I’m used to conferences. The polished keynotes, the structured networking, the continuous feeling of being ‘pitched’ to. But Monki Gras? Monki Gras was something else entirely. It was two days of plunging into the deep end of the developer, open-source, and community pool, and by the end, I came up gasping for air – in the absolute best possible way.
My co-founder, David, has been telling me about RedMonk events for years – “great beer,” “good people,” “tech,” “and did I mention awesome, awesome people and really good beer?”
But the reality far exceeded David’s pre-event hype.
The first thing that struck me was the community. It wasn’t just a collection of “attendees”; it was a vibrant, passionate ecosystem of people who leaned in to create this amazing sense of ‘intentionality’ that I felt in every conversation. I walked in alone and was immediately met with hellos and introductions in the coffee line from people who had been coming to Monki Gras for years. Throughout the rest of the day, that initial surge of welcome continued – conversations flowed freely, there were no egos, ideas were exchanged with genuine enthusiasm, and there was a palpable sense of shared curiosity. No corporate jargon, no forced smiles – just real people talking about real things that mattered.
And, serendipitously, Monki Gras was where I finally got to meet our newly hired Chief Customer Officer in person… drum roll, please! I literally couldn’t be more excited to share that JT Perry, a long-time RedMonk community member, is joining Spice Labs on 7 April. JT is not only a stellar human but also a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience across multiple industries. He has played a key role in launching several lines of business, from voluntary insurance administration to healthcare clinics. Most recently, he worked as an advisor for VMware Tanzu, helping their most strategic customers tackle technology modernization and transformation.
But beyond his industry experience, witnessing JT at Monki Gras – connecting with everyone (and generously buying champagne!) – cemented every vote of confidence I had in him joining our small but mighty Spice Labs team.
JT and I watched many of the Monki Gras talks together – presentations that explored the human side of technology, the ethical implications of our work, the importance and sustainability of open source, and the ever-evolving relationship between humans and AI.
One talk, in particular, resonated deeply with me. It was a presentation on the slippery slope of open-source volunteering by Mike Fiedler. One part of Mike’s talk focused on the importance of “finding your why” – and it wasn’t about achieving some grand, world-changing goal. It was more humble and honest… making incremental impact, understanding the fundamental motivation that drives you, and recognizing the core values that guide your decisions on where to spend your time. It was about realizing that technology is not just about lines of code or market share; it’s about people, impact, and meaning.
This talk sparked a lot of reflection for me (maybe because it was after lunch and I had one of those fabulous beers that David had warned me about!). In my role, I’m constantly focused on the “what” and the “how” – the product we’re building, the team we’re hiring, the strategies we implement, the metrics we track. When you’re so outcome-focused, the “why” can feel lost in the noise.
The answers to these questions are what truly matter. They are the questions that drive innovation, inspire teams, and create lasting value. And, importantly, these are the questions I was able to begin discussing with our new Chief Customer Officer – gaining deeper insight into how JT aligns with Spice Labs’ core values.
Monki Gras reminded me that technology is ultimately a human endeavor. It’s about solving problems, connecting people, and celebrating the ‘craft’ of software. But to do that effectively, we need to step back and understand our “why.”
Leaving Monki Gras, I felt invigorated and inspired. It wasn’t just “another conference” – it was a reminder of the power of community, the importance of reflection, the value of in-person connection, and the need to hold our “whys” close in a world that’s constantly changing.
And as I sit here a few days later, pondering my ‘whys’ behind Spice Labs, I keep coming back to our team. I couldn’t be more inspired to do this alongside my co-founder, David, JT, Dani, MJ, James, Aria, David C., and our entire Spice Labs investor and advisory crew. Thank you to all of you for being part of my “why.”