My Journey in Tech

A talk I gave at Citi Fireside Talks about my journey from graduating from Computer Systems to my career in tech to getting involved in the tech community which opened up the doors to more interesting roles and opportunities.

When: Thu Apr 22, 2021

* 😉 My link in profile - https://beacons.page/whykay
* 🎪 Dublin Maker Open Call - http://www.dublinmaker.ie/dublin-maker-open-call-2021/
* PyLadies Dublin - https://beacons.page/pyladiesdublin
* Coding Grace - https://beacons.page/codinggrace

Other info
* Tech events around Ireland & Northern Ireland: https://irish-diversity-in-tech.netlify.app/events/
* Diversity in Tech Groups around Ireland & Northern Ireland: https://irish-diversity-in-tech.netlify.app/diversity/

You can contact me at vicky[at]codinggrace[dot]com

Transcript

1. My Journey in Tech
   Source: https://jopwellcollection.jopwell.com/g/thejopwellcollection/?pid=975808949&id=94&h=NDIzNTYxMDM4OQ
   Vicky Twomey-Lee / @whykay
   Citi Fireside Chat, April 22 2021
   

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2. WHO?
   Coder, tech event organiser
   advocating diversity in tech
   @whykay
   …and cat hugger🐱
   Maker Advocate
   

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3. Maker Advocate
   ‣ BSc. in Computer Systems, UL
   
   
   ‣ 1st Job: Sun Microsystems
   
   
   ‣ Later years… that’s where it got
   interesting 😉
   

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4. Credit: Tech/life ireland Credit: Dogpatch Labs and Kensington Palace
   

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5. HOW DID IT ALL START?
   2004
   2005
   2010
   @pythonireland
   • Python Ireland: 2005 - 2016
   
   
   • PyCon Ireland: 2010 - 2013
   

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6. 2013
   @PyLadiesDub
   

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7. HOW DID IT ALL START? (CONTD)
   2012
   @codinggrace
   ‣ Founded 2012
   
   
   ‣ Started with 7 workshops
   ‣ Nearly 90 workshops since
   
   
   ‣ Nearly 30 volunteer mentors*
   

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8. CURATED CONTENT
   @codinggrace
   

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9. TEXT
   ‣ Founded 2012
   
   
   ‣ Started with 3 GameCra
   ft
   s
   ‣ Nearly 30 events since
   
   
   ‣ Dublin, Derry, Belfast, Cork, Limerick,
   

   Thurles, London, Vienna, New York
   HOW DID IT ALL START? (CONTD)
   @globalgamecraft
   

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10. AND… MAYBE ONE MOAR 🙃
    2015
    @wwcodedublin
    

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11. ‣ Member
    DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL
    Get involved
    ‣ Partnerships
    

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12. OTHER WOMEN/DIVERSITY IN TECH ORGS
    

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13. DOESN’T HAVE TO BE IN IRELAND
    Get involved
    ‣ Nominated fe
    ll
    ow
    
    
    ‣ Grants Workgroup
    ‣ Was on the board
    
    
    ‣ Various Workgroups
    

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14. PSF Grants Workgroup
    Source: h
    tt
    ps://www.python.org/psf/annual-report/2020/
    

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15. WHAT IT
    MEANS TO ME
    

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17. TECH COMMUNITY CHARITY
    
    
    

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18. at
    

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19. at
    

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20. at
    

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21. WHY DIVERSITY?
    

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22. • gender - women, genderqueer, agender, non-gender conforming, masculinity-femininity spectrum,
    fi
    xed/
    fl
    uid stat
    e
    
    • biological sex - transgender, intersex
    • sexuality - lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, pansexual, asexual
    • relationship orientation - polyamorous, open
    • race and ethnicity
    • nationality, country/region of origin - country of personal or familial origi
    n
    
    • citizenship status - immigrant/documentation statu
    s
    
    • language - people whose
    fi
    rst language is not English (or the otherwise dominant language of the region), people who communicate
    
    
    • through sign language, people who communicate through assistive devices or software
    • religion/spirituality/af
    fi
    liation
    • political party/movement af
    fi
    liation - political party, feminist
    ,
    
    • elective dietary choices - vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, Halal, straight edge, teetotaler
    • physical appearance - height, weight, shape, hereditary dis
    fi
    gurement/injury, mod/surgical history, cultural "beauty" spectru
    m
    
    • chronic disease - diabetes, cancer, Crohn's, epilepsy, migraines, allergie
    s
    
    • mental illness or disorder - schizophrenia, depression, eating disorder, addiction, bipolar disorde
    r
    
    • developmental/neurological delay - retardation/cognitive impairment, dyslexia, ADHD, speech impediment, brain injurie
    s
    
    • physical disability - impaired mobility, sight-/hearing-/sensory-impaire
    d
    
    • veteran/military status
    • experience with violent con
    fl
    ict - refugee/asylum seeke
    r
    
    • personal violence/trauma survivor - child soldiers, abuse survivors, former cult member
    s
    
    • biological age - both actual and perceived/assume
    d
    
    • dependent status - you are or you have: children/elderly/immobilize
    d
    
    • parental status - you are or you have: biological/adopted/foster children, guardianshi
    p
    
    • relationship status - single/partnered/married/divorced/multiple partnere
    d
    
    • economic status - current and forme
    r
    
    • access to healthcare
    • access to travel/mobility
    • access to education
    • access to technology - includes type of technology, bandwidth, screen size, availability/ownershi
    p
    
    • professional experience level
    • education level - level of formal education completed, whether or not a person has graduated from college/university, self-taugh
    t
    
    General population that aren't well represented in
    our tech communities.
    https://www.ashedryden.com/blog/increasing-diversity-at-your-conference
    

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23. DUBLIN MAKER 2021 VIRTUAL FESTIVAL
    Electronics, kni
    tt
    ers, woodturners, music synths, 3D mode
    ll
    ing, AR/VR, 3D
    Printing, model making, costume making, coding, game-making, interactive
    art, creative tech, wearables, sustainability…
    SAT JUN 19 - SUN JUN 20
    

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24. PyLadies Dublin (3rd Tue monthly)
    

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25. Community
    • Join community orgs e.g. Python So
    ft
    ware Foundation (PSF)
    
    
    • Join and help your local group e.g. submit a talk, run workshop
    
    
    • Connect e.g. PyLadies on Slack: slackin.pyladies.com, IrishTechCommunity.com
    
    
    • Go further a
    fi
    eld e.g. Other groups like Django So
    ft
    ware Foundation, EuroPython, PyData
    
    
    • Contribute e.g projects, join sprints at conferences (or start your own one)
    
    
    • Donate e.g awesome organisations/projects
    How you can get involved!
    

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26. Company
    • Join and support orgs e.g. Python So
    ft
    ware Foundation (PSF)
    
    
    • Support your local group e.g. speakers, hosting, prizes, co
    ll
    aborating
    
    
    • Post jobs e.g. Women Who Code Jobs Board
    
    
    • Donate e.g. open source projects
    
    
    • Talk to folks like myself! We are happy to help. 🙂
    How you can help!
    

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27. Thank You
    beacons.page/whykay || @whykay
    
    
    vicky@codinggrace.com
    Photo credits:
    
    
    • wocintechchat.com
    
    
    • pixabay.com
    
    
    • pexels.com/photo/big-red-heart-on-dark-background-6371/
    
    
    • jopwellcollection.jopwell.com
    

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