Walt Ritscher

I played a key role in LinkedIn's launch of a feature known as Code Challenges, designed to empower learners in enhancing their technical skills through interactive, hands-on exercises. This platform provides real-time feedback using the professional workplace tool, CoderPad.

My contributions in this project encompassed several key areas:
1. Evaluation and Selection: My team and I conducted an extensive assessment of available in-browser code editors and code testing tools to identify… Show more

I played a key role in LinkedIn's launch of a feature known as Code Challenges, designed to empower learners in enhancing their technical skills through interactive, hands-on exercises. This platform provides real-time feedback using the professional workplace tool, CoderPad.

My contributions in this project encompassed several key areas:
1. Evaluation and Selection: My team and I conducted an extensive assessment of available in-browser code editors and code testing tools to identify the most suitable options for facilitating interactive code exercises.
2. Strategic Partnership: Based on the reports generated during this assessment, we made the strategic decision to collaborate with CoderPad, choosing them as our exclusive code challenge partner.
3. Recognition: Received Bravo Award in recognition of my role in providing the most comprehensive and valuable reports during this phase of the project.
4. Workflow Enhancement: I helped formalize and streamline the production workflow by collaborating closely with our producer team.
5. Documentation: To support our contract instructors, I authored and delivered detailed documentation on the effective use of CoderPad for course development.
6. Unit Test Framework: I created the unit framework that seamlessly integrated with the existing CoderPad editing tools, enhancing the development experience for our instructors.
7. Quality Assurance: Working alongside our copy-editing team, I hlpe standard the output and error messages, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience for learners and instructors.
8. Training Leadership: I led live training sessions for our initial contract instructors, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively utilize the Code Challenges feature.
9. Content Development: My involvement extended to the development and recording of three courses containing a wide array of code challenges, providing learners with diverse and engaging learning opportunities. Show less

In September 2022, I wrote a plan to explore the opportunity to lead a workshop at the GitHub Universe conference, leveraging our team's extensive expertise with Codespaces. Recognizing the potential to share our insights with a GitHub audience, I crafted an abstract entitled "Supercharge your onboarding and developer training with GitHub Codespaces" and successfully presented the idea to GitHub. The workshop was added to the conference schedule, leaving me with just 6 weeks to… Show more

In September 2022, I wrote a plan to explore the opportunity to lead a workshop at the GitHub Universe conference, leveraging our team's extensive expertise with Codespaces. Recognizing the potential to share our insights with a GitHub audience, I crafted an abstract entitled "Supercharge your onboarding and developer training with GitHub Codespaces" and successfully presented the idea to GitHub. The workshop was added to the conference schedule, leaving me with just 6 weeks to prepare.

Understanding that a collaborative approach would enhance the workshop's impact, I proposed a team presentation. This decision was driven by the desire to have multiple facilitators on hand to assist attendees during the practical sessions and the recognition that our staff instructors were exceptionally skilled in using Codespaces and in delivering compelling on-stage presentations.

I spearheaded the team for this workshop, overseeing various key responsibilities, including:

• Workshop organization, roadmap, and calendar management.
• Development of the workshop documentation website.
• Collaboration with our LinkedIn marketing partner to promote the workshop.
• Conducting outreach, both onsite and remotely, to conference VIPs and partners.
• Creation of the workshop example website.
• Allocation of topics among my team of staff instructors.
• Authoring and refining workshop content.
• Coordination of a comprehensive workshop dry run for our team at the LinkedIn San Francisco office.
• Collaboration with our GitHub partners for logistics, cloud services, and attendee engagement.
• Leading the 2-day workshop and sharing presentation duties with my colleagues, resulting in a top-rated session.
• Managing all these tasks within tight deadlines and maintaining confidentiality under a non-disclosure agreement regarding LinkedIn and Codespaces. Show less

I dedicated 14 months to integrating GitHub Codespaces into the LinkedIn Learning platform, aligning the production release with the GitHub Universe conference launch.

Background:
GitHub repositories play a pivotal role in LinkedIn Learning's tech courses. In 2019, our team introduced an internal system that seamlessly combines repositories and courses. During the development of this system, we cultivated a collaborative partnership with our counterparts at GitHub. When GitHub… Show more

I dedicated 14 months to integrating GitHub Codespaces into the LinkedIn Learning platform, aligning the production release with the GitHub Universe conference launch.

Background:
GitHub repositories play a pivotal role in LinkedIn Learning's tech courses. In 2019, our team introduced an internal system that seamlessly combines repositories and courses. During the development of this system, we cultivated a collaborative partnership with our counterparts at GitHub. When GitHub unveiled Codespaces, a cloud-based development environment facilitating collaborative coding in a browser, we knew it was time to incorporate it into our toolkit.

The integration of Codespaces and LinkedIn Learning was a substantial undertaking, spanning 14 months and engaging nearly every team within the LinkedIn Learning organization. The project's culmination was marked by the activation of our improved publishing pipeline and the preparation of 60 Codespaces courses, poised for launch during the 2022 GitHub Universe conference week.

• Vital team member in 14-month effort to integrate GitHub Codespaces with LinkedIn Learning, involving coordination with various teams within the organization.
• Developed instructor documentation to help contract instructors understand the how to use Codespaces in their courses.
• Designed video prototypes for instructor training, built documentation sites on GitHub Pages, and conducted producer and instructor training workshops.
• Evaluated existing LinkedIn Learning courses, specifically Microsoft-related ones, for seamless Codespaces integration.
• Created and tested GitHub templates for our tech courses to streamline the course creation process.
• Contributed to the development of standardized configuration files.
• Created and released numerous LinkedIn Learning courses for the November launch.
• Spearheaded, managed and presented our 2-day GitHub Universe workshop (see the GitHub Universe Workship project for details). Show less

From 2016 to 2019, I pioneered the role of Lead Planner and Onsite Coordinator for our yearly LinkedIn Learning Influencer events at the Microsoft MVP summit. I directed the program inception, facilitated outreach to prospective attendees, handled site acquisition and catering logistics, orchestrated our onsite staff, hired contingent staff, and managed the program's budget.

Some of the annual highlights:

MVP Influencer Evening Event: Successfully planned and executed the MVP… Show more

From 2016 to 2019, I pioneered the role of Lead Planner and Onsite Coordinator for our yearly LinkedIn Learning Influencer events at the Microsoft MVP summit. I directed the program inception, facilitated outreach to prospective attendees, handled site acquisition and catering logistics, orchestrated our onsite staff, hired contingent staff, and managed the program's budget.

Some of the annual highlights:

MVP Influencer Evening Event: Successfully planned and executed the MVP influencer evening event, which attracted approximately 200 MVP and RD influencers. Coordinated a team of 15 LinkedIn Learning staff, including representation from Management, Content Managers, Principal Evangelists, and Instructors roles to ensure a seamless event experience.

MVP Instructor Evening Event: Successfully planned and executed the MVP instructor evening event, recognized as a key gathering for our esteemed instructors participating in the Microsoft MVP program. The event saw participation from approximately 100 MVP and contract instructor influencers, making it a significant success. Attendees represented our diverse libraries, including English, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese instructors.

• Delivered an impactful "Rock Your Profile" session, enriching attendees' LinkedIn profiles.
• Manned the Insiders MVP Q and A booth, skillfully addressing inquiries from MVPs.
• Managed the LinkedIn Learning booth positioned strategically next to the professional headshot photographer, fostering a synergistic connection with LinkedIn services.
• Conceptualized and executed a successful promotional campaign in collaboration with the MVP 25-year celebration, unlocking courses featuring our esteemed MVP instructors.
• Orchestrated the promotion of course unlocks in close partnership with the MVP team and the Windows Insiders, resulting in the highest level of engagement and website traffic ever witnessed in of our Insider/Community program. Show less

The LinkedIn Learning Insider program was a multi-year program to build a strong community amongst our instructors, tech influencers and LinkedIn Learning employees.
I joined the insider team early and help grow it into a robust thriving entity.

The first goal was to foster a better community for our 1,400 instructors and help them build their ongoing relationship with LinkedIn Learning and other instructors.

The second goal was to extend the insider community to include known… Show more

The LinkedIn Learning Insider program was a multi-year program to build a strong community amongst our instructors, tech influencers and LinkedIn Learning employees.
I joined the insider team early and help grow it into a robust thriving entity.

The first goal was to foster a better community for our 1,400 instructors and help them build their ongoing relationship with LinkedIn Learning and other instructors.

The second goal was to extend the insider community to include known influencer communities, like the Microsoft MVP (4000 members), Windows Insiders (16 million members) and similar programs at Google, Apple and Adobe.

• Hosted biweekly video sessions for insiders
• Managed speaker scheduling for the Insider Learning Lunch hour sessions
• Built Community web prototype
• Built Microsoft Excel automation system for managing course links.
• Created workflows with Microsoft Flow to manage announcements of new courses.
• Conceived and staffed the Learning Community Registration desk at Microsoft Ignite conference.
• Conceived and staffed the Learning Community Registration desk at MVP Summit.
• Created workflows with Microsoft Flow to automated newsletters.
• Worked with internal security teams to ensure GDPR compliance with Insider programs. Show less

I've spoken an conferences around the world. Here is a partial list:


SDC - Netherlands
DevReach -- Sofia, Bulgaria
DevSum -- Stockholm Sweden
VSLive Sydney Australia

I’ve spoken at conferences every year since 2002, Here is partial list.
Microsoft Build
Microsoft Dev Days
Microsoft Visual Studio Live


VSLive 2002-2020
New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C, Orlando, Las Vegas
San Francisco, Dallas, Anaheim, Austin, San Diego, New Orleans, Toronto Ontario, Sydney Australia

DevConnections -- Las Vegas
SDExpo --Silicon Valley

Devscovery
New York, Raleigh, Austin, Houston, Redmond, Denver, Los Angeles… Show more

I’ve spoken at conferences every year since 2002, Here is partial list.
Microsoft Build
Microsoft Dev Days
Microsoft Visual Studio Live


VSLive 2002-2020
New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C, Orlando, Las Vegas
San Francisco, Dallas, Anaheim, Austin, San Diego, New Orleans, Toronto Ontario, Sydney Australia

DevConnections -- Las Vegas
SDExpo --Silicon Valley

Devscovery
New York, Raleigh, Austin, Houston, Redmond, Denver, Los Angeles

Other
DevSum, Sweden
CodeMash
Code PaLousa
KCDC, Kansas City Dev conference
Code Mash
Tech Bash
Beer City Code
Cincy.Develop
Though Leaders - Sarasota
Music City Code
DevConnections
SDC Netherlands
Dev Reach Bulgaria
SDN

CodeCamps
Chicago, South Florida, Boise, Orlando, Seattle, Silicon Valley,
Atlanta, Desert - Phoenix, Raleigh, Detroit, Portland Show less

Speaker at various code camps

Codes Camps
Seattle, Portland, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Raleigh NC, Atlanta, Chicago, Boise
Silicon Valley, Atlanta, Phoenix, Detroit

Worked with the Microsoft team to create two day course for creating "Project Siena" applications. Project Sienna new name is Microsoft PowerApps

Worked with Microsoft Learning as subject matter expert for .NET curriculum.