Mark these 8 tech and biz growth events on your January calendar

Events Roundup is a Technical.ly column where we highlight events happening in the Philly area each month. Got a submission? Email us the details so we can consider it for our next roundup: philly@technical.ly.

It’s the beginning of a brand new year, and we’ve finally got the hang of virtual events by now.

Which — great, because we’ve got a chilly month ahead, and there’s nothing like making progress on your professional goals from the comfort of your home (and with a sweatpants-friendly dress code.)

This month’s events include a broad look at the future of Philly’s tech scene, some tech career how-tos and, of course, some info on Inauguration Day.

So, welcome to 2021. Dive in:

Esports Tsunami: monetizing esports for brands

University City Science Center’s Venture Cafe returns in the new year with more virtual programing, including this look at how brands can leverage the growing esports industry: “Can brands benefit from engaging this powerful and highly influential audience? Of course they can.” This talk will be lead by marketing and branding agency SweetScience’s funder Tom Conti and esports and entertainment expert Jeff Odiorne.

• Thursday, Jan. 7
• 5 to 6 p.m.
• Free; join here

UI/UX 101

Considering a career in user experience research, design or interface? This lunchtime intro to the field by Ideate Labs will help define what success looks like, what it’s like to change the future of products and how to build a career. Ideate instructor Samaya Sinha is a University of Pennsylvania grad who mentors startups and runs design thinking workshops for The Wharton School’s Venture Lab.

• Friday, Jan. 8
• Noon to 1 p.m.
• Free; register here

Economic Outlook ’21: Looking Towards Recovery

This virtual event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia invites members to its 23rd annual economic outlook, this year taking a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to influence national and regional economic trends in 2021. Last year’s event predicted that a recession wouldn’t hit Philadelphia as hard as other regions, and discussed why Chamber members felt slightly less sure about Philly’s biz economy heading into 2020.

Speakers for 2021’s event are Timothy Abell, president of Firstrust Bank; Madeline Bell, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Joseph David, global chief economist and head of the Investment Strategy Group for Vanguard; and Patrick Harker, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

• Wednesday, Jan. 13
• 2 to 3 p.m.
• Registration for Chamber members here

Diversify & Disrupt series: an ‘Ask Me Anything’

The Tech in Motion: Philadelphia meetup is hosting part two of its Diversify & Disrupt series, with a webinar, Building Effective Tech Teams in 2021. Tech managers and leaders will encourage attendees to seek advice and ask questions about hiring trends and emerging tech roles. Submit questions ahead of time or bring them to the live event.

• Thursday, Jan. 14
• 1 to 3 p.m.
• Free; register here

Virtual Inauguration Day

While there will likely be many ways to tune into President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the day will also include a “virtual parade across America,” his incoming administration told CNN this week. It’s an effort to keep folks from gathering in one place because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, leaders said, and to involve those who live far from the White House. It’ll be a historic day no matter what industry you’re in — and don’t forget the incoming First Family’s strong Philly ties.

• Wednesday, Jan. 20
• Noon
• Streaming on multiple platforms

A Day in the Life: Data Scientist

This virtual event by tech bootcamp Thinkful Philadelphia invites folks to experience what it’s like to spend a day as a data scientist for those considering a career in the field. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the daily work on data science platforms like Python, and discuss next steps needed for a successful career.

• Wednesday, Jan. 20
• 8 to 9 p.m.
• Free; register here

Future of Philly Tech & Startups 

This evening Venture Cafe event will gather experts from across the local community to share experience on startups, corporations, investors, mentors and organizations that make up the tech scene here. They’ll talk about how COVID-19 has impacted the city, what role tech-driven innovation plays in Philadelphia and how folks can “sell” Philly as a destination for early and growth-stage companies.

• Thursday, Jan. 21
• 6 to 7 p.m.
• Free; register here

Race in the Field: Navigating User Research as Designers of Color

This panel on user research brings together designers and researchers of color to talk about how their race influences their research approach. Panelists will talk about questions like “How do we position ourselves in organizations as advocates for racially diverse users?” and “What do we see as the future of diversity in the user research community and design leadership?” The event is open to attendees of all backgrounds. To prep, read our story from July about how local Black UX pros solved design challenges.

• Friday, Jan. 29
• 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• Suggested donation of $10; register here