Shaving my head made me a better programmer
Inspirational • March 2021
Shaving my head made me a better programmer
About
Shaving my head made me a better programmer
About

How do perceptions and stereotypes affect those in software? I used to believe that code had no gender or race. That "good code" was good code and talented developers would always succeed in the meritocracy of the tech industry. This talk tells the true story of how repeated experiences of sexual discrimination and harassment led me to hack my appearance by shaving my head to change the way I was perceived as a programmer. I will also share the lessons I have learned from my work as an advocate for racial and gender equity in tech and how you can apply them within your organizations.

Language
English
Level
Non technical / For everyone
Length
40 minutes
Type
online conference
About the speaker
About the speaker
Alex Qin
Founder & CEOEmergent Works
Alex Qin is out here tryna get free. She cares about helping people fulfill the radical visions they have for themselves and the world while working towards more just and equitable futures. She has experience writing code, leading engineering teams, building communities, teaching, and advocating for underrepresented peoples in tech. These days, she spends her time learning, healing, giving love, and growing the Code Cooperative, a community that creates life-changing opportunities in technology for people impacted by incarceration.
Details
Language
English
Level
Non technical / For everyone
Length
40 minutes
Type
online conference