TechTalk Connect 2026: Get Hired, Promoted and Paid in the AI Era
On 15th September, 300+ tech professionals will take over one of the City of London's best rooms for a single evening - and one question:
Getting hired was the 2025 conversation. Getting promoted, getting visible, and getting paid more is the harder game - especially in a year where AI does more of the actual execution than ever.
That's the night. Not "how to survive AI." How to build the edge that AI can't touch: your reputation, your relationships, and the moves that actually get you seen, promoted and paid.
WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR?
✅ Tech professionals - marketing, sales, engineering, product, GTM - who want to grow, not just stay employed
✅ Anyone navigating career moves in a market that's changing fast
✅ People who get more out of a room than a webinar
✅ Founders and leaders who want to be around sharp people
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
This isn't just another networking event. Connect 2026 is designed to give you a real, tangible edge in a fast-changing market.
📊 Understand what's actually happening to hiring, promotion and pay. Cut through the noise and hear it from the people living it - including where humans still win.
🛡️ Build the edge AI can't touch. Reputation, positioning, relationships, and the visibility that gets you picked for the role, the project and the raise.
🤝 Meet people who can change your trajectory. Not business-card swapping - people who can hire you, refer you, promote you, or build with you. The part you'll never get from a replay.
🗺️ Leave with a plan, not a pep talk. Concrete moves for your next role, your next promotion, or your next pay conversation.
AGENDA
15:30 - 18:15: Networking
Doors, registration, welcome drinks - activation zone open
18:25 - 18:45: Keynote: The New Career Infrastructure
For years your career value was what you could execute. As AI makes execution cheap, judgment, belonging and visibility become the ground you build on. The frame for everything that follows.
18:45 - 19:20: Panel: Generalist vs Specialist - What Actually Wins Now
Go deep or go broad? As AI absorbs more of the specialist's work, the old advice is up for grabs. Our panel picks a side and argues it. Come with an opinion - you may leave with a different one.
19:20 - 19:40: Break, drinks & networking
19:40 - 20:00: Keynote: Beyond Your 9–5 - How to Build a Portfolio Career
More people want a career that isn't one job, one employer, one path - few know how to start without leaping. A practical, honest look at earning, creating and growing alongside the day job, not by burning it down.
20:00 - 20:35: Panel: Hired, Promoted, Paid - Winning in the AI Era
How do you actually get hired, get promoted and get paid more when AI is reshaping what companies want? Founders and operators on the front line of hiring on what's moving the needle - and what's just noise.
20:35 - 21:30: Close & networking
WHAT TO EXPECT
🎤 Expert-led talks and panels - leaders and operators on getting hired, promoted and paid in the age of AI.
🎙️ A co-keynote from TechTalk founders Roxanne & Joana.
✨ Interactive activations - hands-on experiences and demos from our partners, running throughout the night.
🤝 Real networking - 300+ tech professionals, recruiters, founders and leaders in one room.
🥂 Food & drinks - because the best conversations happen over good food.
SPEAKERS
Co-hosted by TechTalk founders Roxanne Taku and Joana Rocha, opening the night with a co-keynote: The New Career Infrastructure.
Confirmed so far:
⭐ Aditi Mishra - Head of New Media at Sifted (ex-LinkedIn). Built a six-figure side business to 300K+ followers while working full-time. On building a career and something of your own, at the same time.
⭐ Claudia Avila - Senior Recruiter at Amazon. The person on the other side of the table, on what actually gets an application past the first round.
⭐ Yasar Ahmad - ex-VP of People at HelloFresh, followed by 1.5M for career advice. On what really separates the people who get promoted.
⭐ Rachel Macnaghten - Growth Executive at Jumpstart. Got in as one of the top 1% of 5,000+ applicants, and now talks to hundreds of startups about what they're hiring for.
⭐ Rob Denton - Head of Marketing at Granola ($1.5B valuation). Has led marketing across fintech, proptech, cybersecurity and SaaS, and has strong views on the generalist vs specialist question.
More names still to come. Grab your ticket and we'll reveal the rest as we lock them in.
ABOUT TECHTALK
TechTalk helps tech professionals get hired, get promoted and get paid what they're worth - through community, expert coaching, and proven, actionable strategies. Whether you're breaking into tech or aiming for your next level, we support both coding and non-coding careers.
We've grown into a community of 7,000+ members, 400K+ across social, and 45K+ newsletter readers - and we've helped 200+ professionals across five countries land roles at companies like HubSpot, American Express, Adobe, Salesforce, Pleo and Google. We're here to help you stand out, grow, and navigate a competitive market with confidence.
HEADLINE SPONSOR
Granola - headline sponsor of TechTalk Connect 2026, and our official note-taker for the night, so every attendee leaves with the session notes.
FAQ
Is there food and drink? Yes - drinks and networking are part of the night.
What time should I arrive? Doors 17:30. Come early - the networking before the talks is half the value.
Can I get the talks if I can't make it? This is an in-person night. Attendees get the session notes; there's no full replay - being in the room is the point.
Can my team come together? Yes - grab a team ticket, or message us for larger groups.
Who runs this? TechTalk - a 7,000+ member community for tech professionals.