Reflections on RailsConf 2025 From Shan Cureton, Executive Director of Ruby Central

There was something deeply meaningful about hearing from attendees about why they come to this conference, and how this year felt uniquely different from years past. That kind of feedback matters, especially as Ruby Central is asking big questions about what comes next. I sat across tables from passionate local meetup organizers who shared about their attendees and how they hope to work with us in the future. I could feel how much they care about this ecosystem and how much they appreciate being connected to it. I made a point to speak with every sponsor I could, just to thank them for showing up and sharing who they are with our community. Sponsor booths and job fair spaces can sometimes feel transactional or overly processed. But this was different. It was thoughtful. You could feel that they really considered the attendee experience, whether through the swag, the kazoos, the photo booths, or even the ice cream. That care mattered.