As a Google Summer of Code (GSoC) organization admin representing the Apache Software Foundation, I had the privilege of attending the GSoC Mentor Summit 2025, and it was an incredible experience!
The Mentor Summit is a unique opportunity to connect with amazing mentors and discuss open source topics in an unconference format — there is no fixed agenda. Instead, attendees collaborate on-site to create the session schedule themselves, brainstorming fresh concepts while strengthening the global open source ecosystem and forging long-term ties across projects. From meeting participants who have been involved for over 15 years to newcomers who recently transitioned from being mentees to mentors, the sense of community was inspiring. Meeting Staphanie, GSoC admin and program manager and Google, and the team was cherry on top.
The passion for open source and the innovative approaches to ensure continuity truly stood out for me. I joined discussions on topics such as AI in GSoC, challenges in remote setups, monetizing open-source contributions, and some amazing lightning talks.
Additionally, I connected with mentors from other organizations and exchanged ideas about their processes while sharing some of ours. Google’s team organized the event so well that we didn’t really feel like attending a professional gathering but more of a friend’s get-together. From the gala dinners hosted and chocolate room hosted by long-time GSoC mentor Robert Kaye — who we lost this year — to karaoke night, it was so much fun.
What stood out most is that it’s not just about writing code; it’s about how deeply we embrace humanity and compassion as a community — which is very similar to the ASF’s “community over code” ethos. Creating an environment where everyone feels included and valued is something I’ll carry forward.
My key takeaway was the opportunity to deepen how GSoC contributors connect with the ASF as an organization. Today, most interaction happens between contributors and their project mentors, which works well, but there is an opportunity to introduce contributors more broadly to how the ASF functions and the wider community they are joining. Building that bridge earlier could help contributors find a lasting home in the Apache ecosystem long after GSoC ends.
On a personal note, this was my first-ever international event, which made the experience even more special and memorable. I am truly grateful to the ASF for providing us with all these experiences. Overall, it was a rewarding experience that reinforced the spirit of open source. Thank you for giving me this opportunity!
