As the Chairman of the GOTO Program Committee and Group CTO at Trifork, Preben Thorö has spent years shaping conference programs that don’t just follow industry trends but help define them. But how do you build a program that truly serves developers? And what responsibility do we, as software professionals, have in shaping the future?
We sat down with Preben to talk about software’s role in the world, the GOTO philosophy, and what makes a great conference program.
“Software is everywhere. We have a responsibility to get it right.”
“Think about your day. You wake up, grab breakfast, check your phone, commute, shop—you cannot do anything without software being involved. It’s in everything, from your dishwasher to the global economy.
And yet, when you read about software projects, you often hear that they’re delayed, over budget, or just don’t work as expected. It doesn’t have to be that way. We, as software professionals, need to recognize the responsibility that comes with our work.
At GOTO Conferences, this is part of our DNA. We believe in helping developers build better, more reliable and more sustainable software—because the world depends on it.”
Meet the Program Committee behind GOTO Copenhagen 2025
Teaching the next generation: Why knowledge sharing matters
Software development is one of the fastest-growing professions. Some studies suggest that the number of developers in the world doubles every five years.
“If that’s true, it means that at any given moment, half of all developers have less than five years of experience. And that means we—the more experienced ones—have a duty to pass on what we’ve learned.
I’ve made so many mistakes in my career. Why not help others avoid making the same ones? This is why GOTO is built around education and knowledge-sharing. It’s not just about keeping up with the latest tools but understanding the bigger picture of software development.”
How do you build a great conference program?
So, how does the GOTO Program Committee decide what makes it onto the agenda?
“There’s no single formula for building a great program. But we follow a few guiding principles.”
1. Cover today, tomorrow, and the future
“When developers attend GOTO, we want them to leave with three things:
- Something they can use immediately when they get back to work.
- Something to help them plan ahead for their next big project.
- Something visionary—a glimpse into where software is headed in the next five to ten years.
We love hearing people say, ‘I first heard about this technology at GOTO years ago, and now it’s everywhere.’ That’s when we know we’ve done our job right.”
2. Surround yourself with the best minds in the industry
“The Program Committee is made up of experienced software professionals who build programs we would want to attend ourselves. We also work closely with industry pioneers, authors, and leading developers to curate the best possible content.”
3. Treat your speakers well
“A great program isn’t just about topics—it’s about people. At GOTO, we take pride in treating our speakers well. That’s why 75% of them stick around for the full conference, not just for their talks. They’re in the hallways, at the coffee stations, joining discussions. As an attendee, you don’t just watch them on stage—you get to talk to them. It creates an incredible atmosphere.”
Check out this year's speakers
Breaking out of the software bubble
“As software developers, we live in our own little world. It’s easy to think that the technologies we use are obvious and accessible to everyone. But that’s not true.
There are still a billion people who don’t have access to basic technology. And we’ve ignored sustainability for far too long. Software is shaping the world, and we have to be aware of the bigger picture.
At GOTO, we make sure that our program reflects that—from ethical AI and sustainability to diversity and inclusion in tech. Because software isn’t just about code. It’s about people.”
Want to be part of the conversation?
GOTO a community of developers, architects and tech leaders who care about building better software.
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