I’m not one to be quiet about the lack of diversity in the tech field.
When I started my career in software, it was an accident. I didn’t study computer science in college. I didn’t even know how to code until I was leaving grad school and a friend was kind enough to teach me PHP. In fact, I had tried hard to avoid computers entirely after I’d been beaten up in middle school for being a “computer nerd.”
This created a bit of a disadvantage. Entering the field, I was competing with peers who had formally studied big-O notation and algorithm optimization in school. They had internships. Knew not just one but several programming languages. They understood databases and network protocols.
I had a blog.
In my first actual software job1I had been hired to write marketing materials and develop product strategy. But we also needed a website, so my boss told me I could keep the job if I could also build the site. I had to quickly learn how to do that …, I built a dynamic website using Visual Basic. It wasn’t the best language to use, but was easy to learn and got the job done. And it wasn’t PHP, a language I’d been openly criticized for using by other developers.
The other software engineer on the team mocked me relentlessly for using a “beginner language” and not something more powerful like C#. It wasn’t just a hit to my ego – my confidence and ability to deliver value also took a dive.
Diversity in the Community
I eventually moved on from that job to another. Then to another. In both, I focused on C# so I could be seen as using a “grown up language.” It got the job done, and I learned a fair amount about the Microsoft ecosystem.
I also still had a WordPress blog.
Though I didn’t work in WordPress, the diversity in the community was refreshing. I’d attend meetups and WordCamps and learn directly how different from me the folks using this tool really were. Their backgrounds were different. The use cases for the tool were things I could never imagine. Yet we could come together and work collaboratively on the same things from different angles.
It was through WordPress that I discovered open source and began making my first contributions. Encouragement from a friend at a Portland WordCamp drove me to submit to my first out-of-state conference. This led to my first job in the open source community.
Later then, the same friend pushed me to submit to a general PHP event. This led to more events, international speaking engagements, and the kind of recognition I never thought I’d receive.
Supporting Others
Later in my career, I learned my speaking engagements and blogging had encouraged others on their own journeys. I’ve had strangers ask to shake my hand at events because an article or talk or an open source package helped kickstart their own careers. Some have even invited me to speak to classes of students about careers in software.
I accept every time. If I can help just one student avoid the rocky time I had in school, it’s more than worth the time.
And I still speak at events. I’ve had a long and fairly successful career; if I can share any of that in the form of advice that helps someone else along their journey, it’s worth it.
Still, I recognize I am often one white, male face among a sea of white, male faces in technology. As much as I want the microphone, more often than not there is a far better voice to be magnified by it.
Keynotes and Diversity
Last week was the annual php[tek] conference in Chicago. I was originally scheduled to speak and, unfortunately, had to back out at the last minute. Still, the entire speaker lineup was outstanding and I watched as much of the livestream as I could.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to present a keynote at a conference like this. I spoke with the organizers about it and pitched what I thought would be an outstanding session on ethics in tech. Ultimately, they chose other speakers for the keynote sessions – and the lineup was amazing!
One keynote in particular, about “Finding your Perfect Place in Tech,” stood out. The presenter walked through her own journey in technology but also the widely diverse nature of roles, positions, and people in the industry. As much as I wanted to present my own keynote, the event itself was made better by having her session instead.2I’m not saying it was a matter of choosing between the two of us. There were 4 separate keynote sessions and all of them were amazing. As much as I wanted the stage for myself, I’m happy the team found much better sessions to take the stage instead. It made it a far better event than I could have with my own spin on things.
Unfortunately … not every attendee shared this sentiment.
This talk would have been great for a bunch of soon to be college grads who had minimal experience outside of college – like the presenter – but was a complete mismatch for people who have been in industry for years.
1 star review from joind.in
I just didn’t find this talk very relevant. I don’t want to get into it too much, but I think this talk would be more relevant given to high school, college, or bootcamp students.
2 star review from joind.in
Prior to the pandemic, I was a big fan of the movement by conferences and events to include explicit sessions for younger contributors. Some were in the form of “kids’ day” workshops. Others opened sessions directly for younger speakers. WordCamp US 2019 even had a full panel: How the WordPress Community Can Embrace the Next Generation.
When we submit talks to a conference, we need to identify the experience level and required skills for attendees to get the most out of the session. “Beginner” is one of those categories because, and everyone needs to understand this, developers of all skill levels and experience attend these events!
Given the speaker’s exceptional resume, I fully reject any assertion that her experience is minimal or in any way disqualifies her from taking a speaking spot, let alone a keynote. And given the broad scope of the event – as well as the diverse community to which it caters – I reject any sentiment that a keynote focused on early-career professionals (or mid-career profession changes) is not a fit.
I’ve been writing code for over 20 years. I’m an internationally recognized speaker and open source maintainer. I’m a core contributor to both WordPress and PHP. I’ve been there and done that more than most. And I would step down to make way for sessions like “Finding your Perfect Place in Tech” every single time.
Mine is not the only voice in tech. My experience is not the only way to experience life, technology, or their intersection. If I am in a place where everyone looks like me, sounds like me, thinks like me, or has the same shared, lived experiences as me – then no one in that place is learning or growing.
I will use every bit of power or privilege I have to support and empower voices drastically different than mine to take center stage. It’s so vital for our growth, both individually and as a community. Especially in a tech space.
- 1I had been hired to write marketing materials and develop product strategy. But we also needed a website, so my boss told me I could keep the job if I could also build the site. I had to quickly learn how to do that …
- 2I’m not saying it was a matter of choosing between the two of us. There were 4 separate keynote sessions and all of them were amazing. As much as I wanted the stage for myself, I’m happy the team found much better sessions to take the stage instead. It made it a far better event than I could have with my own spin on things.
