Join us as Dale Orders (AWS Community Builder, four-time All Builders Welcome participant from Australia) walks through everything you need to know about getting to AWS re:Invent completely free – flights, hotel, conference pass, and more.
Dale shares her personal journey from being rejected the first time to attending four AWS conferences through the All Builders Welcome grant program, including two as a mentor. You’ll learn the exact eligibility criteria, what the grant actually covers (flights, accommodation, Uber vouchers, a prepaid Visa card, and a free AWS exam voucher), how to write an application that stands out, and the one thing that will get yours rejected immediately. Dale also covers what happens after you’re accepted, how to handle the visa process if you’re outside the US, and a full list of other tech conference grant programs beyond AWS. Applications typically open in late June – this episode is your head start.
Timestamps
0:00 Welcome & Introduction
4:11 What is the All Builders Welcome Program?
8:03 Dale’s Journey: Rejected Once, Accepted Four Times
- 11:07 Eligibility Criteria & Who Should Apply
- 15:49 The #1 Thing That Will Get Your Application Rejected
- 16:03 Everything the Grant Actually Covers
- 17:42 How to Apply & Timeline
- 18:41 Writing a Winning Application
- 35:18 Visa Process Warning: Don’t Ignore This
- 38:41 Other Tech Conference Grant Programs & Wrap-up
How to find Dale:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-orders/
Links from the show: