](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoodnz/) \- Gov Careers Unlocked** **[Aditya Rajagopalan](Aditya Rajagopalan)**[ ](Aditya Rajagopalan)- **Call Your Shots Coaching** **[Andrew Murphy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewamurphy/) \- Tech Leaders Launchpad** **[Evgueni Iakhontov](https://www.linkedin.com/in/evgueni-iakhontov/) \- Revity** **[Christopher Kong](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherkong/) \- Crouching Tiger Network** **[Johnathan Maltby](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnathanmaltby/) \- The Clarity Coach** **[Wendy Alexander](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyaalexander/) \- Happy Career Hub** **[Richard Stockton](https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-stockton-31758815/) \- IT Cubed** **3 years. Hundreds of walks. One community.** 🎉 See you on the walk! Join the TechWalking group on LinkedIn! [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14477058/](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14477058/) **TechWalking Community page: [https://tech-walking.yanamartens.com/](https://tech-walking.yanamartens.com/)** \*\*\* Follow me on LinkedIn for more information: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/) Just moved to Australia? Grab your FREE guide to land your tech job! [https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/](https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/) Subscribe to YouTube Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@ITCareerinAustralia](https://www.youtube.com/@ITCareerinAustralia) Birthday

From Crisis to a Multimillion-Dollar Food Empire

Job search conversations 2.0 #1

Are you actively navigating the job market in Melbourne and looking for clear, practical guidance to break through hiring barriers? After hosting over 35 sessions with 400+ job seekers, Job Search Conversations is back in a refined 2.0 format—built around high-impact, actionable strategies, candid discussions, and real-time feedback. What We'll Cover 👉 Overcoming Application Bottlenecks: Why resume submissions aren't turning into call-backs and how to fix your application funnel. 👉 Decoding Rejection Factors: Unpacking hidden hiring obstacles, feedback gaps, and how to position yourself effectively. 👉 Navigating "Local Experience": Smart, proven ways to showcase relevant expertise to Australian employers and recruiters. 👉 Targeted Search Strategy: Optimizing your outreach, resume framing, and LinkedIn presence for current market dynamics. Why Attend? Unlike large webinars or generic networking functions, this is an interactive, small-group discussion (capped at 10–15 participants) held in a safe, constructive environment. Every attendee gets airtime to address their specific job search challenges and walk away with immediate, practical next steps What Community Members Say "*Vinesh brings a wealth of experience and deep knowledge to the table. He provides honest, practical insights and helps individuals understand the true essence of networking, equipping them to navigate the Australian job market effectively*." — Vaibhav Kashyap, Data Scientist *"I attended a session by Vinesh recently and it was filled with great insights for navigating your job search as a migrant here in Australia. It was a great interactive session where many questions were answered... A must attend session who is new to this country and looking for a job."* — Paras Kamdar, Mechanical Engineer "*He introduced the concept of the hidden job market, encouraging us to look beyond the traditional channels. Though it seemed abstract at first, I followed his advice and saw real benefits."* — Nandhini Sathyamurthy, Senior Business Analyst "*The meetup was a good place to meet fellow migrants who are going through a similar journey of finding a place in a new country. Vinesh answered a lot of common questions new job seekers have and went over an hour extra ensuring all our questions were answered*." — Sridhar Rajendran, Lead UX Researcher Who Is This For? ✅ Active job seekers in the Melbourne metropolitan area. ✅ Skilled migrants and professionals seeking to navigate local market entry. ✅Professionals making a career transition or refining their job search approach. Important RSVP Note To keep conversations personal, deep, and actionable, seats are strictly limited. Please RSVP only if you are fully committed to attending so that spots remain open for those who need them.

📚 #InPursuit – A Book Club for Builders, Thinkers, and Doers

📚 #InPursuit is a book club for entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds who know personal growth fuels business growth. **See a lot of RSPVPs and wonder how it works? We'll break up into groups of 6-8 to share our insights, then swap groups after 30-45min so you can maximise learning from everybody!** *Note: this even is not organised by or affiliated with The State Library of Victoria* **That's what #InPursuit is all about** It’s not a traditional book club, it’s a space for people who are actively designing a better life through the pursuit of business, creativity, and personal growth. This event is for anyone #InPursuit of better business, life and relationships. Instead of reading the same book, we each come prepared to share one powerful insight from something we’ve read in the past 3-months. Anything non-fiction that’s moved us forward. Whether it’s a mindset shift, a productivity system, a new philosophy, or just a truth that punched us in the gut. This is a place to unpack it together and hear what others are learning too. We’re not just here to *read*. We’re here to *integrate*. Because when we grow, our business and our lives grow too. **🔍 Why Join? You'll leave with:** * 5–10 fresh insights from books you may never have picked up * Deeper awareness of how others think, lead, and evolve * New connections with people walking a similar path toward purpose, results, and impact This isn’t a lecture. It’s a room full of people building themselves while they build the thing. **📖 How It Works** First time? No pressure to share, just come curious. We'll break up into groups of 6-8 and share our insights, then swap groups so you can maximise the learning! Returning? Bring one idea you’ve read about in the last 3-months and be ready to speak on: 1. What did you learn? 2. How did it shift your perspective about the world or yourself? 3. How has it changed the way you show up or behave? We keep it structured, but flexible. After sharing, we open up to Q&A, personal stories, challenges, and deep dives. Some of the best insights come from the conversations *after* the share. **🧠 Who This Is For** * Entrepreneurs or side-hustlers finding their footing * Business owners, and doers building toward better * Curious minds who love ideas but care more about action * People tired of shallow conversations and hungry for growth If you’re working on something—or becoming someone—this space is for you. It’s a practice ground for people who want to grow forward. We’re all #InPursuit of mastery, momentum, and the kind of success that starts from within. **Map on how to get there** We're in the Create Quarter on the ground level (back right of the Quad as you enter from Swanson St). We'll likely be on a long table together. https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/SLV-EnglishMap_Jan25.pdf

Networking Breakfast

Breakfast is back! Join us at Intimo Cafe for a tea or coffee, breakfast and a chat before you start the working day! This event will be relaxed and informal, with the chance to meet and connect with other Product Women Melbourne members. There's no presentations, it's just about making connections and starting the day feeling energised and refreshed. Free to attend, you can buy hot or cold drinks and breakfast items from the cafe. \* Please note this is not a private space, so you'll see us at the venue. We do have a reservation under Amanda.

May your future be what defines you: vision boarding

*May my future follow me into a room as aggressively as my past does.* Words that started as an affirmation in the phone notes but became something bigger. Because we have all walked into rooms carrying hard things. The stories we tell about ourselves, the chapters we would rather skip past, the versions of us that survived days we do not talk about at dinner parties. Sometimes, it’s easy for those things to dominate a conversation. Or to linger in the back of our minds while the room moves around us. Sometimes, our pain introduces us before we have had the chance to say who we are becoming. But what if the future could enter first? What if the woman you are working towards, the career you are building, the love you are opening yourself up to, the impact you want to have, could walk into the room before anything else? What if the room could feel your future before it remembered your past? This is a morning to explore that question. Join us for a guided journaling and vision boarding session where we will sit together and write and create our way towards the lives we are heading into. By choosing, on paper and in community, to let our future take up more space than what came before it. **What to expect** \* Guided journaling and vision boarding prompts centred on your next chapter, the woman you are becoming, and the life you are making room for \* A warm, held space with other women who are also in the process of rebuilding, or stepping into something new \* Time for quiet reflection and time for gentle conversation **Who this is for** This is for the woman in transition. The woman who is tired of being defined by what happened to her and is ready to be known for what she is building. The woman who is healing and also dreaming. The woman who wants to write her future into something she can feel arriving. You do not need to be a writer. You do not need to have the right words. You just need to bring yourself, a pen, and a willingness to let your future lead. ***May we be defined by the places we are working towards and the women we are becoming, not by the days that have brought us to our knees.*** Read more about the motivation behind this event [here](https://girlswhoboss.substack.com/p/may-my-future-follow-me-into-a-room?r=4apm4h&utm_medium=ios).

Networking Drinks for Builders & Doers

**🍻 The Entrepreneur Club – Last Friday of the Month Drinks** **Not your average knock-off drinks.** Join us for a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, and self-starters who believe business is more than just work, it’s a personal growth journey. Whether you're scaling something or just starting out, this is a space to meet others who think like you do. **💬 What to Expect** ✅ Real convos with people building something ✅ A place to bounce ideas, swap challenges, and share wins ✅ Opportunities to give value and get it in return ✅ Chill vibes, no pitches, just smart people in good company You don’t need a title or a polished pitch, just curiosity and the willingness to connect. **🗓 Format** **6:30pm** – Arrive, grab a drink, join a convo **8:30pm** – We wrap, or roll on elsewhere **🎯 This is for you if** * You want more entrepreneurial people in your life * You’re building something, or want to be * You care about growth, not just small talk Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring your curiosity. Last Friday of every month. Let’s make it count.

Presenting - 'Speaking on the spot'

Smashing! Try something new Thursday Interactive reality workshops- Tonight get involved and have some fun. Ever walked away from a conversation thinking you should have said this or that, but instead suffered 'brain freeze'? Learn methods to respond on the spot, and follow up with practice in small groups. Learn by doing! Serious about improving your leadership - **Why mess, come to the best** Why is Smashing different to other speaking clubs? Just two member's thoughts, "The fun/laughs factor is definitely a point of difference. We keep it moving with high standards so it’s a nice balance. Too strict makes it tense and boring, too loose and we can lose the energy/commercial feel. SmashSpeak's vibe's in the sweet spot." "At other clubs I used to listen to long speeches and lectures, here we get so many chances to talk every meeting, that we have to improve" **Free parking** close: O'Connell and Cobden streets **IMPORTANT: Be on time, as doors close when the show starts** “Proudly Australian" – Free-flowing teamwork, greater good focus, sharing the stage, etc Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market) Level 1, PURPLE Room (End of corridor) More to come...

Women in Leadership Melbourne

[Link to book](-september-meet-up-tickets-1999337097078?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile) Welcome to the **Women in Leadership Melbourne Circle - September 2026 Meet Up**! Join us on **Thursday 17 September 2026** at **18:00** at **The Bank on Collins** for an evening of networking, inspiration, and empowerment. Connect with like-minded women in leadership roles, share experiences, and learn from each other. Don't miss this opportunity to grow your network and support other women in their leadership journey. Timing is stated as 5:50pm to allow time for arrival, settling in and ordering drinks before we get started. **Topic for Septmber**: Harnesing the power of circles and community 🙌 **Details on the Women In Leadership Melbourne Circle** A circle for women who are ambitious, looking to unlock their gargantuan collective leadership skills, empower their network, learn from peers, and grow together. Space for those unlocking their power towards being more conscious, and self-aware and are actively investing time and energy to grow themselves and unleash their true potential. This circle can bring transformative leadership into organizations and your everyday life to lead with purpose, empowerment, and inspiration which will result in collective and sustainable growth. Together, we are better The Women in Leadership Melbourne's mission is to align like-minded ambitious leaders by asking the right questions, sharing tools, networking, facilitating dialogues that ask the questions, and kickstarting the right conversations to create positive changes. **Community Impact** $10 donation - All proceeds from every ticket will be donated to SisterWorks Inc., helping migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker women in Melbourne. This event is hosted by Shobana Sahajananan Menon, founder of Women in Leadership Melbourne - LeanIn Circle. Please register for your attendance through the link: [Women In Leadership - Thurs 17th September](-september-meet-up-tickets-1999337097078?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile)

Group Speed Friending with Meaningful Conversations

**Unlock Meaningful Connections at Our Speed Friending Event** [LINK TO BOOK](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/group-speed-friending-with-meaningful-conversations-tickets-1999899233443?aff=oddtdtcreator) Ready to step out of your comfort zone and make authentic connections? Join us at *The Bank on Collins* for an exclusive Speed Friending event with structured conversations designed for ambitious professionals and like-minded individuals who are eager to forge meaningful connections - not just small talk. This event attracts a diverse group of individuals who are serious about building friendships and expanding their network. Whether you're a professional climbing the career ladder, a creative pushing the boundaries of innovation, or an entrepreneur chasing your next big idea, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded go-getters who think big and dream even bigger. In a world where quality relationships are key to success, we believe that life is better with great people in it. This event is your opportunity to meet dynamic, driven individuals who are all about growth, collaboration, and real conversations. Be prepared to dive deep with thought-provoking questions that foster vulnerability and genuine connections so you can Find Your Tribe. Whether you're a seasoned event-goer or this is your first event, we're here to support you every step of the way. Push past surface-level interactions and start building the kind of relationships that truly matter. **Event Structure:** * **6:30 pm:** Arrive, grab a drink, and mingle. (Tip: Happy hour ends at 6:30 pm, so come early to snag a deal!) * **6:45 pm - 7:30 pm:** 3 rounds of group speed friending. You'll meet 12+ like-minded people ready to connect on a deeper level. * **7:30 pm - 8:00 pm:** Post-speed friending social networking. This is where the magic happens—spend time with the people you vibed with most and start building real friendships. **Investment:** $10. We are for passion, not profit. 50% of your contribution supports the running costs of the group, while the other 50% goes towards The Man Cave, Australia's leading preventative mental health charity for teenage boys and their communities. [Home - The Man Cave - Preventative mental health programs for teenage boys](https://themancave.life/) Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/group-speed-friending-with-meaningful-conversations-tickets-1985108869065?aff=oddtdtcreator To support the venue, please buy a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) or snack during the event. **Liability Disclaimer:** By attending this event, you acknowledge that you are participating voluntarily and are responsible for your own health, safety, and well-being during the session. *Find Your Tribe Melbourne* and its hosts are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur. Please take care, be mindful of your surroundings, and participate within your own comfort level. **Photo & Video Disclaimer:** Please note that photos and videos will be taken throughout the event and may be used on our social media channels or other platforms. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, kindly inform one of the hosts at the beginning of the event. **Take the leap - join us for a night of transformative connections and step into a community of movers and shakers. We can't wait to meet you!** [LINK TO BOOK](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/group-speed-friending-with-meaningful-conversations-tickets-1999899233443?aff=oddtdtcreator) Instagram: @findyourtribemelb

Springtime Silliness

The Deep Workers gather this spring For a picnic — and no, not a thing on the agenda at all, bar a rug and a ball and whatever the afternoon brings. The forecast says sunshine — how sweet! Then Melbourne turns up in the street with a cold snap in tow and a wind off the snow, so wear shorts, but bring socks for your feet. The footy has wound to its end, the last of the sirens descend; then the clocks jump ahead and we're robbed of our bed, but the evenings — oh, how they extend. So come as you are, more or less: the unclenched, the tender, the mess. Put the armour away, let the shields drop today — we prefer you a little unpressed. Bring salad and sunscreen and heart, bring the you that you keep set apart, bring your sinuses too — Melbourne's pollen will do what the boardroom could never quite start. \*\*\*\* **There will be no catering (not even timtams!). Please bring a plate and drinks to share.**