Hello JetBrains! Hello Awards!

Vienna is always worth a visit—that’s probably what the folks at JetBrains thought when they invited us to this year’s JetBrains Partner Summit in the Austrian capital. For us, it was clear: we had to go. Reselling and consulting partners from all over the world were expected to learn more about JetBrains’ current strategy, product developments, and goals. For me personally, it was also a first—my first Partner Summit. The anticipation was high: What’s new in the product world? Where is the company heading strategically? And above all: Who are the people behind all those faces we usually only see on video calls?

A stormy start and Viennese charm

The trip there was—let’s just say—eventful. I set off for Vienna with three of my colleagues, though we all left at different times and from different airports. My trip began right off the bat with a major traffic jam in my hometown, which forced me to completely rethink my travel plans: including walking to the train station with all my luggage. It would have been a nice walk, if it hadn’t been for that monstrous downpour that came crashing down on me...

Once I arrived in Vienna, however, the stress melted away immediately. My colleagues were already waiting at the hotel bar, along with a few partners and JetBrains employees. We had our first relaxed chat over a glass of spritzer. It was a cozy get-together where many faces I’d previously known mainly from the screen became real people. After an excellent dinner, the evening went on late into the night—it was fun and, overall, very enjoyable.

Day 1: Strategy, AI, and a journey through time on the tram

Following the official welcome, we dove right into a series of presentations. The agenda was packed with topics that matter to us and our customers:

• Strategic Direction: Where is JetBrains headed in the coming years?
• AI developments: A vast topic that gave us exciting insights into upcoming features.
• Professional Services: These newly introduced services offer us, as partners, new opportunities for collaboration.
• YouTrack Roadmap: A look ahead at the plans for YouTrack rounded out the sessions.

As partners, these presentations were important and helpful for us in understanding where things are headed and how the plans align with our own strategy.

In the late afternoon, all participants were treated to a wonderful experience: We were picked up near the hotel by an old streetcar that had been in service in Vienna until the late 1960s. After a tour through Vienna’s Mitte district, the ride ended at the Natural History Museum. After a guided tour featuring stories about the impressive architecture and the magnificent ceiling and wall paintings, we had the pleasure of enjoying the view of the city from the museum’s roof. A truly wonderful experience in the early evening!

The evening then offered plenty of time for engaging conversations. My personal highlight: watching my colleague Sebastian dive so deeply into technical topics with some outstanding developers that just listening to them made my head spin—all with immense joy and passion. My colleague Christopher’s comment on this: “You don’t have to understand that either; I’m out of my depth there too.”

Day 2: Customer Mantras and Unexpected Gold

The second day began with a focus on sales enablement and marketing support. After a short coffee break, two resellers shared their experiences with us: QBS Software GmbH and AgiLawyer. I found Ondrej Dvorak’s (AgiLawyer) presentation particularly fascinating. Not only because he was so well prepared (big shoutout!), but also because he addressed my personal core topic: YouTrack.

Ondrej picked up on a specific example of one of my mantras: It’s not that customers have to understand us; rather, we have to speak our customers’ language. The point is to reflect their real-life and work realities within the tools, rather than imposing rigid processes on them. But that’s not all—customers must also be able to relate to the language used.

This was a thought that really sank in for me during the YouTrack workshop with other partners this afternoon. It was reassuring to see that I’m not alone in taking an approach that focuses on holistic solutions rather than just products.

Right before lunch came the unofficial highlight: the Partner Awards ceremony. And what can I say—we actually got to take home two trophies:

• Product Specialist
• Marketing Professional

We hadn't expected this at all, which made the whole team all the more delighted! The day wrapped up with another wonderful evening and lively discussions about developments in the digital world.

Conclusion: More than just pixels and code

Fortunately, after the adventures of the trip there, the return journey was uneventful, giving me time to reflect on my experiences. What am I taking away from this?

1. Proximity builds trust: Nothing beats meeting someone in person. Avatars turned into real people (and yes, I’m actually a bit taller in real life than some people had already guessed after a video call). This personal connection is simply essential for a successful collaboration.
2. Team spirit “live and in color”: Performing there as a united team brought us even closer together and helped each of us recognize the strengths of the others.
3. Solutions over "mere" products: Those who speak their customers’ language and understand their reality ultimately build a better overall package.

Vienna was an intense, educational, and above all, warm experience. If the summit takes place again next year, I’ll definitely be happy to join in again. Cheers, and see you soon, JetBrains!