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
2. pt I. my story #shavedmyhead @alexqin
3. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
4. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
5. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
6. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
7. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
8. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
9. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
10. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
11. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
12. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
13. pt II. now you #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
15. “folks” underrepresented groups minorities #shavedmyhead @alexqin vocabulary
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
17. - step 1 - care & commit #shavedmyhead @alexqin
18. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
19. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
20. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
21. why should you care? #shavedmyhead @alexqin
22. some bad reasons #shavedmyhead @alexqin
23. bad reasons to care because I have to because of PR / Branding because it’s charitable #shavedmyhead @alexqin
24. some better reasons #shavedmyhead @alexqin
25. I want to make a lot of $$$ #shavedmyhead @alexqin
26. I want to have the best team #shavedmyhead @alexqin
27. I want to build the best product #shavedmyhead @alexqin
28. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
29. I care about equality #shavedmyhead @alexqin
30. - step 1 - care & commit #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
32. - step 2 - listen, learn & make mistakes #shavedmyhead @alexqin
33. listen to those with less privilege learn about their experiences make mistakes & learn from them #shavedmyhead @alexqin
34. listen to those with less privilege #shavedmyhead @alexqin
35. does your twitter feed look like this? #shavedmyhead @alexqin
36. learn about their experiences #shavedmyhead @alexqin
37. imposter syndrome #shavedmyhead @alexqin
38. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
39. unconscious bias #shavedmyhead @alexqin
40. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
41. stereotype threat #shavedmyhead @alexqin
42. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
43. microaggressions #shavedmyhead @alexqin
44. microaggressions #shavedmyhead @alexqin “Where are you really from” “Can I touch your hair?” “Are you really a programmer”
45. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
46. erasure #shavedmyhead @alexqin
47. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
48. lack of representation in leadership #shavedmyhead @alexqin
49. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
50. common challenges imposter syndrome unconscious bias stereotype threat microaggressions erasure lack of representation in leadership #shavedmyhead @alexqin
51. make mistakes & learn from them #shavedmyhead @alexqin
52. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
53. my mistakes #shavedmyhead @alexqin
54. the “pipeline problem” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
55. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
56. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
57. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
58. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
59. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
60. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
61. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
62. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
63. #shavedmyhead @alexqin the “leaky pipeline”
64. “code is gender/race blind” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
65. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
66. #shavedmyhead @alexqin Alexandra
67. #shavedmyhead @alexqin Alex
68. “lowering the bar” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
69. “lowering the bar” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
70. “affirmative action is discriminatory” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
71. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
72. “safe spaces are harmful” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
73. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
74. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
75. “safe spaces are harmful” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
76. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
77. listen to those with less privilege learn about their experiences make mistakes & learn from them #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
79. - step 3 - make meaningful & measurable changes #shavedmyhead @alexqin
80. challenge our assumptions recognize our biases change the system #shavedmyhead @alexqin
81. measure progress #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
83. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
84. build an inclusive culture #shavedmyhead @alexqin
85. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
87. attract folks from underrepresented groups #shavedmyhead @alexqin
88. attract folks from underrepresented backgrounds have an inclusive culture sponsor events explicit & reasonable job descriptions reaching “critical mass” #shavedmyhead @alexqin
89. interview with inclusion in mind #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
91. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
93. support everyone’s career growth #shavedmyhead @alexqin
94. support everyone’s career growth acknowledge & embrace differences build confidence & trust explicit mentorship, sponsorship & training FAIR PAY #shavedmyhead @alexqin
95. challenge our assumptions recognize our biases change the system #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
97. #shavedmyhead @alexqin
98. learn more project include model view culture ashe dryden / alterconf #shavedmyhead @alexqin
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
100. @alexqin engineer & educator @codecooperative @skillshare @thefortunesoc @c4qnyc @scripted @womenwhocode @technovation #shavedmyhead @alexqin