Making tech careers accessible for everyone

Notes by aminamos

• many people don't have a linear path from compsci undergrad to software career
• meet underrepresented groups where they are
  • most of these groups are in caretaking roles
• "fresh perspectives" means from another company or industry, but different roles creates cognitive diversity
• roadblocks
  • exposure is an issue/blocker, technical stuff provided to boys more often than girls - ask them if they care
  • not seeing people in the role is a blocker
  • be loud about who you are (if you feel comfortable/safe doing so)
  • limited view of engineering, what it is, lots of types of roles that don't involve writing code all day
• hiring managers - think outside the toolbox, screen for other skills and teach technical stuff later
• don't be sexist or comment on people's ability based on how they look, gender, etc
• most bootcamps are still inaccessible
  • altcademy - promotes more low cost courses and bootcmaps
  • (personal note: I usually recommend odin project because it's 100% free https://www.theodinproject.com/ and the various roadmaps for guidance https://github.com/kamranahmedse/developer-roadmap)
• "just start coding and google when you get stuck"
  • this is bad advice
• hard to work all day then code in the evening
• lacking supportive company/job environment
  • not everyone can transition within the company
  • Zapier and Adidas actively work to develop their employees, split time roles to eventually switch to a more technical role
• getting stuck and feeling like you're the only person that gets stuck
• create slack channel called "learn-to-code" and share resources, help people understand tech is more than building apps
• if you got to tech on the traditional path, show your mistakes and don't be a tech evangelist(?)
• if you're from the non-traditional path

• talk about transitioning into tech as an adult

• marketing -> programmer

• Innovation Engineer @ Elastic

• Business Assistants, Nursing, etc., is where you find women to work in tech.

• Cognitive Diversity improves problem solving

• Parents and family shouldn't assume that their female family members aren't interested in tech.

• See altacademy for low cost courses and bootcamps. You can sponsor a student too.

• Be specific with information to help people when they get started

  • Create a list of resources that you think would be helpful for a new person.

• Get to the know the style of the person you are mentoring.

• Learning on the side is hard because "brains need a break".

• People needa supportive company & job environment

• Transition programs at a company (allow people to move into different fields (read: tech) while holding their current position)

• Leaern to code slack channel

• Introduce people to light tech things

• Expand definition of an engineer

• Show your mistakes

• Don't be a tech bro

@britt_joiner (Private) youtube.com/c/brittanyjoiner

alt academy

Notes by kevin

• made transition from marketing to tech
• most people think they can't do this
• where to find them?
  • nursing, education, etc
• fresh perspectives
  • not just diff companies
• stereotypes
  • don't assume, ask
• limiting view of engineering
  • expand scope of definition
• don't be too specific
  • eg. frontend react developer
• bootcamps are hard to access
  • eg.
    • expensive
    • full time
• just google it
  • not helpful in the beginning
• not having brain power
• supportive environment/peers
• how to help
  • menotr
  • expand what it means to be engineer
  • help intro people
  • show your mistakes
  • don't be a tech bro/sis
  • tell your story

• used to be a marketer, now a programmer!!
• Story of journey
• Common Roadblocks/perspectives
  • "Girls aren't into coding", ask them if their interested
  • Not seeing people like you.
  • limited view of what engineering is. Much more broad then just writing code
  • Sexism is still a thing
  • Bootcamps are still not very accessible, expensive, very intense multi-month commitments. Consider altcademy
  • "Just start coding and google when you get stuck", isn't helpful advice or encouragement. Be specific, be willing to do it together, get to know the person, how they learn.
  • learning on the side is very difficult. Esp. when you are working a FT job to make a living.
  • Lack of supportive company/job environment.
    • companies need to invest if having non-tech folks who are interested teck. Better than hiring out
• Action Items
  • Look for mentor opps
  • find "under-represented" people OUTSIDE of tech!
    • find people from non-technical back grounds.... they provide great perspective. Hire them over tech people and tech them the tech
  • expand a definition of engineer
  • Intro people to more light tech things
  • Show mistakes!
  • Don't be a tech bro
  • Tell your story!

• History of Brittany
  • Worked in marketing after university full time for 6 years.
  • Now a full time engineer with Elastic.
• Talk not only about women or specific groups. It's for helping people transition from non-tech to tech carrers.
• Demographic results from StackOverflow 2022 survey: 84% straight, 92% male, 76% white/european
• Harvard Business Review: Teams solve problems faster when they're more cognitively diverse.
• Many people think that girls aren't into coding.
• How do we know people are into programming or art: Ask them!
• People who don't look like us can be interested in our field.
• If you look different in your work area? Be loud, and proud.
• People have limited view of Engineering.
• Think outside the toolbox while hiring.
• When someone is beautiful, people think "everyone will do your work for you"
• Promote more low-cost courses and bootcamps. Sponsor a student!
• The suggestion "Just start coding and google when you get stuck" is risky.
• Not having brain power to code after a work day is difficult.
• Lacking a supportive company or job environment is difficult.
• Things to do
  • Everyone
    • Look for mentorship opportunities (or create one!)
    • Introduce people to more light tech things
    • Expand your definition of an engineer
  • Traditional Path
    • Show your mistakes
    • Don't be a tech bro (or sis)
  • Non-traditional Path
    • Tell your story and what you do