Lessons learned from 6 years in PyLadies Berlin

Women are underrepresented in tech . PyLadies initiative aims to bridge that gap in the python community. PyLadies Berlin operate for 6 years. I will share some learnings through these years in our community in Berlin. And talk about the most effective practices that makes our community successful. How we engage with speakers, organizers, how we get motivated to keep going, how we can raise awareness to make a difference.

Resources (in the end)
* Pyladies Berlin org resources - https://bit.ly/2Zo8zIo
* Pyladies Vancouver - https://pyladies-vancouver.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
* Women in tech - http://blog.honeypot.io/women-in-tech-germany/
* Women in tech negative experiences - https://bdtechtalks.com/2019/03/21/sustaining-women-in-technology-stem/
* Writing effective and inclusive job descriptions - https://medium.com/@meb_57007/writing-effective-and-inclusive-job-descriptions-ace2a302f30a
* Stop calling women females - https://www.buzzfeed.com/tracyclayton/stop-calling-women-females?utm_term=.ba9GR6nEx4&source=post_page---------------------------#.tfJvEZzlPb
* Why women leave tech - https://medium.com/tech-diversity-files/if-you-think-women-in-tech-is-just-a-pipeline-problem-you-haven-t-been-paying-attention-cb7a2073b996#.2xw2y2f1s
* Open Tech school Berlin, coaching https://opentechschool.github.io/slides/presentations/coaching
* Django girls, coaching - https://coach.djangogirls.org/tips/
* Non violent communication - https://www.cnvc.org/training/compassion-course-online-2019
* Parent (coaching) effectiveness training
https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Effectiveness-Training-Responsible-Children/dp/0609806939

Transcript

1. Lessons learned from 6 years in PyLadies Berlin Meili Triantafyllidi - @meilitr Pycon Africa 2019
2. Who am I Mom of 5 year old PyLadies Berlin organizer since 2013 CS studies 8+ years experience Senior Python engineer @Digital Science remotely Meili Triantafyllidi - @meilitr Greece → Germany 8 years ago
3. PYLADIES AROUND THE WORLD
4. PYLADIES AROUND THE WORLD 100+ chapters
5. PYLADIES BERLIN 2013 Who ~10 meetup attendees 2 organizers Where ➢ Fixed location What ➢ Monthly meetups ➢ Talks & hands-on sessions
6. Audience 1500 followers ~40 meetup attendees Venue New location each time 2019 Speakers 43 women speakers 20 men speakers Coaches 44 coaches Community ORG team 5 organizers
7. ➢ Monthly meetups ➢ Talks & hands-on sessions ➢ Full day workshops ◦ Beginners ◦ Micropython 2019 82 events Events
8. ➢ Monthly meetups ➢ Talks & hands-on sessions ➢ Full day workshops ◦ Beginners ◦ Micropython ➢ Setup events 2019 82 events Events
9. ➢ Monthly meetups ➢ Talks & hands-on sessions ➢ Full day workshops ◦ Beginners ◦ Micropython ➢ Setup events ➢ Panel sessions 2019 82 events Events
10. ➢ Monthly meetups ➢ Talks & hands-on sessions ➢ Full day workshops ◦ Beginners ◦ Micropython ➢ Setup events ➢ Panel sessions ➢ Cross community 2019 82 events Events
11. How it started
12. Pyladies ... my first reaction Pyladies lunch
15. Pyladies lunch It was a hostile environment ... “It doesn’t suit you” Everybody I mentored got promoted but me :( .. 15% Women in tech Germany 79% Women have experienced negative outcome in their careers attributed to being women 41% Women leave tech
16. EQUALITY IS A WORK IN PROGRESS
17. Safe environment Bridge the gap
18. Raising awareness matters
19. … my chance
20. Launch event 
21. • Describe/Post/Advertise an event in meetup • Find speakers/talk to speakers • Find hosts/talk to hosts • Present intro/talk/workshop • Ensure inclusiveness • Upload photos • Update resources … All this on time Organizer tasks
22. My skills ? Backend Python dev + Lady + like to help
23. How can I do that? I am not like that
24. Everything is a skill that can be trained
26. Again and again
27. Don’t forget
28. Focus on the process Keep it fun!
29. Organizing skills
30. Time management
31. Time management Find the fun in it!
32. motivation?
33. Share the load More organizers wanted!
34. Recognition “Marketing”
35. • Take photos • Announce timely • Write about what happened • Focus on positive • Celebrate small victories Recognition aka “Marketing” Find the fun in it!
36. Public speaking
37. • Topic we are passionate • Speakers notes • Smile • Power position • Practice, practice, practice • Record yourself Public speaking Find the fun in it!
38. Lead by example Women for women
39. Speakers Who Mostly women How to get them Call for speakers Personal reach out Support Speaker guide Coaching program
40. Audience & Formats Workshops /Full day workshops ➔ self-paced with coaches ➔ Interactive with other attendees Beginners Data scientists web Devops Machine learning
41. Event time
42. Warm & friendly environment
43. • Smile • Warm up games • Talk to people you don’t know • Discussion starter: “Do you work with Python?” • Pac man rule Socialising Find the fun in it!
44. Be mindful
45. We are ready The rest?
46. Community Coaches Attendees Speakers ORG team Venue
47. Safe environment Coaches Attendees Speakers Code of conduct ORG team Venue
48. Inclusive environment Speaker guide ORG team Raise awareness & Educate Coaching guide Host guide Men you can help here !!!!
49. Coaching guide Open Tech school Berlin https://opentechschool.github.io/slides/presentations/coaching/ Django girls https://coach.djangogirls.org/tips/ Assume everyone you're coaching has zero knowledge but infinite intelligence Men you can help here !!!! Please read!
50. empower Less of: I did nothing. I have nothing to say... I did JUST a … I am a bad developer...
51. Inclusive environment • Childcare !!!!!!!!! • Accessibility • Food preferences • Coaches • Installation instructions early enough!
52. Gender policy We believe knowledge is for all and at the same time our events aim primarily to empower women tech community. We request non-women attendees to be aware of this situation and make their presence discrete. Eg. by coming with a female plus one to ensure gender balance, avoiding to be heard more than the rest of the attendees in discussions and question sections.
53. Guides + Templates Pyladies Berlin https://github.com/PyLadiesBerlin/resources/tree/master/organizing or https://bit.ly/2Zo8zIo Pyladies Vancouver https://pyladies-vancouver.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
54. Conclusions
55. Impact Conference speakers Orgs of special meetups (ML) Become coaches Become organizers Ask more questions Tech projects from workshops Inspired to join tech ... later working in tech!!! Broaden tech knowledge Find (better) jobs Raising awareness in workplace/other communities Women & men
56. • New organizers - when going well • Conference booths - awareness!!! • Cross-community events - tricky but worth it • Social media • Focus on women speakers/coaches • Registered coaches • Beginners workshops/setup events • Panel and open questions sessions (1-2 per year) • Ice breaker exercises Key learnings
57. Is it worth it?
58. PyLadies Berlin - 5 years picnic PyLadies NY & Pyladies Berlin PyLadies CZ & PyLadies Berlin Conferences
59. Everything is a skill that can be trained
60. Stay motivated and have fun!
61. THANKS Meili Triantafyllidi - @meilitr Pycon Africa 2019
62. • Pyladies Berlin org resources - https://bit.ly/2Zo8zIo • Pyladies Vancouver - https://pyladies-vancouver.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ • Women in tech - http://blog.honeypot.io/women-in-tech-germany/ • Women in tech negative experiences - https://bdtechtalks.com/2019/03/21/sustaining-women-in-technology-stem/ • Writing effective and inclusive job descriptions - https://medium.com/@meb_57007/writing-effective-and-inclusive-job-descriptions-ace2a302f30a • Stop calling women females - https://www.buzzfeed.com/tracyclayton/stop-calling-women-females?utm_term=.ba9GR6nEx4&sou rce=post_page---------------------------#.tfJvEZzlPb • Why women leave tech - https://medium.com/tech-diversity-files/if-you-think-women-in-tech-is-just-a-pipeline-problem-you-ha ven-t-been-paying-attention-cb7a2073b996#.2xw2y2f1s • Open Tech school Berlin, coaching https://opentechschool.github.io/slides/presentations/coaching • Django girls, coaching - https://coach.djangogirls.org/tips/ • Non violent communication - https://www.cnvc.org/training/compassion-course-online-2019 • Parent (coaching) effectiveness training https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Effectiveness-Training-Responsible-Children/dp/0609806939 Resources @meilitr