WHO'S ATTENDING

AGendA

[your guide to author summit]

Sunday, november 9

6 - 9 PM
Drury Plaza Hotel - city beautiful room
6 - 9 pM
3 hrs
Welcome reception
Launch your Author Summit journey at our Welcome Reception! Join us at Drury in The City Beautiful room to reconnect with fellow authors and the Pluralsight crew, enjoy stellar food and drinks, and relax after your voyage to Orlando. It's your chance to kick off the week right with networking and connection before diving into all of the content creator discussions ahead.

MONday, november 10

6 - 8:30 AM
DRURY PLAZA CAFETERIA
6 - 8:30 AM
2 hrs 30 min
Complimentary
hotEL breakfast
Begin the day with scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, and more with Drury Plaza's complimentary hot breakfast. Enjoy breakfast on your own time as you plan for your first day at Author Summit!
MORNING MAIN STAGE
8:30 - 11 AM
MONDAY
main stage
8:30 – 8:40 AM
10 min
AUTHOR SUMMIT
WELCOME
Todd VAn uitert
Welcome to Author Summit 2025! Get ready for a fantastic summit ahead as we kick off the day by hearing from Content leadership!
Main stage
8:40 – 9:05 AM
25 min
CCO UPDATE
Chris Herbert
Get an insider's perspective as Pluralsight's Chief Content Officer, Chris Herbert, shares a dynamic update on the state of the business and how you, the authors, are a vital part of the journey.
Main stage
9:05 - 9:30 AM
25 min
Content UPDATE
meghAn mAnfre
SVP of Content, Meghan Manfre, takes the stage as she explores the landscape of tech learning by unpacking content trends, sharing what’s on our roadmap, and highlighting how Pluralsight’s strategy continues to empower both learners and authors.
Main stage
9:30 - 9:50 am
20 min
Content Strategy Update
BAssey etim
Senior Director of Content Strategy, Bassey Etim, highlights the latest innovations and tools shaping our content strategy.
Main stage
9:50 - 10:25 am
35 min
Content leadership Q&A
Chris Herbert
MeghAn MAnfre
NicolAs Kuhl
Todd vAn uitert
BAssey etim
Chris Herbert, Meghan Manfre, Nicolas Kuhl, Todd van Uitert, and Bassey Etim join the stage to answer any questions authors may have. This is your chance to ask, learn, and get inspired!
Main stage
10:25 – 11:00 aM
35 min
Break & Curriculum office hours
Enjoy a coffee, extended break, and take this chance to visit with curriculum leaders; ask questions, share ideas, and find out how you can contribute to content in the future.
BREAKOUT
ROUND 1
11 AM - 12 PM
MONDAY
ATTEND
1 OF 4
SESSIONS
🌞 SOLAR ROOM
11 - 11:50 Am
50 min
Using your phone to shoot face-to-camera Content
dAllin vAn blerkom
Want to try face-to-camera content without splurging on a fancy camera? Learn how easy it is to use your existing smartphone to shoot high-quality videos that meet can still meet content standards.
🌛 LUNAR ROOM
11 - 11:50 Am
50 min
THE WAYS WE ALL create CONTENT
Jon Friskics
This session will showcase the diverse workflows of contract authors, based on interviews and surveys, highlighting key differences, shared practices, and actionable insights to foster community, inspire process improvements, and help authors feel more connected.
🌟 NOVA ROOM
11 - 11:50 Am
50 min
Once upon a concept:
TeAching through Story and Analogy
Noreen HAsAn
Make technical content stick by weaving in short stories and analogies that bring complex concepts to life. In this session, you’ll learn practical techniques to build narrative threads, clarify abstract ideas, and make your teaching more engaging and relatable.
✨ GALACTIC ROOM
1 1 - 11:50 AM
50 min
Building Labs:
Tips & Tricks
MelissA FontAine
Discover how to design engaging, effective labs by exploring the three main types (Code Labs, Desktop Labs, and Hands-on Cloud Labs) and what makes each unique. You’ll leave with practical tips you can apply right away to your own content.
12 - 1 PM
DRURY PLAZA CAFETERIA
12 - 1 pM
1 Hr
LUNCH
Lunch menu transmission incoming. Stay tuned for the full menu.
BREAKOUT
ROUND 2
1 - 3 PM
MONDAY
ATTEND
1 OF 3
SESSIONS
🌞 SOLAR ROOM
1 - 3 pm
2 hrs
Crafting impactful course clips & Demos
Andru estes
Learn how to hook learners with compelling course clips and design demos that resonate with learners. Through practical exercises and examples, you’ll gain strategies to make your content more engaging, relevant, and impactful right from the first clip.
🌛 LUNAR ROOM
1 - 3 PM
2 hrs
Beyond the Mic:
Audio Setup, Delivery & AI Voice Cloning
jAcob BrAnch
chris colucci
Great audio starts before you hit record. This hands-on workshop will teach you how to capture high-quality sound with the right mic setup, soundproofing your environment, and key vocal techniques. We'll also incorporate AI tools, like ElevenLabs, to enhance recordings while keeping your natural voice.
🌟 NOVA ROOM
1 - 3 pm
2 hrs
Code labs workshop
Jeff hopper
melissA fontAine
Explore the entire Code Lab journey from spotting opportunities to seeing your work featured in the Pluralsight catalog. Then we’ll roll up our sleeves and build, giving you the chance to create your own mini lab!
3:00 - 3:10 PM
Main stage
3 - 3:10 PM
10 min
Day 1 wrap up
Day 2 Teaser
Gather back in the Main Stage room (where we began the day) to wrap up and chat about our fun-filled evening ahead!
3:10 - 3:45 PM
3:10 - 3:45 pM
35 min
Break until
shuttle meetup
3:45 - 10 PM
Location loading
3:45 -10 pM
6 hrs 15 min
Author SUMMIT Party
Coordinates locked. Transmission incoming with Author Party details. Standby.

TUESday, november 11

6 - 9 AM
DRURY PLAZA CAFETERIA
6 - 9 AM
self-service
Complimentary
hotEL breakfast
Begin the day with scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, and more with Drury Plaza's complimentary hot breakfast. Enjoy breakfast on your own time as you plan for your final day at Author Summit!
BREAKOUT ROUND 1
9 - 9:45 AM
TUESDAY
ATTEND
1 OF 4
SESSIONS
🌞 Solar Room
9 - 9:45 AM
45 min
The evolving
Role of Assessments
rAchAel killiAn
Explore the evolving role of Pluralsight assessments, where they stand today and what’s next. From new types of assessments to deeper integration, discover how they amplify the impact of your content.
🌛 Lunar Room
9 - 9:45 AM
45 min
Learner's Journey to Hero's journey:
Using narrative frameworks in course design
ryAn hAnsen
Discover how to apply the timeless Hero's Journey narrative framework to your course design, transforming your learners from passive participants into the protagonists of their career journey.
🌟 Nova Room
9 - 9:45 AM
45 min
Building Successful ProductioN Relationships
kAtie ZurBurg tAbor
Austi whetten
Learn communication best practices and techniques, working remotely, and how to get the most out of your production and PC team.
✨ Galactic Room
9 - 9:45 AM
45 min
AI-Powered Editing:
Introduction to Descript
Amy Coughlin
mike bunch
This introductory session will explore Descript, an AI-powered audio and video editing tool. With helpful feathures like Sound Studio and filler word removal, learn why this app may be a perfect choice for your future course work.
9:45 - 10 AM
9:45 - 10 AM
15 min
Break
Take a 15-minute orbit to recharge before the next mission begins.
BREAKOUT
ROUND 2
10 AM - 12 PM
TUESDAY
ATTEND
1 OF 3
SESSIONS
🌞 Solar Room
10 am - 12 pm
2 hrs
Streamlining your workflow:
Using AI as Your Co-Pilot
MichAel Teske
Chris Colucci
Learn how to use AI tools as your co-pilot from start to finish through the course creation process.
🌛 Lunar room
10 AM - 12 PM
2 hrs
AI -Assisted
scriptwriting & Delivery:
Keeping your human voice
dAllin vAn Blerkom
Alex WAlton
Streamline your scriptwriting with AI while keeping your unique voice. Learn practical tips for structuring scripts, using AI efficiently, and delivering them naturally with teleprompter techniques and AI tools like Elgato Voice Sync.
🌟 Nova Room
10 am - 12 pm
2 hrs
Designing engaging Visuals
lAuren tAylor
jAcob brAnch
One of the biggest pain points authors face is feeling restricted by standards. This session explores practical ways to design engaging, original courses while following the rules, transforming bland visuals into dynamic content.
12 - 1 PM
DRURY PLAZA CAFETERIA
12 - 1 pM
1 Hr
LUNCH
Lunch menu transmission incoming. Stay tuned for the full menu.
BREAKOUT ROUND 3
1 PM - 3 PM
TUESDAY
ATTEND
1 OF 3
SESSIONS
🌞 Solar Room
1 - 3 PM
2 hrs
creating a course through the production experts' eyes
melissA thoreson
KAtie zurBurg TAbor
Alex wAlton
dAllin vAn blerkom
Create a full 5 to 10 minute course from the VCP perspective. We'll cover setup, troubleshooting, slide and clip review, and basic Premiere editing. Learn best practices and get an interactive, behind-the-scenes look at what VCPs look for when reviewing your content.
🌛 Lunar room
1 - 3 pm
2 hrs
Creating with descript:
Edit, enhance, and Elevate your content
Amy coughlin
mike bunch
Dive deep into the powerful editing tool, Descript. From learning workflows, practicing real-time editing, and screen recording, this session will help you confidently integrate Descript into your content creation process.
🌟 Nova Room
1 -3 PM
2 Hrs
AI-Focused workshop
‍
Description coming soon.
CLOSING MAIN STAGE
3 - 4:30 PM
TUESDAY
main stage
3 - 4:30 pm
1 hr 30 min
10 min WRAP UP +
mainstage trivia
Todd vAn uitert
kim kArnAtz
AdAm mummA
It's our final chance to gather together at Author Summit! We’ll wrap-up with a fun (optional) activity to close things out on a stellar note. Last year’s trivia was a crowd favorite - so we’re planning to bring it back for everyone, complete with refreshments and healthy competition. While we know some attendees need to head out early for flights, we hope you'll stay if you can. This is a great chance to spend time with other authors, relax, and enjoy a fun, final orbit around the event.

Thank you for being here, safe travels, and we hope to see you again next year!

[CONTAct]

questions?

Reach out to Austin Allen for all Author Summit queries.

@ps-austin-allen

austin-allen@pluralsight.com