Can you believe that Quickbase has been hosting Empower since 2015?!
Much has changed since then (even how we spell "Quickbase") but Empower is still Empower: the best place to connect with others who use and love Quickbase.
Today we hear from master builder NicholeBraswell. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience Nichole!
Nichole Braswell, First of Her Name, Solutions Sage of the Low‑Code Realm, Senior Builder of Quickbase and All Systems Bound to It, High Steward of Platform Governance, Keeper of the Guardrails and the Forgotten Documentation, Bearer of Best Practices, Defender of Data Integrity, and Protector of the Platform Against Chaos, Scope Creep, and “Quick Fixes.”
What are you most excited about for Empower this year? (e.g., sessions, speakers, networking, product updates, etc.)
I’ve spent years building and supporting Quickbase solutions across a lot of different industries - engineering, construction, retail, consulting, you name it - and my work really does begin and end with Quickbase (and everything connected to it). These days, a big part of my role is making sure the solutions we build can actually hold up as they grow. Empower is my favorite conference because it brings together people who get that building the app is only part of the job. I’m most excited about the conversations - connecting with other experienced developers and platform owners who are dealing with growth, change, and real-world constraints, and who are willing to talk honestly about what’s working and what isn’t.
What challenges or goals are you hoping to focus on while you’re there?
I’m really interested in how others are keeping their Quickbase environments healthy as things get bigger and more complex. That includes governance, consistency, and shared best practices, but also how to do all of that without slowing teams down. I want to learn how people are supporting different types of users and use cases while still keeping some structure in place. Ideally, I’ll leave with a few ideas I can actually take back and try - not just concepts, but things that work in practice.
Why did you decide to attend Empower? Because Quickbase is such a big part of my day-to-day work, staying connected to the platform and the community around it really matters to me. Empower is one of the few places where you can step away from delivery mode and talk with people who understand the long-term responsibility of owning and supporting systems others depend on. It’s a chance to learn from peers, hear what’s coming next, and reset your perspective on where you want your platform to go.
What would make this event a success for you? For me, success is leaving with clarity. That might be a new approach I want to try, a better way to think about governance, or even just confirmation that we’re heading in the right direction. If I walk away with a few solid takeaways I can apply right away - and a clearer sense of how to make better decisions going forward - that’s time well spent.
How was it getting back to an in-person event after virtual-only years? When Empower went virtual during COVID, a lot was lost beyond just the in‑person format. The isolation, the constant pivoting, and the pressure to keep complex platforms running during an uncertain time took a real toll. Coming back together in person felt like a form of healing. Being in the same room with people who understood those challenges - who had lived through the same stretch of uncertainty - created a sense of relief and reconnection that’s hard to describe. The conversations were deeper, more open, and more human. It wasn’t just about learning again; it was about remembering why the community matters and how much stronger we are when we’re able to learn and build together.
If someone is on the fence about attending this year, what’s your pitch? Why attend Empower 2026? Empower gives you the chance to stop reacting and start thinking a little more intentionally about what’s next. You hear where Quickbase is headed, learn how others are adapting their platforms, and get a better sense of how to prepare for what’s coming. The real value is in the perspective you gain - from the sessions, the conversations, and the people you meet. You leave feeling more confident about the decisions you’re making and better equipped to support your platform moving forward.
