QCon London 2017 - Shaving my head made me a better programmer

How do perceptions and stereotypes affect those in software and on engineering teams? This talk tells the true story of how I hacked my appearance, by shaving my head, to change the way I was perceived as a programmer.

This talk also serves as a primer on unconscious bias and stereotype threat, and their effects on individuals and teams. I will provide actionable advice on how to make engineering teams more inclusive, more diverse, and thusly more successful.

Transcript

1. shaving my head made me a
   better programmer
   @alexqin
   #shavedmyhead
   

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2. pt I. my story
   #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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3. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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4. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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5. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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6. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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7. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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8. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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9. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
   

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10. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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11. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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12. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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13. pt II. now you
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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14. A diverse environment is one where people from all backgrounds
    have equal representation
    An inclusive environment is one where people from all backgrounds
    receive equal treatment and equal opportunity by design
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    vocabulary
    

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15. “folks”
    underrepresented groups
    minorities
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    vocabulary
    

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16. building an inclusive & diverse team
    step 1 - care & commit
    step 2 - listen, learn & make mistakes
    step 3 - make meaningful and measurable changes
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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17. - step 1 -
    care & commit
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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18. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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19. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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20. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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21. why should you care?
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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22. some bad reasons
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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23. bad reasons to care
    because I have to
    because of PR / Branding
    because it’s charitable
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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24. some better reasons
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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25. I want to make a lot of $$$
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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26. I want to have the best team
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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27. I want to build the best product
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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28. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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29. I care about equality
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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30. - step 1 -
    care & commit
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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31. building an inclusive & diverse team
    step 1 - care & commit
    step 2 - listen, learn & make mistakes
    step 3 - make meaningful and measurable changes
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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32. - step 2 -
    listen, learn & make mistakes
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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33. listen to those with less privilege
    learn about their experiences
    make mistakes & learn from them
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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34. listen to those with less privilege
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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35. does your
    twitter feed
    look like this?
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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36. learn about their experiences
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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37. imposter syndrome
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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38. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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39. unconscious bias
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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40. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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41. stereotype threat
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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42. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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43. microaggressions
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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44. microaggressions
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    “Where are you really from”
    “Can I touch your hair?”
    “Are you really a programmer”
    

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45. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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46. erasure
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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47. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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48. lack of representation in
    leadership
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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49. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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50. common challenges
    imposter syndrome
    unconscious bias
    stereotype threat
    microaggressions
    erasure
    lack of representation in leadership
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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51. make mistakes & learn from
    them
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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52. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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53. my mistakes
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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54. the “pipeline problem”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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55. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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56. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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57. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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58. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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59. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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60. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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61. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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62. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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63. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    the “leaky pipeline”
    

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64. “code is gender/race blind”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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65. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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66. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    Alexandra
    

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67. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    Alex
    

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68. “lowering the bar”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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69. “lowering the bar”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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70. “affirmative action is
    discriminatory”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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71. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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72. “safe spaces are harmful”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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73. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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74. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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75. “safe spaces are harmful”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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76. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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77. listen to those with less privilege
    learn about their experiences
    make mistakes & learn from them
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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78. building an inclusive & diverse team
    step 1 - care & commit
    step 2 - listen, learn & make mistakes
    step 3 - make meaningful and measurable changes
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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79. - step 3 -
    make meaningful & measurable
    changes
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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80. challenge our assumptions
    recognize our biases
    change the system
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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81. measure progress
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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82. audit your hiring process
    how many X do you reach out to?
    how many resumes from do you read?
    how many make it past the resume screen?
    how many make it past the initial phone screen?
    how many make it past the technical interview?
    how many make it past the culture interview?
    how many do you make offers to?
    how many do you hire?
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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83. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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84. build an inclusive culture
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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85. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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86. build an inclusive culture
    Define and share clear compensation bands
    Encourage and support employee resource groups
    Promote a healthy work/life balance to embrace all employees
    Use diverse benefits to attract and retain employees
    Hire an HR person
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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87. attract folks from
    underrepresented groups
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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88. attract folks from underrepresented backgrounds
    have an inclusive culture
    sponsor events
    explicit & reasonable job descriptions
    reaching “critical mass”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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89. interview with inclusion in mind
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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90. interview with inclusion in mind
    diverse representation in the interview pool
    diverse representation in interviewer group
    account for different communication styles & cultural backgrounds
    mitigate stereotype threat
    look for strengths instead of weaknesses
    use a rubric
    EAT BEFOREHAND
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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91. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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92. interview with inclusion in mind
    diverse representation in the interview pool
    diverse representation in interviewer group
    account for different communication styles & cultural backgrounds
    mitigate stereotype threat
    look for strengths instead of weaknesses
    use a rubric
    EAT BEFOREHAND
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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93. support everyone’s career
    growth
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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94. support everyone’s career growth
    acknowledge & embrace differences
    build confidence & trust
    explicit mentorship, sponsorship & training
    FAIR PAY
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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95. challenge our assumptions
    recognize our biases
    change the system
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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96. building diverse and inclusive teams
    step 1 - care & commit
    step 2 - listen, learn & make mistakes
    step 3 - make meaningful & measurable changes
    measure progress
    build an inclusive culture
    attract candidates from underrepresented groups
    interview with inclusion in mind
    support everyone’s career growth
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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97. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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98. learn more
    project include
    model view culture
    ashe dryden / alterconf
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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99. – Beverly Daniel Tatum
    “I sometimes visualize the ongoing cycle of racism as a moving
    walkway at the airport. Active racist behavior is equivalent to
    walking fast on the conveyor belt. Passive racist behavior is
    equivalent to standing still on the walkway. No overt effort is being
    made, but the conveyor belt moves the bystanders along to the
    same destination as those who are actively walking. But unless
    they are walking actively in the opposite direction at a speed
    faster than the conveyor belt – unless they are actively anti-racist
    – they will find themselves carried along with the others.”
    #shavedmyhead @alexqin
    

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100. @alexqin
     engineer & educator
     @codecooperative
     @skillshare
     @thefortunesoc
     @c4qnyc
     @scripted
     @womenwhocode
     @technovation
     #shavedmyhead @alexqin
     

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