I’m Feroza Chishty, and curiosity and code are at the heart of my journey in Advanced Web Development with Experience Lab cohort XA1 at Umuzi. Attending Escape Conference 2025 gave me a fresh perspective on both. Walking into a space filled with brilliant minds, bold ideas, and fresh perspectives reminded me of why I love being in tech. There is always something new to discover, and always someone ready to push the limits of what’s possible.
Lucky Nkosi’s opening keynote really set the tone for me. His words, “Eliminate, automate, delegate, cherish the time you spend alone”, made me rethink what productivity really means. Growth isn’t just about doing more; it’s about being intentional, creating systems, and giving yourself space to think. And the last part about cherishing one’s solitude hit home.
One of the talks that absolutely blew me away was “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Now with Features That Do It All: Building Our Own Smart Mirror” by Riselle Rawthee and Mikateko Ngobeni. The way they combined software, hardware and leveraged AI to create something so futuristic had me imagining all sorts of possibilities, from smart fridges to fully interactive homes. Seeing women in South Africa take the initiative on such innovative projects made me feel like if they can dream it and build it, so can I.
I wish I could tell you about every talk and panel discussion I attended, because all of them were amazing, but a few others left a lasting impact. Kirsten Reid’s “Beyond Gamification: Gameful Thinking for Complex Challenges” completely changed how I think about play and experimentation. Her message that “failure is the engine of progress” and that play is one of the core skills we need to navigate challenges resonated deeply. The exercise she guided us through helped me see how curiosity and experimentation can spark new ideas in both personal and professional projects.
Seale Rapolai’s “Cowboys and Code: Building Fast in the Startup Wild West” left me reflecting on focus and discipline. My key takeaways, ruthless prioritisation, managing technical debt, and selective automation, felt so relevant as an aspiring software engineer. I realised that building meaningful software isn’t just about coding, it is about knowing what truly matters, keeping things maintainable, and working smart. His slides made every point stick in such a fun and engaging way.
Beyond the talks, the event itself was seamless, with well-timed breaks, thoughtful catering, and careful organisation that made it easy to stay present and soak in every moment. Escape Conference left me buzzing with ideas, motivation, and a strong sense that innovation doesn’t have to feel distant. Sometimes it starts with play, sometimes with focus, and sometimes with daring to take that “impossible” idea seriously. For me, the next step is to keep that energy alive, to stay curious, experiment boldly, and chase after the big ideas that scare me a little.
