Chinenye Onuegbu_How not to do diversity_Codemotion Madrid 2019

Diversity is a very hot topic, and even more so in tech. It also happens to be a big selling point and a marketing tool for individuals and companies alike. People and companies use diversity for many different purposes. Some because they genuinely care, some to fill in a quota, others to appease the gods. However, independent of your intentions, you could actually be doing a lot of harm without knowing it. How do you create a working environment that is truly safe for the under-represented and historically oppressed people, without inadvertently doing the opposite of what you set out for?

About: Chinenye Onuegbu, Software Engineer - Yilu

I am passionate about everything tech, especially interested in JavaScript and I love tinkering with transistors.

Transcript

1. 24-25 September, 2019
2. How not to do diversity Chinenye Onuegbu Senior Frontend Engineer, Yilu Madrid | September 24 - 25, 2019
3. @xkizer 3 Who am I? Chinenye Chukwudi “Kizer” Onuegbu Senior Frontend Engineer at Yilu Based in Berlin From South Eastern Nigeria Twitter/Github/Medium: xkizer
4. @xkizer Introducing Dumebi • Black • Muslim • Introvert • Woman • From Nigeria • Joined your company last month as an engineer
5. @xkizer What do you want to achieve with Dumebi?
6. @xkizer Maximize her potential What do you want to achieve with Dumebi?
7. @xkizer Leverage her unique perspective What do you want to achieve with Dumebi?
8. @xkizer How do you get there?
9. @xkizer Understand she works in an industry that feels like it wasn’t meant for her How do you get there?
10. @xkizer Make her feel comfortable and welcome How do you get there?
11. @xkizer Say the right things with your body language How do you get there?
12. @xkizer Speaking the right body language
13. @xkizer What you DON’T want to say You are different
14. @xkizer What you DON’T want to say We are all the same
15. @xkizer What you want to say We are diverse!
16. @xkizer Do not isolate Dumebi
17. @xkizer Do not isolate Dumebi Do not create Safe Spaces Create a safe environment
18. @xkizer Do not isolate Dumebi Do not treat Dumebi special or different from others
19. @xkizer Do not isolate Dumebi Speak a language everyone in the room understands
20. @xkizer Do not make sensitive jokes or remarks
21. @xkizer Do not make sensitive jokes or remarks It is sensitive if it’s even slightly derogatory, and is about her... ➔ body or looks ➔ gender or sexual preferences ➔ nationality ➔ skin colour ➔ Religion
22. @xkizer Do not make sensitive jokes or remarks Even if she seems okay with it
23. @xkizer Do not make sensitive jokes or remarks Even if another person “like her” was okay with it
24. @xkizer Do not make sensitive jokes or remarks Do not make jokes about... ➔ gun violence to an American ➔ terrorism to people from certain Asian and African countries ➔ Nigerian princes to a Nigerian
25. @xkizer Do not associate Dumebi with other people’s actions
26. @xkizer Do not associate Dumebi with other people’s actions Do not “protect” Dumebi from the actions of “other people like her”
27. @xkizer Do not associate Dumebi with other people’s actions “You will not be working in finance because the last European to work in finance stole our money”
28. @xkizer Do not hire Dumebi if she’s not qualified
29. @xkizer She will eventually fail at the job Most probably Do not hire Dumebi if she’s not qualified
30. @xkizer You would be feeding the stereotype that certain people are naturally better engineers than others Do not hire Dumebi if she’s not qualified
31. @xkizer You would be tokenizing Dumebi Do not hire Dumebi if she’s not qualified
32. @xkizer Be empathic
33. @xkizer Be empathic Empathy showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another. /ˈɛmpəθi/ noun
34. @xkizer Be empathic Understand that you cannot relate to Dumebi’s experience
35. @xkizer Be empathic Understand that it may take Dumebi significantly longer to be at 100%
36. @xkizer Be empathic Understand that Dumebi may be under pressure to prove herself
37. @xkizer Be empathic Understand that Dumebi may not speak up when things go wrong
38. @xkizer Finally...
39. @xkizer Finally... Avoid Mansplaining
40. @xkizer Finally... Don’t agree only when a white male repeats it
41. @xkizer Finally... Dumebi doesn’t need to study in Europe to become a top-tire engineer Stop asking what European school she attended
42. @xkizer Thank you!