Birds on the Move: a Saturday walk for people in tech who've started to wonder
Birding is just noticing, on purpose. Working in tech, a lot of us have lost the habit of noticing anything beyond the screen, including how we actually feel about our work.
Maybe this sounds familiar. You work in tech, and for a while now something about it hasn't felt right. Maybe you still like parts of the job. Maybe things are going well, or maybe you're just getting through the week. Part of you wants to keep going, and part of you keeps asking what it's all for. You probably haven't said that out loud to many people yet.
On Saturday morning we'll walk slowly through the Tiergarten and look for birds. Two hours, easy pace. You don't need binoculars, bird knowledge or any preparation. October is migration season, so a lot of birds are between two places right now. We'll stop, listen and see what's there.
While we walk, there's room to talk about the other thing too: the job, the doubts, and what you'd want instead if you let yourself think about it. Share as much or as little as you like. 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 to leave with a plan. Coming along is already a first step.
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 coach in Berlin, and I work with tech people who sense it's time for something new.
Practical things
Saturday, 10 October, 10:00–12:00
We meet near the Tiergarten. 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.
Bring warm layers. A thermos doesn't hurt.
If you'd like to check in with yourself first, the free Career Health Check takes three minutes: valentinumbach.de/career-health-check