Lorena Mesa

Lorena Mesa

Python • AI • Community Leader

Speaking

I'm passionate about speaking because I believe we can leave more than we take. As a public speaker, I aim to raise awareness, inspire, and introduce new ideas — grounded in technical depth and practical experience.

My Approach to Speaking

Through open source work and community engagement, I've learned to deconstruct complex technical topics and make them accessible. My talks emphasize content over acronyms, focusing on the "why" and "how" rather than buzzwords.

As someone committed to ethical and inclusive events, I won't participate in conferences that lack a Code of Conduct. I frequently teach workshops and speak at community conferences, with many talks archived at PyVideo and slides available on Speaker Deck.

Topics I'm Currently Interested In

  • Backend Engineering, Fullstack & Python — System design, async patterns, performance
  • AI/LLM Integration — Building production features responsibly
  • Open Source — Sustainable practices, community building
  • Data Ethics — Responsible AI, ethical ML practices
  • Technical Leadership — Mentorship, scaling teams
  • Diversity & Inclusion — Building inclusive tech communities

(And more — I'm always curious about new technical challenges!)

Speaking Mediums

  • Conference keynotes and talks
  • Podcast interviews
  • Instructional workshops and classes
  • Coaching and mentorship
  • Technical writing and editing

What You Can Expect From Me

  • Thoroughly researched and well-prepared talks
  • Slides available for review before the event
  • Thoughtful engagement with audience questions
  • A dynamic presentation grounded in real experience
  • If workshops: professional facilitation and customized content

What I Expect From You

  • Honorarium/speaking fee (for for-profit conferences)
  • Travel and lodging accommodations
  • Clear speaker agreement and timeline
  • Professional event management

For community conferences, I'm happy to discuss financial support on a case-by-case basis. Workshops require payment depending on length and scope.

Note: I speak in English and Spanish. For charlas en español, let's arrange the details.

Speaking Inquiries

Interested in having me speak? Drop me a line with the following details:

Information Details
Event name & date When and where is the event?
Conference/event type Corporate, community, academic, etc.
Talk topic or length Subject area and duration (30 min, 60 min, workshop, etc.)
Audience size & background Number of attendees and their technical level
Financial details Budget, honorarium, or community basis

Recent & Featured Talks

2023

2021

2020

Click to expand full speaking history ### 2019 - **Python Brasil Keynote** — October 2019 - **PyCon LayAm Keynote** — [A line of Python is written and then...? Exploring the fortuitous impact of el efecto mariposa de Python](https://www.pylatam.org/ponentes-principales/#lorena) - **Strange Loop** — [¡Escuincla babosa! A Python Deep Learning Telenovela](https://www.thestrangeloop.com/2019/escuincla-babosa-a-python-deep-learning-telenovela.html) - **PyCon USA** — [¡Escuincla babosa!: Creating a telenovela script with a neural network](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWDoQPm5Ozw) ### 2018 - **PyCon Sweden Keynote** — [Now is better than Never: What the Zen of Python can teach us about Data Ethics](https://pycon.se) - **Northbay Python** — [¡Escuincla babosa!: Creating a telenovela script with a neural network](https://2018.northbaypython.org/schedule/presentation/25/) - **PyCon España Keynote** — [Now is better than Never: What the Zen of Python can teach us about Data Ethics](https://2018.es.pycon.org/speakers/lorena-mesa) - **PyOhio Keynote** — [Now is better than Never: What the Zen of Python can teach us about Data Ethics](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mHMWQCCEdY) ### 2017 - **DjangoCon USA** — [Using Django, Docker, and Scikit-learn to Bootstrap Your Machine Learning Project](https://pyvideo.org/djangocon-us-2017/using-django-docker-and-scikit-learn-to-bootstrap-your-machine-learning-project.html) - **Open Source Bridge** — [Democratizing Data: What You Need to Know as a Developer to Keep Your Data Collection and Usage Ethical](http://opensourcebridge.org/sessions/1994) ### Earlier Talks - **EuroPython 2016** — [Is that spam in my ham? A novice's inquiry into classification](https://pyvideo.org/europython-2016/is-that-spam-in-my-ham.html) - **PyOhio 2015** — [Is that spam in my ham? A novice's inquiry into classification](https://pyvideo.org/pyohio-2015/is-that-spam-in-my-ham-a-novice-inquiry-into-c.html)

Media & Features

Podcast Appearances