When we think about conferences, it’s often images of vast crowds moving, almost anonymously, across a nondescript venue that come to mind. But what if things could be different? More intimate, connected, and altogether laid-back? 

That was the question on Adrian Marin’s mind as he set about designing a conference that put ‘cosiness’ at the fore. That was, to its very core, as friendly and welcoming as it was enlightening. So friendly, in fact, that the word even informed the conference's distinct name. Enter: Friendly.rb, a developer conference held in Bucharest, featuring some of the best European industry speakers with a very deliberate guestlist size of only around a hundred or so. 

The conference delves deep into all things ‘Ruby’ (as in programming language, not the precious gem!). And its first ever iteration, held this year, saw an incredible line-up of truly top-tier speakers take to the stage. A whole range of topics were covered expertly, from ‘Crafting Elegant Code with Ruby DSLs’ to ‘Making It as an Indie Developer’ and ‘Getting the Most Out of ChatGPT’.

Read on for our interview with Adrian to learn all about this highly successful conference – and the things that make it stand way out from the usual conferencing crowd. 

Barbara Feige is a self-confessed history buff. But it’s so much more than historical knowledge that makes her Munich tours stand out from the crowd. As you’ll learn when reading our interview with Barbara below, this is someone who’s excavated every nook and cranny of what makes a guided tour genuinely enjoyable for all participants. 

Herz und Heimat Stadtführungen (that’s ‘Heart & Home City Tours’ to English-speakers) are tours that have been very artfully tailored towards their members' specific wants and needs, you see. Rather than simply taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Barbara recognises that different people have very different priorities when it comes to exploring the city she proudly calls home. 

Some fancy a leisurely stroll with a few interesting facts thrown in along the way. Others want historic rigour and to fit as many architectural sites in as possible. Some participants are, in fact, hens first, tourists second (Herz & Heimat’s bachelorette tours have proven very popular). Others are there to bond with work colleagues while soaking up all that Munich has to offer. Then there are those who’ve just hopped off a long-haul flight, and who need more sustenance (in the form of traditional Munich fayre) than exertion.

It’s no wonder Barbara and her team are busy. There’s much to organise when you care passionately about delivering exceptional, tailored experiences for such a diverse cross section of Munich’s visitors. From what we gather, they do it all with nothing but joy.

Read on to learn more about this thriving independent tour business, from the woman who started it all.