Tech Writers Tribe’s First Offline Leadership Meet-up: Stay Connected, Grow Together

With leaders in all fields, including CEOs, having forums to meet, greet, share, and grow together, the technical documentation community also needs a platform where managers, both new and experienced, can express themselves, regularly. Following the requests of many managers in our community, we took the plunge.

A Groundbreaking Initiative

Our inaugural meet-up took place on February 15, 2025, in Hyderabad at Broadcom during our 17th conference, bringing together 14 documentation managers for an interactive and insightful discussion. While many other managers and directors expressed interest in joining future sessions, this first meeting was a strong starting point.

Bridging the Gap for Documentation Leaders

Documentation Managers do much more than just oversee documentation projects. They navigate the complexities of working with multiple stakeholders, including their documentation teams, cross-functional teams, and upper management, all while balancing budgetary considerations. Unlike individual contributors, who have multiple platforms to discuss their challenges, documentation managers often find themselves navigating these hurdles alone.

Recognizing this gap, Tech Writers Tribe has been dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment for the technical writing community over the past four years. While structured presentations are valuable, we identified that what documentation managers need most is a space to openly discuss their challenges and brainstorm solutions. This led to the creation of our first-ever Offline Leadership Meet-up for Documentation Managers.

Summary of the 1st Meet-up

The session began with participant introductions, allowing attendees to connect beyond their LinkedIn profiles and understand each other’s unique experiences. Given the time constraints, each participant selected a key topic to discuss, leading to an engaging exchange of perspectives. The discussion underscored that while certain strategies work well for some teams, they may not necessarily be effective for others, emphasizing the importance of adaptable leadership in documentation management.

Key Takeaways:

• The need for a dedicated support network for documentation managers.
• Sharing of best practices and solutions to common challenges.
• Recognition that documentation teams are as critical to a company’s success as any other function.
• A collective effort to elevate the technical documentation community’s presence and influence within organizations.

Topic Discussed: Hiring Experienced Technical Writers with 15+ Years of Experience

With changing trends in hiring, experienced technical writers often complain about a lack of opportunities. One participant mentioned that resumes are sometimes selected based on experience, leading to a biased approach. Key highlights of the discussion included:

• Some experienced technical writers upskill, learn the trends, and stay relevant.
• Some do not upskill and face challenges in getting a new job.
• Resume shortlisting should be skill-based without reflecting specific bias.
• Candidates should upskill and apply to jobs that match their skills.
• Companies should not reject candidates based on years of experience if other requirements match.

Looking Ahead: Pune and Beyond

This is just the beginning. Our next meet-up is scheduled to take place in Pune, further strengthening our initiative to bring documentation leaders together. Unlike conventional conferences focused solely on presentations, our meet-ups prioritize meaningful discussions on best practices, challenges, and actionable solutions.

We are committed to building a strong, visible, and influential technical documentation community at multiple levels. If you share this vision, we invite you to join us. Location is not a barrier—we will find ways to integrate you into this growing Leadership Group.

Join the Leadership Movement

Our WhatsApp group already includes over 100 documentation managers actively engaging in discussions. If you lead a documentation team and wish to be part of this initiative, simply WhatsApp your LinkedIn profile to +91 7337332587 or connect with us directly.

Together, we can shape the future of the technical documentation profession and ensure its recognition as a vital pillar of any successful organization.

Stay connected. Stay informed. Strengthen the community.