Winter Visitors: a Sunday walk for people in tech who've started to wonder
In November the leaves are down, and you can finally see the birds that were in the trees all along. The end of the year does something similar with work. Things slow down a little, and you notice the questions you've been carrying around for months.
Maybe this sounds familiar. You work in tech, maybe in data or AI. You're good at what you do, and you worked hard to get there. For a while now, though, you've been wondering what it's all for, and whether this is where you want to use your skills next year. You probably haven't said that out loud to many people yet.
On Sunday morning we'll walk slowly through the Schlossgarten Charlottenburg and look for birds. Two hours, easy pace. You don't need binoculars, bird knowledge or any preparation. Many birds have left Berlin by now. Others have just arrived from the north and east to spend the winter here, in the parks, on the water and in the bare trees. We'll stop, listen and see who's around.
While we walk, there's room to talk about the other thing too: your work, what's been bothering you about it, and what you'd want instead if you let yourself think about it. Share as much or as little as you like. What's said on the walk stays on the walk. These things are often easier to say walking side by side than sitting across a table. And sometimes it helps just to hear that someone else is in the same spot.
You don't need a plan or a decision to come along, and you don't need to leave with one.
I'm Valentin. I led data teams for ten years, at LOVOO and komoot. At some point it stopped feeling right, and I didn't have a plan either. I started paying attention, and that turned out to be what mattered most. Today I'm a psychologist and career coach in Berlin, and I work with people in data & AI who want their work to matter more.
Practical things
Sunday, 15 November, 10:00–12:00
We meet at S Jungfernheide and walk over to the Schlossgarten together. You'll get the exact spot once you've registered.
Small group
One person per company, so nobody walks next to someone from their own team
Light rain, we walk. If the weather is really bad, I'll message you at least a day before.
It'll be cold, and we'll stand still a lot. Bring warm layers, gloves and good shoes. A thermos doesn't hurt.
Binoculars if you have them. If not, that's fine.
If you'd like to check in with yourself first, the free Career Health Check takes three minutes: valentinumbach.de/career-health-check