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

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

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pt I. my story #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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pt II. now you #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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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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“folks” underrepresented groups minorities #shavedmyhead @alexqin vocabulary

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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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- step 1 - care & commit #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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why should you care? #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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some bad reasons #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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some better reasons #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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I want to have the best team #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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I want to build the best product #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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I care about equality #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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- step 1 - care & commit #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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

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listen to those with less privilege #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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learn about their experiences #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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imposter syndrome #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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unconscious bias #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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stereotype threat #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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microaggressions #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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erasure #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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lack of representation in leadership #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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make mistakes & learn from them #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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my mistakes #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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the “pipeline problem” #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin the “leaky pipeline”

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

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin Alexandra

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin Alex

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“lowering the bar” #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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“lowering the bar” #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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“afﬁrmative action is discriminatory” #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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“safe spaces are harmful” #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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“safe spaces are harmful” #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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

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

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measure progress #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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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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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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build an inclusive culture #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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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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attract folks from underrepresented groups #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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interview with inclusion in mind #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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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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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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support everyone’s career growth #shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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

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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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#shavedmyhead @alexqin

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

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