HashiCorp's Developer Advocates team tapped Rob Barnes, who had recently joined the company, to co-emcee HashiConf Digital in June 2020. This was a significant moment for Rob, as he transitioned from being an attendee at previous conferences to hosting one himself. As an African living in the UK, Rob saw this opportunity as important for representation and visibility within the tech community. Despite feeling nervous about taking on the role, Rob's experience was shaped by his unique challenges, including live Q&A discussions with split-second delays and a lack of awareness from the audience that he couldn't hear them due to being deaf in one ear. The production team, led by "Dad," provided creative freedom while also following a script to ensure a smooth delivery. Throughout the conference, Rob's burps became a recurring joke, with the team recording them and even creating a "burp counter." Despite the challenges, Rob found the experience to be a learning one, particularly in adapting to live communication with his deafness. The event was well-received by attendees, who praised its energy and positive atmosphere.