Inside Tech Comm with Zohra Mutabanna

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We talk with Sharon Burton, editor of Women in Technical Communication, about how women’s stories reveal the real history of technical communication and why our work is bigger than “typing words.” We connect documentation to revenue, customer stickiness, and institutional knowledge while facing the disruption and cost realities of AI.

Episode highlights:

Sharon’s path into TechCom and how the book comes together
How the field flips from mostly men to mostly women over 50 years
Why AI changes workflows but does not replace task analysis and judgment
Tying documentation and user assistance to retention, adoption, and revenue
Why being left off the “team” slide hurts and how writers validate each other
Using conferences to learn the current language for proving value
Shared patterns for women in tech across cultures and generations
Documenting careers and decisions before retirements erase context
The pay gap still showing up in today’s data

Use discount code ITC26 to save $200 on registration for this year's LavaCon.

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We explore how to navigate bias, claim space, and thrive in systems not built for women and minorities. Kae Williams shares practical ways to build influence, handle microaggressions, and reach senior leaders with competence and calm. We touch upon these topics:

mapping systemic patterns that reward proximity over performance
tying work to business goals to earn visibility
one‑on‑one networking and cross‑team collaboration
scripts to approach CFOs and VPs for input
working with ego‑first leaders and assessing fit
identifying microaggressors and setting boundaries
documenting severe incidents and staying professional
building external support networks and mentorship
creating psychological safety and inclusive teams
speaking up with data, questions, and clarity

Find Kae’s book Not Made For You on her website with links to Amazon and more. Follow Kae on LinkedIn, Substack, and Instagram.

Guest Bio
Kae Kronthaler-Williams is a marketing leader who knows how to turn big ideas into real growth. She’s led teams as CMO at companies like Ocelot and Adroit North America, working at the intersection of AI, supply chain, manufacturing, and data-driven strategy.

Kae is also a coach and speaker who cares deeply about people, purpose, and performance. She helps leaders build better cultures, strengthen their influence, and lead with confidence and clarity. She’s passionate about equity, growth — both professional and personal — and what it really takes to show up as your best self in work and life.

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We ask Julie Trostad how authors can protect their work in an AI-first world and where ethics, law, and new licensing models meet. From content fingerprinting to smarter metadata, we map practical steps, real risks, and hopeful paths for fair compensation.

We start with the foundation: what intellectual property actually protects, how work-for-hire changes ownership, and why attribution still matters. From US lawsuits that punish pirated training data versus Europe’s stricter model for text and data mining rights, Julie explains how content fingerprinting and registries like ISCC plus AMLET give AI systems a machine-readable “do and don’t” list—ranging from research-only to fully licensed generative use—so rights can be recognized and respected across platforms.

Guest Bio

Julie Trelstad is a publishing strategist with 30+ years of experience helping authors and publishers navigate industry change. She currently leads U.S. Publishing at Amlet.ai, where she focuses on how creators can protect and license their work in the age of AI. Julie’s background spans traditional, digital, and rights-driven roles across major publishing segments, and she’s a voice on ethical AI use, content discovery, and digital rights for creative work.

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The AI tools arrived, the dashboards lit up, and the ROI… didn’t. Monica Marquez of Flipwork unpacks what actually drives meaningful adoption—and what kills it. The short answer: people and process, not just platforms. The longer answer: psychological safety, shared playbooks, and a clear path from micro efficiencies to measurable impact.

Monica walks us through the mindset shift from fearing replacement to becoming “people squared,” where AI handles the drudge work, and humans double down on judgment, taste, and lived expertise. From thawing the “frozen middle” of management to building agentic AI that connects steps across a workflow, we map a practical route to real ROI. Monica shares Flipwork’s 90‑day sprint, the Flip Factor readiness assessment, and “Flippy,” a non-judgmental change agent that helps individuals identify their "zone of genius" and teams redesign processes. Along the way, we spotlight case studies like IKEA’s upskilling strategy, and we explore how micro wins—clarifying requirements, synthesizing research, in-context coaching—compound into major gains.

Let's move past the hype and make AI a partner that elevates your craft. This conversation outlines the practices, mindsets, and tools required to achieve this goal.

Guest BioMonica Marquez is a workplace AI strategist, leadership, learning, and inclusion expert, and serial entrepreneur. She is the founder of FlipWork, Inc., the only enterprise-wide AI workforce transformation system that ensures Fortune 500 companies adapt quickly to disruptive change. FlipWork helps employees at every level adopt AI successfully by transforming how people see, think, and work so they can keep pace with rapid workplace change. She also publishes ¡Ay Ay Ay, AI!, a weekly newsletter that gives leaders five minutes of clear, actionable guidance on thriving in the age of AI.

Monica brings more than 20 years of executive experience spanning talent, learning, and inclusion at Google, EY, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs. At Goldman Sachs, she pioneered the Returnship and New Directions programs, setting the industry benchmark for helping experienced professionals reenter the workforce. At Google, she co-founded the Product Inclusion Council to shape more inclusive product design. She is also the co-founder of Beyond Barriers and has hosted more than 300 podcast episodes spotlighting transformative leadership journeys.

Recognized among Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Women of Influence and ALPFA’s Most Powerful Latinas in 2024, Monica continues to champion equity, innovation, and leadership in every arena.

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We kick off the new season by breaking down the “contractor mindset” for writing prompts — the key to getting AI to deliver to spec, not with unnecessary “flair.”

Chuck Nealis joins us to explore how to write high-impact prompts through the lens of storytelling. We dig into the simple but powerful guardrails that help navigate AI’s context window. Because as conversations grow, crucial constraints tend to fade — and that’s when prompt drift begins.

So what do you do when the whiteboard starts getting messy?

In this episode, we unpack:

Explicit prompts with clear purpose, audience, and format
Contractor mindset over poetic creativity
Context window limits and the 80% summary handoff
Labeling drafts and starting fresh threads
Triangulated reviews across multiple AIs
Verifying sources and rejecting fabricated citations
Building repeatable, reliable prompt blueprints
Why consistency leads to accuracy

Treat AI’s memory like a whiteboard, not a library — and start designing prompts that stick.

Guest Bio

Chuck Nealis is a seasoned instructional designer, Organizational Change Management lead, and AI prompt expert with over 20 years of experience helping organizations deploy practical AI‑powered learning solutions and training programs. Chuck is also an author and thought leader on effective AI usage, focusing on precision‑engineered prompting and learning design.

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We unpack how structured content and metadata make AI useful, reliable, and traceable across complex organizations. Regina and Max join us to connect strategy and tech, from RAG fundamentals to governance that bridges silos and boosts trust.

Some highlights:

How to define AI readiness
Making metadata part of authoring, not an afterthought
Why component content + semantic markup matter
Data fabrics, ontologies, and harmonized vocabularies
What are the barriers to tagging, and how to overcome them
RAG for traceable answers and risk control
A cancer information case study for empathy and speed
Finding the sweet spot in tag granularity
Audits, lifecycle, and content as a business asset
Tools landscape: authoring, optimization, taxonomy, localization

Guest Bios

Regina Lynn Preciado is a Sr. Director of Content Strategy at Content Rules, with decades of experience in structured content, metadata, and content automation. She works with clients across life sciences, tech, manufacturing, and finance to make content findable, usable, and scalable. A skilled communicator and facilitator, she co-authored The Personalization Paradox, helping organizations succeed with personalized experiences at scale.

Max Swisher is Director of Technology at Content Rules, where he helps clients implement structured authoring and data solutions. With a background as a technical writer and system administrator, he bridges technical insight with practical execution. Max supports companies across diverse industries in transforming their content to be AI-ready and metadata-rich.

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Manny graces our show once more to share insights on audio synthesis, a technology that has evolved far beyond robotic voices into sophisticated AI systems. It has made documentation more accessible and enhanced technical communication workflows. Manny and I discuss practical applications, implementation strategies, and ethical considerations for incorporating audio synthesis into documentation.

Key takeaways:

What is audio synthesis?
How the "curb cut effect" of audio options benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities
How can you implement audio synthesis through CI/CD pipelines for docs-as-code or integrated into CMS publication workflows?
How should you prepare content with alternative descriptions for visual elements like code blocks and diagrams for audio synthesis?
Considerations for voice cloning and careful ethical consideration to avoid misuse.
What are some proprietary and open-source options that provide audio libraries?

Guest BioA tech writer by day and engineer by night, Manny Silva is Head of Docs at Skyflow, codifier of Docs as Tests, and the creator of Doc Detective. He’s passionate about intuitive and scalable developer experiences and likes diving into the deep end as the 0th developer.

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What happens when AI meets technical writing? It's not the end of the profession—it's an evolution that opens exciting new possibilities for skilled communicators.

Kartika Raman, Lead Technical Writer at Salesforce, shares her journey from database administration to technical writing and now to the cutting edge of AI content creation. She explains how the fundamental nature of AI systems—probabilistic rather than deterministic—creates both challenges and opportunities for documentation professionals.

As content creators, we already possess the valuable skills needed for success in the AI era. The ability to organize information, provide context, and communicate clearly becomes even more crucial when creating content that both humans and AI systems will consume. As Kartika explains, "We're not just writing, we're developing knowledge systems" that enable AI to generate accurate, relevant responses.

We explore emerging roles in areas of prompt engineering, ontology development, and content design. These are skill sets that technical writers should develop as they adapt to changing technology landscapes. Focusing on continuous learning, experimentation with AI tools, and maintaining critical thinking skills are essential for future-proofing our careers.

While AI will undoubtedly change the nature of technical writing jobs, it will also create new opportunities. The stakes for creating trustworthy, accurate content have never been higher. By embracing AI literacy and expanding beyond traditional documentation roles, technical communicators can position themselves at the forefront of this transformation.

Ready to adapt, create, and thrive with AI?

Guest Bio

Karthika Raman is a Lead Technical Writer at Salesforce, where she plays a pivotal role on the AI Content Experience team. With a career that began in database administration, Karthika transitioned into technical writing, leveraging her deep domain expertise to simplify and communicate complex systems. Her journey has included impactful roles at Microsoft, Tableau, and Salesforce, and today she helps shape how enterprise AI technologies are documented and understood.

At Salesforce, Karthika focuses on creating content that supports both human users and AI systems, emphasizing clarity, context, and trustworthiness. She is part of the team that develops content to explain AI and agentic technologies Salesforce creates. She is passionate about evolving the role of technical communicators in the age of AI, exploring emerging areas such as prompt engineering, ontology development, and content design. Her work reflects a commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and the strategic use of AI tools to build scalable knowledge systems.

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Jack Molisani returns to discuss how technical communication careers are evolving with generative AI. He shares practical advice for navigating the changing landscape with pro tips in this era of resume robots and chatbot interviews, while emphasizing that human expertise remains irreplaceable.

A resume should be a personal communication from you to the reader, not an AI-generated document
Stop applying through applicant tracking systems designed to weed you out; connect directly with hiring managers
Hiring managers look for what you are, your seniority level, domain knowledge, tool proficiency, and affordability
Companies value technical communicators who can appropriately integrate AI into workflows, not just prompt engineers
Position yourself as part of revenue generation, not just as someone who "writes manuals"

In Jack's words, "like surfing, timing is everything—don't adopt AI too early or too late, but ride the wave at its crest." Listen in for this timely advice.

Guest BioJack Molisani is the President of ProSpring Technical Staffing, an employment agency specializing in content professionals (both contract and perm): https://ProspringStaffing.com

He’s also the author of Be The Captain of Your Career: A New Approach to Career Planning and Advancement, which hit #5 on Amazon’s Career and Resume Best Seller list.

Jack also produces The LavaCon Conference on Content Strategy and TechComm Management. See https://LavaCon.org for more information.

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Kicking off our season, Manny Silva discusses how agentic AI is transforming technical documentation workflows and explains why human expertise remains essential despite technological advancements. AI agents are tools that extend our capabilities rather than replace technical writers' core skills. Learn why!

Some takeaways from this interesting discussion:

Definition of agentic AI as applications that take actions based on the tools provided to them.
How common tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot qualify as agents.
Creating custom AI tools to accelerate documentation drafting processes.
Using AI to turn a week-long project into a three-day effort.
The continued importance of human expertise in identifying requirements and context.
Strategies for incorporating AI tools into existing documentation workflows.
Establishing boundaries and processes to prevent burnout in the AI era.
The value of internal documentation in creating successful organizations.
How technical writers can maintain their relevance by focusing on curation and quality.

Manny shares a six-point checklist for making documentation AI-ready. Listen in for the tips.

Stay tuned for a future episode where we'll explore audio synthesis and multimodal AI in documentation.

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As a content creator, you may wonder how your role will evolve with AI on the scene. Are you excited or concerned? Either way, this is a must-listen episode to learn and pivot.

Join us as Selvaraaju Murugesan and I discuss this topic at length to explore how content creators and, especially technical writers, need to pivot.

We dissect the evolving role of technical writers in the age of AI, focusing on how engineering concepts can be seamlessly integrated with technical writing to enhance content creation and user experience. Selva emphasizes how technical writers can transform their roles to become AI managers to guide and enhance AI-generated content.

We dive deep into the unification of product design and documentation, emphasizing the need for a "knowledge experience" to simplify users' learning processes.

If you are concerned and struggling to determine how to respond to the changing landscape of AI, then tune in. You will discover insights to prepare for a future with Gen AI while leveraging your current skills.

Guest Bio
Selvaraaju Murugesan is the head of Data Science at Kovai.co. He focuses on integrating AI features into Document360 - a knowledge base SaaS. He is an active community member in the technology and documentation space. His recent article, "Is Your Content Ready for Gen AI Based Agents?", was featured in the tcworld magazine.

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Kim Campbell, who wears many hats, joins me on this latest episode to unlock the secrets behind effective technical editing. Kim and I explore the fundamentals of technical editing, highlighting its pivotal role in ensuring high standards and tailoring content for specific audiences. We dive into the growing necessity of human oversight amidst the rise of AI-generated content, ensuring accuracy and quality remain uncompromised.

In our deeper dive into the editing process, we unpack the various levels of technical editing, from developmental and structural editing to copy editing and proofreading. Highlighting the importance of collaboration and open dialogue, especially in tech environments, Kim provides strategies for resolving conflicts between authors and editors. Our conversation also delves into the emerging role of tech editors as change agents and the impact of generative AI on technical writing. Join us for a discussion filled with practical tips and valuable insights for mastering the art of technical editing.

Guest BioKim Sydow Campbell, Ph.D., is a linguist who has been studying workplace language for more than 30 years. She joined the Department of Technical Communication at the University of North Texas in 2016, where she now serves as Director of Corporate Relations, promoting constructive interactions among industry professionals, students, and faculty. When she isn't doing research or teaching, you'll find her cooking, watching movies, swimming, or just hanging with her family and fur babies.

Suggested Resources

Professional standards from the Editors Association of Canada
Kim's Youtube channel with course material

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Unlock the secrets of a unified content experience for enhanced customer satisfaction with Scott Abel. Known as the Content Wrangler, Scott takes us through his journey from journalism to becoming a key player in content strategy.

Ever wondered why customer experience is more than just a buzzword? We unpack its multifaceted nature, shining a light on every interaction from prospective to former customers, including internal stakeholders. Scott and I discuss the often-overlooked strategic role of technical writers in delivering timely and relevant content. You'll learn about the potential pitfalls and inefficiencies when customer experience strategies are managed by departments outside content teams, and the financial implications of recognizing technical communication as crucial for customer experience success.

Discover the strategic value of technical documentation beyond its traditional role. This episode covers how documentation impacts post-sale support and even pre-sale decisions, driving significant traffic without a marketing budget. We explore leadership awareness, the importance of interdepartmental collaboration, and the critical role of metrics in ensuring customer satisfaction. With insights into evolving KPIs, effective corporate communication, and the importance of continuous learning, this episode gives you simple tips to improve the overall content experience in the customer experience journey.

Guest BioKnown as "The Content Wrangler," Scott Abel is a content strategist who helps companies improve the way they author, maintain, and deliver information to those who need it. He's co-author of "Intelligent Content: A Primer" and "The Language of Content Strategy" and creator of the Content Strategy Series of books from XML Press.

His blog, TheContentWrangler.com, is a popular destination for communication pros seeking information about content management strategy and related topics. Scott’s social networking group on Linkedin, The Content Wrangler Community, is a global network of content professionals that attracts tens of thousands of members from around the world. He also has a large following on Facebook and Twitter.

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Are traditional documentation formats holding you back?

Join us as Christopher Ward offers a unique perspective on the future of technical communication. Discover how Markdown, with its straightforward syntax and open nature, can revolutionize the way technical writers and subject matter experts collaborate. Markdown simplifies collaboration by separating content from style, bridges the gap with developers, and aligns content creation with business goals.

We also discussed the profound impact of artificial intelligence and generative AI on the field, underscoring the pivotal role that technical writers play in developing and enhancing AI models while recognizing the limitations of AI-generated content and the irreplaceable value that human technical writers bring to the table.

Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to elevate your technical communication game.

Markdown DemoDemo of the technical writing process using Markdown at 39:38. Resources

Blog - https://goto.webworks.com/newworkflow
Free Markdown Editors with AI Integration
(Caution - everything you input or query using these tools is public. There is no privacy with these tools.)
- Notion - [https://www.notion.so/](https://www.notion.so/
- Marktion - https://marktion.io
Free Trial and Documentation for Markdown and Markdown++
- https://goto.webworks.com/newworkflow
- https://goto.webworks.com/markdowntrial
- https://goto.webworks.com/markdowndocs

Guest Bio

Christopher Ward is a dynamic professional with a diverse background spanning military intelligence, corporate sales, and strategic marketing. Education has always been a cornerstone of Christopher's journey. Graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University, he demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a thirst for knowledge.

Christopher is a certified expert in Google Analytics, having earned certifications for both basic and advanced concepts. His proficiency in data analysis and digital marketing strategies has been instrumental in shaping successful campaigns and optimizing organizational performance.

A prolific writer and presenter, Christopher has contributed articles to various Technical Documentation Magazines and has graced stages across the United States and Europe. With over 15 years in TechComm and 20 years as a business analyst, he brings a wealth of experience and insights to every endeavor. You can contact Christopher at christopher@webworks.com.

Christopher is presenting at Lavacon. Use the discount code (Ward24), to get a $200 discount.

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As content writers, we are constantly at the edge of our seats as we try to juggle multiple content deliverables. How do we strategize and manage stakeholder expectations?

Robert Mills, the founder of Fourth Wall Content, joins me with techniques and insights into collaborative content prioritization. With a journalism and content operations background, Robert shares the power of clear communication and methods you can employ to ensure your workflows and content efforts are efficient and effective.

Discover four decision-making techniques: dot voting, the MoSCoW method, the RICE method, and the five whys. Robert and I dissect each technique, revealing how they can be leveraged for in-person and remote collaboration. Whether you're managing a major website overhaul or juggling a slew of content requests, these methods offer a structured approach to prioritization that can be adapted to any team or project context.

Effective content strategy goes beyond mere tools—it's about managing inventories, creating seamless user journeys, and engaging stakeholders with empathy and data-driven decisions. Robert’s practical advice on starting with simple tools like spreadsheets will resonate with anyone looking to streamline their processes without breaking the bank. Tune in to uncover how to balance collaboration with quick decision-making, build trust within your team, and drive your current initiatives.

Guest BioRobert Mills is the founder of Fourth Wall Content, working with clients on content strategy, content design and content operations. He has recently worked with Marie Curie, the RAF, Natural Resources Wales, Social Care Wales and NHS England.

Rob is a journalism graduate and has previously worked as Head of Content for a Saas company, Studio Manager and Head of Content for a design agency, and as an Audience Research Executive for the BBC.

He’s an experienced copywriter and editor, a published author, and speaks about content strategy at leading industry events or on podcasts.

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Can outdated training data and hallucinations in large language models (LLMs) hold back your AI projects?

Manny Silva joins us to uncover Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), a technique that improves the output of LLMs. He shares practical insights with real-world applications that ensure AI-generated responses are accurate and contextually relevant.

The future of content creation is going to be automated. Manny reveals how by using developer tools and open-source communities, we can cut down the time required to produce first drafts. Learn about the integration of engineering and design documents, and templates from the Good Docs Project, all optimized for LLM inference.

This episode also explores the delicate balance between AI and human creativity in the writing process, emphasizing that while AI can handle initial drafts, human input is invaluable for refinement. Tune in for a compelling discussion that will transform how you approach AI and content creation.

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Kieran Morgan and I connected to discuss how to manage projects and priorities as technical communicators, particularly in agile environments. With Kieran's vast experience in operations and governance, he shares strategies that can empower you as a writer to take charge of your workload without the luxury of dedicated project management support.

From the importance of planning to the art of negotiation with stakeholders, our conversation dives into project management skills vital for technical writers. As we unravel the complexities of defining scope, scheduling, and budgeting, Kieran offers invaluable advice for those new to the field. Discover how embracing formal training in basic project management skills can be a game-changer, extending beyond mere schedules and trackers to encompass a holistic view of project execution, including risk and stakeholder management.

Lastly, we bridge the gap between cognitive psychology and technical writing, shedding light on how a deeper understanding of the 'why' can transform documentation into a more effective learning tool. We explore the power of visuals, the importance of content chunking, and the necessity of tailoring documentation to the needs of a majority user base to avoid scope creep.
Key Takeaways:

Planning: Essential for successful project execution.
Scope Definition: Crucial for project success.
Simple Tools: Excel for tracking.
Negotiation: Key skill with stakeholders.
Cognitive Psychology: Enhances documentation effectiveness.

Guest BioKieran Morgan is an author and entrepreneur. As the founder of Boffin Education, he is passionate about applying his diverse skill set in leadership, operations, and documentation to the challenge of building a knowledge business.

His 2015 book, Technical Writing Process, is a top-seller on Amazon with over 9,000 copies sold (books + templates). A new edition of the Technical Writing Process (2024, 2nd ed.) brings the content with up-to-date information for modern technologies and recent developments in industry best practices. Head over to the home of the Technical Writing Process (2024, 2nd ed.) on Boffin Education.

In addition to his entrepreneurial and authorship experience, he's also an experienced program and operations manager, with strong expertise in planning and pitching new programs, facilitating governance forums, and leading complex programs.

Resources

Boffin Education is offering a 10% discount on their project management courses for technical writers. mention those? Use this code 44EF3D to avail of the discount.

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Curious about the publishing requirements and nitty-gritty of regulated content? Just one compliance slip can mean lost time and dollars. Tune in to this episode to discover how Quark Software can help you cut costs and enhance your compliance, collaboration, and automation efforts.

Richard Worrell and Emerson Welch from Quark Software join us for a riveting discussion on the ins and outs of regulated content creation, where every detail matters. You'll learn strategies to ensure your documentation is bulletproof against the most stringent regulatory standards. Prepare to understand the weight of non-compliance and how aligning with corporate styles and guidelines isn't just about ticking boxes—it's about safeguarding your brand's integrity and market presence.

With regulated content, collaboration is key. Rich and Emerson walk us through the advantages of using Quark Publishing Platform. By leveraging tools like Microsoft Teams within Quark's advanced workflow engine, we learn how multiple authors can seamlessly contribute to a single document simultaneously—an orchestration that not only maintains compliance but accelerates content delivery.

Lastly, we talk about how Quarky, the artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, can assist with managing multilingual documents. We explore how the AI assistant can identify reusable content, streamline quality assurance, and refine content strategy.

Resources to check out

Blog on regulated content
A White paper that explores the shifting dynamics between in-house, hybrid vendor, and platform & ecosystem approaches for implementing a content automation solution.
Quark Security Center - A central repository for security documentation

Guest Bios

Emerson Welch, VP Global Marketing at Quark, is responsible for driving Quark’s marketing strategies to strengthen the company’s market position to support business growth. With over 25 years of B2B software product and brand marketing experience, Emerson has successfully led marketing teams for small startups, channel partners and large enterprises. His technology expertise in content automation, creative collaboration workflows, ERP, CRM, IT support services and more, has resulted in a consistently strong track record of enabling sales to grow revenue through a proven combination of evangelism, simple messaging, innovative content and targeted demand generation campaigns.

Richard (Rich) Worrell, Quark's Enterprise Senior Product Manager, leads a global team dedicated to driving content automation and intelligence solutions for large-scale organizations. He is responsible for delivering Quark's product strategy and its enterprise product roadmap. With expertise in enterprise architecture and a proven track record in product roadmap development, Richard leverages his deep understanding of enterprise dynamics to drive technical innovation and deliver cutting-edge solutions to customers.

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As technical communicators, this challenge most likely resonates with you -- how do you keep docs in sync with your product? In the words of Manny Silva, "When product updates are frequent and user expectations are high, maintaining accurate and up-to-date documentation isn’t just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage."

Manny proposes. Docs as Tests, a strategy that keeps your docs in sync with your product. It’s a way to test your docs, just like engineers test their code.

As Manny joins me, we unravel the story of Doc Detective—an innovative tool that challenges the status quo by ensuring documentation remains in lockstep with product functionality. Through a case study and demo, Manny shares how Doc Detective tests your content against your product UIs and APIs to ensure that your docs are always accurate, complete, and relevant.

Where can you view the demo?

View the demo (24:04 to 34:24) at this link.

Resources

Docs as Tests blog
Doc Detective Github (open to contributions!)
Doc Detective documentation (open to contributions!)
Doc Detective Discord channel (for questions and contributors)

Events to attend where Manny will be presenting in 2024

Write the Docs, Portland
Linux Foundation Open Source Summit on April 18th
STC Summit on May 17th

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The humble notes serve a larger purpose - be they a simple list, recipes, or essential information we jot down for later recall and planning. We sit down with Jorge Arango, the coauthor of Information Architecture for the Web and Beyond, to unlock the secrets of note-taking.

Our first episode of the season with Jorge is more than a conversation; it's a roadmap to redefining how we handle the barrage of digital information overload. His latest work, "Duly Noted," offers deep insights into how we benefit from good note-taking and note-making practices. We discuss the evolution of thought organization and how technological advancements enable us to manage our ideas, reflections, and discoveries with newfound clarity by using digital tools.

Jorge helps us envision a future where AI isn't a threat but a collaborator, amplifying our creative processes. Tune in, and transform the way you gather, organize, and leverage knowledge in a highly digitized world.

Don't forget to purchase your copy of the book with this discount code ITCPOD for 20% off the price of the book, Duly Noted. This code is valid for only 30 days after April 4.

Guest BioJorge Arango is an information architect, author, and educator. For the past three decades, he has used architectural thinking to bring clarity and direction to digital projects for clients ranging from non-profits to Fortune 500 companies. He’s the author of Duly Noted: Extend Your Mind Through Connected Notes, Living in Information: Responsible Design for Digital Places, co-author of Information Architecture: for the Web and Beyond, and host of The Informed Life podcast. Besides consulting, writing, and podcasting, Jorge also teaches in the graduate interaction design program at the California College of the Arts.

Suggested Reading

Using AI as an Assistant to Organize Content

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Prepare to step into the future of technical writing as we explore the ground-breaking intersection of AI and technical communication with Caity Cronkhite, CEO of GoodWords. As an entrepreneur and subject matter expert, Caity offers invaluable insights on how AI is revolutionizing the process of technical writing.

While we touch upon the empowering facets of AI, Caity shares with us the valid concerns on data protection and risk understanding that are presented with AI.

We also delve into the controversial topic of AI replacing staff in the technical communication space – a future that seems more probable than ever. What does this mean for you as a writer? Caity shares her expert advice on how to gain exposure and experience with AI tools and how to navigate the risks associated with them.

Guest BioAbout the founder: Caity was born and raised on a remote farm in rural Indiana. She eventually left her prairie roots to attend Carnegie Mellon University, where she received a degree in Technical Writing and Communication. After college, Caity went west—first to the San Francisco Bay Area, then to Seattle—to start her career as a technical writer and, eventually, an entrepreneur. She is passionate about using her personal and professional experience to uplift others, including advocating for increased labor and wage protections for freelance workers and creating a company that empowers its employees with meaningful career opportunities no matter where they live.

Caity currently lives in Seattle, Washington. When she’s not running her company, she enjoys gardening, bodybuilding, road trips, mentoring, and restoring her historic Seattle home.

About the business: Caity Cronkhite is the founder and CEO of Good Words LLC. Good Words is the premier technical writing and communications consulting firm, delivering ongoing strategic, management, and implementation support for our clients’ technical writing needs. Good Words’ consultants bring their concise and accurate writing skills and ongoing strategic plans to streamline even the most complex communications for some of the most technically sophisticated companies across industries, from Fortune 500 companies to 5-person startups. For more information, visit us at www.goodwordswriting.com.

Some resources worth checking out:

The Good Words Blog: https://goodwordswriting.com/blog/
Our website: https://goodwordswriting.com/
Our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-words-llc/

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Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

Show notes generated by AI and curated by me.

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Has your team decided to do away with visuals in product documentation? Or are you struggling to maintain visuals with the rapid and frequent pace of content updates? If so, then this episode is for you.

Keeping up with a rapidly evolving tech landscape and maintaining relevant visual content can be daunting. But, the power of visuals can't be undermined. In this insightful conversation, Daniel Foster shares how TechSmith is harnessing the power of AI in its software to create an efficient, streamlined process for creating visuals. From AI-assisted video editing to audio improvement, understand how these tools can create cost-effective content. It's all about making AI work for you, simplifying processes, and enhancing user experience. Join us on this exciting journey of redefining content creation in the tech industry and optimizing visuals.

Guest BioDaniel Foster is the director of strategy at TechSmith (developer of Snagit and Camtasia), the market leader in screen capture software and productivity solutions for in-person, remote, or hybrid workplace communication. Daniel has 20+ years of software industry experience spanning product strategy, marketing, communications, and community building. In his role, Daniel defines the strategic direction of the company’s products and identifies new ways to help hybrid and remote teams work more efficiently with enhanced clarity. Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn and Twitter. For more information, visit www.techsmith.com.

Resources

Research hub which includes:
- Value of Visuals
- Ultimate Guide to Simplified User Interface Graphics (SUI)
- The Ultimate Guide to Easily Make Instructional Videos
TechSmith Academy: Writing Helpful Help (especially for someone getting started as a technical communicator)
Simplify Tool in Snagit (tutorial)
Smart Move in Snagit (tutorial)
Camtasia AI Background Removal (beta feature)
Audiate

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Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

Show notes generated by AI and curated by me.

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Are you curious about simple ways to make your content universally accessible? Or perhaps you're keen to get a fresh perspective on understanding accessibility? Join us as Lindsey White, an accomplished technical writer, shares her in-depth insights and experiences from her stint managing a department website at Cornell University. We explore the significance of universal design and consider how content can be accessible to all users.

Lindsey throws light on the nuances of intentional language choices and the application of accessibility best practices. Lindsey shares the intriguing concept of the 'curb cut effect' and how it can revolutionize our understanding of accessibility across fields.

As we round off our discussion, Lindsey and I examine the pros and cons of AI as an assistive technology. We delve into the complexities of balancing AI's benefits with the indispensability of empathy, manual checks, and human input. Lindsey shares resources and courses that can further deepen our understanding of accessibility, including the Google's Tech Writing for Accessibility course. So, if you're eager to make your content more accessible, buckle up for this insightful episode!

Guest Bio

Lindsey White is a Technical Writer at Blackbaud. Her interests in user experience and accessibility come in part from her past roles in web-content management, marketing communications, copywriting, and editing. Connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/lindseydwhite/.

Resources shared in the episode

https://www.w3.org/WAI/
https://developers.google.com/tech-writing/accessibility
https://webaim.org/

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Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

Show notes generated by AI and curated by me.

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Ever wonder how AI tools can give you an edge in content creation? Join us as I chat with Matt Thomas, who has journeyed from the realm of technical writing to the world of copywriting and content creation.

Unveiling the secrets of his craft, Matt shares how he brings innovation and brainstorming to the fore in copy creation. Get a glimpse of his creative process, where he uses AI tools to create and curate content for LinkedIn posts and copywriting.

If you are curious about how to optimize prompt engineering or looking for valuable tips to create actionable content, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready for a thought-provoking chat that will inspire you to look at AI tools and content creation from a unique perspective.

Guest BioMatt Thomas has 13 years of experience as a technical writer, specializing in creating user-friendly documentation, instructional materials, and online content.

He’s worked as a tech writer across multiple industries to produce deliverables that range from traditional print manuals to interactive online resources.

In addition to his technical writing background, Matt is also the in-house copywriter for TacoTime Canada, a freelance copywriter, and an up-and-coming content creator on LinkedIn.

Since last November, he’s gained over 1.3 million impressions on LinkedIn, had his work reshared by one of the biggest creators on the platform, and had multiple posts go viral.

You can check out Matt’s content and follow him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perfectproseyyc/

You can also sign up for his newsletter waitlist at www.perfectprose.ca

Show Credits

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

Show notes generated by AI and curated by me.

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Curious about the future of technical communication in the rapidly evolving AI landscape? Today's episode with our talented guest, Ryan Boettger, a distinguished professor and department chair at the University of North Texas, promises to enlighten you. Ryan is a ‘prompt engineer,’ someone who acts as the valuable link between AI and humans. From his unique perspective informed by a rich background in linguistics and technical communication, Ryan brings you the latest on how socio-linguistics can inform research and curriculum related to AI.

We discuss the value and challenges of Technical Communication as a standalone department. Ryan shares candid insights on the struggle technical communicators face to be recognized within traditional humanities and other fields, like product management, engineering, and user experience. He sheds light on funding challenges that often put Technical Communication departments on the chopping block during layoffs. But, it's not all gloom and doom. Ryan’s passion for ensuring technical communicators are prepared with relevant AI skills sparks hope for the future.

Join us for this enlightening discussion with Ryan Boetger that will surely transform your understanding of the technical communication field and its relationship with AI!

Guest BioRyan Boettger is a professor and department chair of Technical Communication. He received his Ph.D. and MA in Technical Communication and Rhetoric from Texas Tech University and a graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Pennsylvania State University.

His NSF-funded research focuses on content analysis, data-driven learning, English for Specific Purposes, and STEM education.

He is the former editor of the Wiley/IEEE Press book series on Professional Engineering Communication and the former deputy editor-in-chief of IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. He’s an active consultant and a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach.

Show Credits

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

The show notes are generated with the help of AI.

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How do you bridge the gap between technical complexity and business value while fostering a culture of empathy in the modern workplace? Join me for an insightful conversation in this swap episode with Felicity Brand from Open Strategy Partners, as we tackle this question and more.

We start by exploring the connection between technical communication (TechCom) and marketing communication (MarCom), and how empathy, clarity, and trust are essential in crafting impactful messages.

We also venture into the world of AI and its influence on content development. We examine the importance of writing with AI in mind, and how tools like ChatGPT and BARD can enhance our work. As we emphasize the need for mindfulness when using these tools and the datasets they rely on, this episode offers valuable insights for communicators, technologists, and leaders alike.

About Open Strategy Partners and the hosts

Open Strategy Partners is a B2B content strategy marketing agency for tech product and service companies.

Felicity Brand is a Communications Consultant at Open Strategy Partners, where she writes and edits a variety of technical content, and loves to talk about the craft.

Carl Richards is a Media Producer at Open Strategy Partners, where he produces, edits, and masters podcasts and other audio.

Credits

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

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The show notes for this episode were created with the help of Cohost AI from Buzzsprout.

Ever wondered how networking and vulnerability can open doors to incredible writing opportunities? Join me as I chat with the incredibly talented Kathleen Majorski, a writer who has recently forayed into user-testing of AI tools which is both inspiring and eye-opening.

By confronting her fears and setting daily goals, Kathleen has been able to learn and engage in different types of AI writing tools. Companies take note - listening to users like Kathleen can lead to invaluable insights and improvements. Listen in to uncover the fascinating connection between AI tools, user feedback, and the future of writing.

As AI technology progresses, ethical considerations become paramount. Kathleen and I discuss the importance of transparency, guardrails, and responsible AI implementation. With her expertise in journalism and critical media literacy, we explore how we can all contribute to shaping a safer and more ethical AI future. Don't miss out on this riveting conversation about the intersection of writing, networking, and AI technology!

Guest Bio

Kathleen Majorsky is a talented multi-faceted writer with experience in writing everything from marketing content to technical communication training, and creative fiction.

Right now, she is leaping into A.I. tool exploration as a self-proclaimed beginner. Her A.I. adventure inspires opinions about the tool's user experience, thoughts on how the tools could help her be a better writer, and what the world looks like with ethical and humane A.I. use.

Currently, she is working with a number of freelance clients, but she remains open to a full-time writing role with a company that aligns with her values.

Kathleen's portfolio link: https://kathleenmajorsky.com/portfoliokm

Kathleen's LinkedIn portfolio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/writerkmajor/

Credits

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

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Shaughn Kern, my nerdy friend, graces my latest episode. As a technical writer and a code geek, Shaughn has been experimenting with ChatGPT to simplify and automate mundane parts of his day-to-day. In this heart-to-heart conversation, Shaughn shares some great examples that any technical writer can use to move on from the mundane and get creative with ChatGPT's assistance. If you are a technical writer wondering how you can leverage ChatGPT, or for that matter any AI tool, this episode is a must-listen for you.

Highlights of the conversation you don't want to miss:

Examples of how Shaughn uses ChatGPT to find simplify the grind and get creative with his research.
What kind of prompts did Shaughn give with his content to benefit from ChatGPT feedback?
How to use ChatGPT to track legacy content or convert documents from one format to another?

Guest BioShaughn Kern is a technical writer with a background in technical communication, UX/UI design, and presentations. During his career, Shaughn has mostly worked for small research institutes and software companies where he was the only technical writer. This sparked his interest in writing scripts and utilities to automate mundane, complex, or error-prone tasks. He spends several hours a week researching or building tools that make technical communication more efficient.

In addition to his technical communication experience, Shaughn has worked as an adjunct lecturer, writing center coach, and Brazilian jiujitsu instructor. He holds an M.S. in Rhetoric and Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University, where he also earned a B.S. in Scientific and Technical Communication with a concentration in Computer Engineering. His non-work time is devoted to parenting, cooking, and martial arts.

Credits:

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

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As AI tools make their mark on every business function, there is an equal proportion of excitement and fear. In the midst of this chaos, it is imperative we take a step back and consider pointers from our translation expert on what AI can and cannot offer. AI may not be the magic pill after all, at least, for the translation industry. Let's dive in.

Some questions we dug into:

What are some exotic languages you have translated into?
Is the translation process the same for an exotic language versus a European language?
What's the future of AI-assisted translation?
When should one consider machine translation versus AI translation?
What are the limitations of AI translation to consider?

Guest BioMarkus Seebauer is originally from Munich, Germany. Markus founded Gateway Translations Inc. over a decade ago after studying computer science.

Gateway started to use AI in the translation of technical documentation in 2014 when most people didn't think about it yet. He has worked on translations into 45 languages with clients from GitHub to General Electric.

Credits:

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

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In my latest episode with Erica, we dive into all things related to content research. If you are intrigued, then you are at the right place. We touch upon these questions for a deeper insight:

What is content research?
What types of content lend well to content research?
How can you use content research to gain quick insights without costly AB experiments?
Can ChatGPT or similar tools influence content research? How can we leverage these AI tools?
"Simple language is powerful, but not always easy." Why is that the case?

Guest BioErica Jorgensen is a staff content designer at Chewy.com and the author of Strategic Content Design: Tools and Research Techniques for Better UX, published in April 2023 by Rosenfeld Media. She's a content designer, content strategist, and team leader determined to bring greater respect to the content field. To that end, Erica speaks frequently at conferences including UXDX USA, UX Lisbon, Microsoft Design Week, the Web Directions Summit, and Button: The Content Design Conference, and on podcasts like The Content Strategy Podcast with Kristina Halvorson and Content Insights podcast with Larry Swanson. In addition to working in content roles for companies of all sizes, she has taught at the University of Washington and Seattle’s School of Visual Concepts. Erica earned her B.A. from the University of Connecticut and M.A. from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. In her free time, you can find her exploring Washington State’s wineries or hiking with her husband and rescue dog, Rufus.

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Since late November 2022, ChatGPT has revolutionized the AI landscape. In this first episode of Season 4, I share the musings of my interactions with this magic tool.

What is artificial intelligence?
How does it work?
How do we interact with it?
How ChatGPT is helping me learn a new language.
What are some pitfalls to consider as AI permeates every facet of life?

Links to articles I mention in the episode:

AI and the future of work
Will AI replace technical writers
ChatGPT briefly went offline after a bug revealed user chat histories

Credits:

Intro and outro music - Az
Audio engineer - RJ Basilio

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Lisa Zarfl comes from the beautiful city of Graz, Austria. In this latest episode, we talk about all things translation. More specifically, machine translation (MT) and how it can help a business reach a global audience while saving costs. We talk about how technical writers can help the company save costs upfront with the translation before they are deep into the process. Tune in right away as Lisa has all the nuggets for you.

Some questions we do a deep dive into:

What is machine translation (MT)?
What does the process for MT look like?
Is MT based on artificial intelligence?
Will MT replace the need for human translators? If not, why?
How does an LSP (Language Service Provider) discern which type of content is best suited for MT?
What is the difference between internalization and localization?
What are the top 3 things that technical writers need to do before they consider translation for their content?

Guest BioIn Lisa's own words..My name is Lisa Zarfl. I’m a project manager and in-house translator at MadTranslations based in Graz/Austria. I have several years of experience in the translation industry, specifically in managing the translation of MadCap Flare projects. My job allows me to follow my passion by combining the technological aspects of documentation with the demands of multilingual environments.

You can connect with Lisa on LinkedIn.

Audio Engineer - RJ Basilio

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I have been out of pocket for the summer visiting family in India and taking some time off. I hope you are having a safe and fun summer. I am happy to be back in the saddle...

In this latest episode, I chat with Jennifer Savage, a Scrum Master at FinThrive. Since Jennifer was a technical writer back in the day, she has some great nuggets to share on the parallels between the two roles, and how she continues to find value and advocate for us. Isn't that awesome?

Well, here are some questions we delve into:

What are the similarities between the two roles - tech writer and scrum master?
What does the partnership between a tech writer and scrum master look like?
How are writers embedded in the scrum process given they are a shared resource at your company?
What are some ways for technical writers to find visibility on a scrum team when they are sidelined in the process?
Why is the content that technical writers create important for you and the business?
What are some pointers for writers to represent and advocate for themselves from a scrum master perspective?

Guest BioIn Jennifer's own words...I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism. About the time I was entering the workforce, journalism jobs were few and far between as the print media was transitioning into the online space.

My first position out of college was as a newsletter editor/writer for a small publishing company. From there I transitioned into other writing roles over years, from business writing to medical writing to entertainment writing, and ended up in a technical writer role at my current company. I was brought into the company in its early days to create and publish all of the end-user documentation for their software offerings. As a tech writer, I worked on a number of delivery teams using Agile methodologies, and after about 7 years, I moved into a Scrum Master role.

I am currently a Senior Scrum Master for several delivery teams at FinThrive, based in Plano. While I enjoy my role as a Scrum Master, I have a soft spot for documentation and have always made sure they get a fair shake in our planning activities when completing product increments for our software updates.

I live in Frisco with my husband, my teenage son, and four cats. In my spare time, I volunteer with local animal welfare organizations and enjoy traveling with my family. graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism. About the time I was entering the workforce, journalism jobs were few and far between as the print media was transitioning into the online space.

You can connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.
Audio Engineer - RJ Basilio

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Have you ever thought of documentation being sexy? Probably not. Caity Cronkhite argues otherwise. She wholeheartedly believes documentation is sexy. She shares excellent advice for companies and writers to embrace this low-hanging fruit that can get excellent dividends if executed correctly.

What did our conversation touch upon?

Caity's journey from a writer to an entrepreneur.
How did Caity scale her entrepreneurial adventure while taking other writers with her?
When the market gets tough, Good Words keeps growing. How is that possible?
What is the measure of good and stable documentation?
How does good documentation allow companies to scale?
How is documentation doing the frontline work for you?
Why should writers unapologetically earn their seats at the table?

Caity currently lives in Seattle, Washington. When she’s not running her company, she enjoys gardening, bodybuilding, road trips, mentoring, and restoring her historic Seattle home.

Some resources worth checking out:

The Good Words Blog: https://goodwordswriting.com/blog/
Our website: https://goodwordswriting.com/
Our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-words-llc/

Audio Engineer - RJ Basilio

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In this tete-a-tete, Swapnil Ogale shares with us the evolution of technical communication in Australia, especially since the pandemic. Until recently, there was little to no awareness of technical communication at many companies. Swapnil took it upon himself to become the voice of the field, create awareness, and advocate for its adoption and impact on business.

Some interesting questions that we dove into:

What is the technical communication landscape look like in Australia?
What is a technical writer advocate?
How did Swapnil perform his own tech comm retrospective to elevate his role and make it visible?
What is the Amazon narrative, and how can someone use this narrative before starting a project?
What are some strategies to raise the profile of a tech writer at a company and beyond?

These are the links I refer to in the episode:

The Not So Boring Tech Writer where I chanced upon Swapnil's interview
Amazon narrative
Template for the tech comm retrospective

If you are looking for openings, Redocly has opportunities. Click here for doc roles.

Guest BioSwapnil has over 16 years of technical documentation experience across a range of industries in Australia and globally.

He currently works as a Technical Writer in the Solutions Engineering team at AWS Australia. Prior to this, he was a Technical Writer Advocate at Redocly, pursuing his passion for writing, along with advocating for the docs-as-code approach for product content.

He initiated the Write the Docs community in Australia in 2016 and has been organizing local meetups and the annual national conference.

While he is not traveling, stuck reading any book he can lay his hands on, or trying out new food, he presents at technical meetups and conferences about various things around technical writing.

Audio Engineer - RJ Basilio

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Ellyn Hassel says, "I want to delight the customer, I want to make sure that I'm doing everything that I can to make this a really amazing experience, help them get their job done, move through the task, and move on."

In this heart-to-heart conversation, Ellyn shares with us her experience and insights to create a delightful experience for the customer. She is continually striving to elevate our profession and earn a seat at the table with other disciplines. Learn the unique ways in which her efforts have contributed to product success in myriad ways, especially in user experience (UX).

Some questions we delve into:

How do you collaborate with UX, Marketing, and other teams?
What does "success" look like when you are partnering with other disciplines?
How can you remove roadblocks and assert yourself as a writer in situations where you are challenged?
How can you elevate your status as a tech writer?

Some common abbreviations and terms mentioned in this episode:

RDO - Research, Delivery, and Operations (RDO) division
SCD - Strategic Content Development
SME - Subject Matter Experts
UX - User Experience
SKY UX - SKY UX is the next generation of Blackbaud's user experience framework that provides a consistent, cohesive user experience for Blackbaud products.
UI - User Interface
Triad - This is a scrum meeting. Triads may vary from organization to organization, but mostly the triad at Blackbaud consists of the Product Owner (or the Product Manager), the UX Designer, and the Dev team.

Guest BioEllyn Hassell is a Sr. Principal Technical Writer at Blackbaud. She leads multiple efforts around UX writing and user assistance patterns that promote innovation and consistency. Supporting several development teams, Ellyn collaborates across disciplines to create a meaningful impact throughout Blackbaud. Other interests include internationalization, usability, syntax standards, and accessibility with the end goal of delighting Blackbaud customers.

Ellyn is a proud alumna of East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) where she holds a B.A. and M.A. in English with a concentration in technical writing. She’s presented at numerous local, district, and international conferences, and served as guest editor of User Experience and several other technical and creative publications. Ellyn lives with her husband and two children on the beautiful Chickahominy River in Williamsburg, VA. You can connect with Ellyn on LinkedIn.

Audio Engineer - RJ Basilio

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In this episode, we explore how content is created, consumed and distributed at an offshore service-based company.

Tejasvi Patil shares with us her journey from QA into project management. Tejasvi shines a light on what successful content creation looks like on her team, and the pitfalls of inadequate documentation.

Some topics that we touched upon:

The purpose of content in areas of onboarding, training and QA.
What is the process of creating content at this service-based company?
Do service-based companies have tech writers on their teams? If not, how can the team advocate for a writer.
What can happen when content is inadequate and the larger impact on ROI?

Guest BioTejasvi Patil carries with her a vast experience of 16 years in the IT industry. She has been working at Globant for the past 5 years.

Tejasvi completed her Computer Engineering and began her career as a Quality Assurance Engineer. Recently, she transitioned into being a Project Manager. Her vast experience in the quality domain has helped her understand what's most important in the industry is client satisfaction. Her current role is helping her grow professionally and personally. Being a people person makes her job a cakewalk.

Audio Engineer - RJ Basilio

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In this episode, Bill Glynn shares with us some interesting insights on his background as a product manager, and what collaboration looks like from his perspective. We dive into these questions to understand the big picture and what is at stake:

What is product management in a broad sense?
What are the ways in which product managers and technical communicators collaborate?
What can happen if there is a breakdown in this collaboration among the stakeholders?
What happens when stakeholders, such as product management, technical communication, marketing, UX, and developers are not given a seat at the table?
What should a company consider for a good customer experience?
Is collaboration better with waterfall or agile? Should there be a preference?

Guest BioBill Glynn has over twenty years of experience in product management utilizing waterfall, agile/scrum, and kanban processes to develop hardware and SaaS-based products for service providers and large-scale enterprise customers around the world. Bill earned his undergraduate software engineering degree from UMASS Boston and his MBA from Boston College. You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn.

Credits

Audio Engineer - Raymond Joseph (RJ) Basilio

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In this quick chat with Matt, we talk about Matt's background and his eventual journey into UX design. Matt works very closely with UX writers, and my goal is to spotlight what that partnership looks like. We talk about the benefits of that partnership and the challenges when writers are not at the table.

Some of the questions we discuss:

What was Matt's journey like to transition to UX Design?
As a UX Designer, what are you looking for in your partnership with a UX writer?
What are the challenges in the absence of a writer?
When is the right time for writers and UX designers to start working together?
Should writers sit in on research sessions?

Guest BioMatt Rife is an award-winning design professional with more than 15 years of experience spanning a variety of sectors, including financial services, healthcare, HR, non-profit, and the public sector.

Matt came to the design world after several years working in IT and uses his unique background to craft exceptional user experiences for the real world. After completing his degree in graphic design he found his way into the nascent world of mobile app design and the rest, as they say, is history.

Matt is currently the head of experience design at nThrive, a healthcare technology firm. He is the founder of Fifty Eight Creative and also runs the Pragmatic XD blog. You can contact Matt on his LinkedIn profile or via his website.

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We are launching Season 3 with a very special episode. In this interview with Kim Campbell, I embark on a journey to understand how academia is preparing the next generation of technical communicators. My aim is to spotlight how the Department of Technical Communication at the University of North Texas, in particular, is collaborating with the practitioners of the profession to bring a hands-on experience to the students and prepare them for the real world. Kim touches upon the disconnect that exists sometimes between academia and the industry, and how a collaboration between the two is the need of the hour for the betterment of the profession and the community at large.

Some questions we touch upon:

What are the drawbacks of having tech comm housed in a humanities department?
What's the objective of an academic partnership with the corporate world?
One of the biggest challenges that academics face is studying what's happening at organizations in our field. Why is this access critical and what can be done about it?
What does success look like in academia?

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In this final episode of Season 2, Robert Delwood, a former NASA engineer, sheds light on how technical writers can pivot to API writing. It is a special skillset and mindset. Listen to this exclusive episode to find out how you can acquire this skill and make it in this high-in-demand career.

Per the website programmableweb.com, approximately 2000 APIs are added each year. For each API, roughly 2-3 writers are needed. Given this exponential rise in APIs, there is obviously a growing demand for API writers. But, writers are in short supply, while the pay scale is high. If you want to make it in this niche area, you must have the right attitude. What is it?

Some key things we touch upon:

What is the 30-minute limit test?
What are the three strategies to learn API documentation?
What are the four easy ways to start building an API portfolio?

Also, if you are a hiring manager looking for API writers, this interview provides great tips on how you can find and fill this role with the right talent.
Resources:

The Programmable Web
Search for articles authored by Robert Delwood on medium.com
Find projects on Upwork

Guest BioRobert Delwood is a programmer, writer, and programming writer in Chicago’s legal community. He strives to produce innovative API documentation. He’s been an active writer for more than 20 years, 13 of those with API documentation. He’s also been a titled developer, once even writing NASA software that made sure the space station astronauts had clean underwear each day. If the astronauts themselves don’t appreciate it, the other crew members did.

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Somebody has aptly said that "looking for a job is like dating". When you are looking for the perfect job opportunity, the process can be daunting. In this scenario, the recruiter or the talent acquisition manager can be your friend.

In this heart-to-heart conversation, Olivia Farmer shares with us the "behind the scenes" of hiring the right talent. As much as the days can be grueling, Olivia reminds us how recruiters can be our advocates during the hiring process. We touch upon all facets of hiring, and the many opportunities for you to shine. For example:

What are some creative ways to build relationships with recruiters at a company?
Why should you consider writing a cover letter even if it is not required?
How can a thank you letter work in your favor?
How do you answer inquiries about your salary requirements in a strategic manner?
How do you tackle age discrimination as an applicant?

Guest Bio
Olivia Farmer is a Talent Acquisition (TA) Program Manager at Blackbaud. After working in the TA space across multiple industries, there is one thing she knows to be true - helping people find their dream job and career is what she loves to do. Olivia is a proud graduate of James Madison University and is currently a student at Clemson in their Master of Human Resource Development program. She lives with her partner in crime, Piper the blue heeler, in Charlotte, NC.

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Denise Kadilak says "show that you've got knowledge about the field and that you are self-motivated, and you're willing to pivot, embrace change. If you can demonstrate that in any way on your resume. That's always going to be a big win."

We talk about what to do in an interview and what not to in this fun and fast-paced conversation. Tune in if you are curious about what out-of-the-box hiring looks like. Learn more about what innovative and forward-thinking managers look for in a candidate, and how you can gain that edge as well.

Guest BioDenise Kadilak is an Information Architect and Senior Manager with Blackbaud. Her interests include content and knowledge management, information technologies, and researching just about anything associated with technical communication. In addition to her full-time job with Blackbaud, Denise is a part-time college instructor, teaching technical writing, English composition, and Intro to Literature, and she is a regular presenter at international conferences.

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Staying with the theme of Job Search and Career Advancement, David Owens dives deep to give us a hiring manager's perspective on what he looks for in a tech comm candidate for his team. If you think tech comm is all about writing manuals in a silo, then this interview may just open your eyes. The field is fast evolving if you have not noticed, and managers are interviewing to fill non-traditional tech comm roles. Are you game? If not, this conversation promises to give you some great tips on how you can and must pivot if you want to interview for success in a content role.

Some questions we touch upon:

What are you looking for on your first scan of a resume as a hiring manager?
What are hiring managers expecting to see in a candidate to fill a non-traditional tech comm role?
Has the interview process changed given the pandemic and remote opportunities?

Guest BioDavid Owens is Director of Strategic Content Development at Blackbaud. This multidisciplinary team creates a wide variety of content to support an array of products and services. David believes in building modern skillsets that both help team members achieve their career goals and ultimately benefit Blackbaud customers.

As an information developer, David has created feature and API user assistance content in numerous formats for products ranging from an enterprise fundraising CRM application to shrink-wrapped, mass-market software and commercial hardware. David has written articles on topics such as single-sourcing and how to become a “technical” technical writer and is the co-author of “Madcap Flare for Programmers” published by XML Press.

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In the first episode, Jack Molisani and I talked about how to spruce up your resume. We continue our conversation to discover how to interview for success. Landing that next gig depends as much on your attitude and experience as it does on how you present yourself at the interview.

Jack Molisani shares secrets about how to be a hit at a content interview. We ponder these questions:

How do I prep for an interview?
What are some creative ways in which you can steer a conversation?
How do you brand and position yourself for a successful interview?

If these questions intrigue you, then this conversation has more hidden nuggets that you will want to discover and apply. Happy Job Hunting!!

Guest BioJack Molisani is an STC Fellow, a member of the STC Nominating Committee, and the President of ProSpring Technical Staffing, an employment agency specializing in content professionals (both contract and perm): https://ProspringStaffing.com

He’s also the author of Be The Captain of Your Career: A New Approach to Career Planning and Advancement, which hit #5 on Amazon’s Career and Resume Best Seller list.

Jack also produces The LavaCon Conference on Content Strategy and TechComm Management, which will be virtual this year in October: https://LavaCon.org

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Season 2 - Job Search and Career AdvancementAren't we always looking for those amazing tips that can improve our chances of getting our next big gig? It all starts with that critical document - the resume.

In this debut episode of Season 2, Jack Molisani shares some great insights into the dos and don'ts of things to put on your resume.

Some things that we cover:

What is an objective versus a summary, and when do you use one or the other?
When do you use a functional versus a chronological resume?
How do you get the experience and show it on your resume if you are switching careers?

Listen to the episode to find a hidden gift. You don't want to miss it.

He’s also the author of Be The Captain of Your Career: A New Approach to Career Planning and Advancement, which hit #5 on Amazon’s Career and Resume Best Seller list.

Jack also produces The LavaCon Conference on Content Strategy and TechComm Management, which will be virtual this year in October: https://LavaCon.org

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My biggest supporter and life partner, Iqbal Mutabanna, decided to interview me for the last episode of Season 1. So here I am in a candid conversation, sharing my professional journey with you.

We will pivot in Season 2 that launches in the second week of August. Stay tuned.

Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy my episode :)

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Tina Davis, CSM has done a little bit of everything - from teaching dance, working as a television editor to being an entrepreneur. Like many of us, she chanced upon the field of technical writing. Tina sought out the best education opportunity to put her on a road to success - and success she did find in her second career of choice. In this episode, she
shares her journey into the world of nonprofits. If you are interested in working for a nonprofit, tune into this episode as Tina shares some great tips on how writers can find interesting gigs in this sector.

Guest BioTina’s career path and interests have been long and varied, including positions as a television news producer, marketing associate, and owner of her own event organization business. She is currently a Product Specialist with the non-profit organization Both Ends Believing, and is a proud graduate of the University of North Texas (B.A. in Professional and Technical Communication and B.A. in English) and the University of Florida (B.S. in Telecommunication). She lives with her husband in Richardson, TX, and can be found working on her personal creative projects and puttering in her garden.

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Laurel Beason has covered the journey from journalism to technical writing, and everything in between. If you are new to the field and would like to find out how you can move forward with the "think-forward" mindset, then tune in. In this episode, we chat about:

The transferable skills that you can leverage to transition from journalism to technical communication.
What is on-demand writing and how do you do it?
How does the inverted pyramid from journalism apply to technical writing?

Guest BioLaurel Beason has earned her living as a professional writer for over 30 years. She started her career as a newspaper reporter in the Pacific Northwest and transitioned into technical writing after moving to Dallas in the mid-90s. She worked at Fidelity Investments, Brinks Inc., and Cisco, creating a wide range of deliverables and supporting a wide range of products. At Cisco, she was promoted into management and was at one point leading 42 writers in seven time zones. For the past two years, she worked in academia, teaching senior-level technical communication courses. Teaching was a life goal and a rewarding experience, but Laurel "missed the real world" and has, since, returned to high tech. Laurel wants to encourage tech comm professionals to give back by teaching and will share a few tips for success.

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Sree Pattabiraman's journey is one of exciting twists and turns. She graduated with a degree in commerce but found her first break in technical writing. Today, Sree is a rising leader in the field of technical communication. She is a DITA guru, a speaker at several events, and a role model to anyone who wants to make it in the field.

Sree shares her amazing story that started "back home" in India and her pursuit for excellence that brought her to the land of opportunity. I am sure her story will resonate with many of you.

Guest BioSree Pattabiraman is a Senior Technical Writer at Extreme Networks, Inc., where she manages software and hardware documentation in the wireless networking products domain. An alumna of the North Carolina State University, Sree has worked on global teams and is an active STC volunteer.

In her free time, Sree loves to travel, explore local restaurants in and around the Carolinas, and run her micro food blog.

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This space does little justice to the guest I am about to introduce. But here it is...

Altaf Tyrewala is the author of the critically acclaimed books, No God in Sight and Engglishhh: Fictional Dispatches from a Hyperreal Nation. He has also edited the crime-fiction collection, Mumbai Noir. Altaf's works have been published and anthologized worldwide.

In this tete-a-tete, Altaf shares his journey that merges e-learning and creative writing. He shares an interesting perspective of how the trifecta of communication, technology, and education have always been front and center of everything he's done, and how this trifecta has contributed to his awe-inspiring career.

Guest BioAltaf Tyrewala is the author of three fiction books and editor of a crime fiction anthology. His works have been translated into Marathi, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, and Italian. He was awarded the DAAD Artist-in-Berlin literature grant in 2011 and served as Director of Chandigarh Literature Festival in 2013-14. He lives in Dallas and works as a Learning Manager for a multinational.

Opinions expressed in this podcast are solely his own and do not express the views or opinions of his employer.

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Teresa Nguyen has navigated the fields of journalism and tech comm in the not-so-distant past. She currently practices UX research. In this episode, Teresa shares some amazing insights on how she leveraged her transferable skills and the common "through-line" of human experience to weave through these intersecting fields.

Guest Bio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/technicallyt

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Ron Gardner pursued a degree in agricultural journalism, but "fell" into technical writing. Ron shares how his background in journalism, some sprinkling of "schmoozing", and bootstrapping have contributed to his long and successful career in technical communication. Ron also talks about the inverted pyramid to "trim the fat" from your writing. Now, aren't you intrigued?

Guest BioRon Gardner has been a technical writer for over 20 years. He graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station with a BS in Agricultural Journalism.

His first job out of college was as a QA analyst and technical writer for a small start-up, and he has been technical writing ever since.

He really enjoys being a technical writer and loves learning new things and connecting with people as part of his job. He currently is the Lead Technical Writer for a healthcare software company in the Dallas area.

He lives in McKinney, TX, with his wife, Shannon, and four cats.

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Timothy suggests that no matter what profession you belong to, you are doing technical writing at some level. Drawing from this philosophy, he shares an interesting perspective on how his nursing students became invested in tech comm after taking an introductory tech comm course. Understanding the nuanced difference between audience and user can be the difference between good and bad communication. Listen in for a fascinating conversation from an academic and practitioner who brings a 360-degree view of the field.

Guest BioDr. Timothy Ponce holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in Literature, as well as an MA and BA in English from Sam Houston State University. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer of Technical Writing and Professional Design and Coordinator of Internships in the Department of English at the University of Texas Arlington. While his doctoral research focused on perceptions of heroism in sixteenth and seventeenth-century England, he has since published and presented papers focused on technical communication, writing pedagogy, literary pedagogy, and curricular accreditation. He also serves as a board member at the Society for Technical Communication Loan Star Chapter, as well as on grant review committees for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

He currently lives in Mansfield, Texas with his wife, daughter, and poodle. In his spare time, he enjoys baking, sewing, painting, quilting, hiking, and vegetable gardening.

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I happened to attend a webinar of Steve Wiseman, titled "Beyond the Publication - Bringing the World of Technical Communication and Enterprise Content Strategy Together". In this webinar, Steve discusses what content strategy is, the relationship between content strategy and helping organizations scale, and how the technical communication content creation and iteration process is valuable across the organization.

You will hear references to this webinar in this episode as the primary theme continues in our conversation. Steve refers to technical writers as the "beacon of content". He shares some amazing tips on how technical writers can help businesses by leveraging your existing skills and know-how. It is a matter of recognizing how your skills lend to the overall business value and going after it.

Guest BioSteve Wiseman has over 25 years of experience in the documentation field having run his own writing company, and providing consultancy and writing services to both small and enterprise customers. He has also worked in implementing customer service platforms. His unique outlook covers CX, support, and where that all fits in the technical writing world. Steve can be reached at steve.wiseman@paligo.net.

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Faith had long been seeking a stable opportunity that would pay the bills. But in doing so, she found a career that she loves. She discovered that this field satiates many facets of her personality - all in one job. How many of us can say that? Faith also shares an interesting perspective on why she thinks technical writing is the inverse of creative writing. Perhaps that sentiment resonates with you...

Guest BioIn her own words.....

Hi, I’m Faith Peralta! I’m a Technical Writer at a software technology company in the health care industry. I’ve been a tech writer for almost six years. Thus, my journey into tech comm was roundabout. However, once I started on this tech writing path, I felt I’d finally found my career!

I graduated in 2003 with a B.A. in English from the University of North Texas and have worked in some form of health care ever since. I’ve been an STC (Society for Technical Communication) member for two years. Additionally, I joined my local Lone Star chapter and have met some wonderful people in the tech comm industry!

In my personal life, I love to cook! I like challenging myself to make new dishes! I’m also a portrait photographer. I love telling stories through art.

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Beth Allphin was on a path to an accounting degree when tech comm appeared on her radar. While still in college, Beth got her first gig to do some editing work on the side. As they say, one thing led to another, and Beth found herself in a tech comm role. She has had a long inning in this career as she has worn both hats - that of an individual contributor and manager. Beth shares some amazing tips on how she acquired project and management skills while on the job to further her career.

Guest Bio
Beth has been a technical communicator for 30 years in both the healthcare and the telecommunications industries. She currently works for NETSCOUT where she develops software and hardware documentation and online help. Beth has been married to Brian for over 25 years and they have two daughters, Olivia and Elizabeth. Beth enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

If you have thoughts to share, please do write to me at insidetechcomm@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

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Addison Kliewer grew up in a family of technical writers. However, this field was not his first choice. As luck would have it though, Addison graduated with a degree in tech comm. He put his portfolio to good use to find his first gig and he is rocking it.

If you are a student or a recent graduate trying to launch your career as a technical communicator, then this guest's journey may just be the answer to many of your questions. Tune in to this episode to hear about Addison's journey and the smart steps he took to find that foot in the door.

Guest BioAddison currently works as a junior technical writer for a pest control software company. The technical communication topics that interest him the most are aviation, software, and video games. He really enjoys creating and transforming information around technical topics and making them quickly and easily accessible to their users. When he's not working, he enjoys visiting the coast, exploring local history museums, playing basketball, and spending quality time with his family.

Recommended Resource: www.cofolios.com

If you have thoughts to share, please do write to me at insidetechcomm@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

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Agnes Crentsil believes "language is access". By applying this mantra, Agnes has managed to establish a long and successful career in the field of technical communications. Agnes provides some invaluable tips on how you, as a technical writer, can provide value to the business and build successful connections with the C-suite executives.

Guest BioPersonal:

Married, 2 young adults, Aston- mixed breed dog (terrier, lab, Pitbull)
Loves traveling and vacationing with family

Career: Work at NETSCOUT – Product Marketing

Served as President of STC Lone Chapter from 2017-2018, also held previous other positions.
Board member: UNT TechComms (2+ years)
Past VP of Public Relations – Toastronix Toastmasters group at NETSCOUT
9 Years Technical Writer – wrote documents for various technical products
11 Years Manager – Managed anywhere from 12 to 10 writers at a given time
4 years Product Marketing Manager – Responsible for initiating and driving alliance for key technical products to promote awareness and thought leadership for my organization.

Volunteer:

North Texas Lone Star Chapter -Mentoring Program
STC Diversity Inclusion, Equity, Panel
STC CAA Awards Panel

Education: Amberton University

BSc – Computer Information System and Business
Master of Science – Human Relations and Business

Recommended Resource:

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson

If you have thoughts to share, please do write to me at insidetechcomm@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

Inside Tech Comm with Zohra Mutabanna: Recent Episodes

Zohra Mutabanna