I’m a software developer and I want to make the tech industry more diverse when
make the tech industry more diverse when
make the tech industry more diverse when we develop a product we wanted to be
we develop a product we wanted to be
we develop a product we wanted to be used by as many people as possible and
used by as many people as possible and
used by as many people as possible and many different people men women disabled
many different people men women disabled
many different people men women disabled people people of color and many more
people people of color and many more
people people of color and many more when the airbag of the modern car was
when the airbag of the modern car was
when the airbag of the modern car was developed it was tested and then
developed it was tested and then
developed it was tested and then released to the market but the problem
released to the market but the problem
released to the market but the problem was that it was only tested with tall
was that it was only tested with tall
was that it was only tested with tall male dummies this resulted in the fact
male dummies this resulted in the fact
male dummies this resulted in the fact that some women and children died in car
that some women and children died in car
that some women and children died in car accident because the airbag was not
accident because the airbag was not
accident because the airbag was not designed for smaller people when the
designed for smaller people when the
designed for smaller people when the team that develops a product consists of
team that develops a product consists of
team that develops a product consists of people that are very similar we run the
people that are very similar we run the
people that are very similar we run the risk that we forget one or more groups
risk that we forget one or more groups
risk that we forget one or more groups of people that will end up using our
of people that will end up using our
of people that will end up using our product on the other hand if we have a
product on the other hand if we have a
product on the other hand if we have a diverse team with people of different
diverse team with people of different
diverse team with people of different backgrounds and stories and
backgrounds and stories and
backgrounds and stories and characteristics we have a higher chance
characteristics we have a higher chance
characteristics we have a higher chance of representing a larger user base of
of representing a larger user base of
of representing a larger user base of our product now I’m a software developer
our product now I’m a software developer
our product now I’m a software developer and ever since I joined the industry
and ever since I joined the industry
and ever since I joined the industry three years ago I’ve always been the
three years ago I’ve always been the
three years ago I’ve always been the only woman in my team and I found some
only woman in my team and I found some
only woman in my team and I found some good things about that for example the
good things about that for example the
good things about that for example the entry into the industry I found pretty
entry into the industry I found pretty
entry into the industry I found pretty easy I picked up my favorite company and
easy I picked up my favorite company and
easy I picked up my favorite company and I asked them for an internship and even
I asked them for an internship and even
I asked them for an internship and even though they didn’t have one they created
though they didn’t have one they created
though they didn’t have one they created a position for me and I could start two
a position for me and I could start two
a position for me and I could start two weeks later later when I asked my boss
weeks later later when I asked my boss
weeks later later when I asked my boss why they gave me this opportunity and
why they gave me this opportunity and
why they gave me this opportunity and they created this internship
they created this internship
they created this internship he said mainly because of my high
he said mainly because of my high
he said mainly because of my high motivation to learn but also they were
motivation to learn but also they were
motivation to learn but also they were looking to make their team more diverse
looking to make their team more diverse
looking to make their team more diverse because you see until that point the
because you see until that point the
because you see until that point the company had existed for eight years and
company had existed for eight years and
company had existed for eight years and they had never had a female developer
they had never had a female developer
they had never had a female developer until that point also having worked in
until that point also having worked in
until that point also having worked in other industries like the sports
other industries like the sports
other industries like the sports industry and the travel industry I found
industry and the travel industry I found
industry and the travel industry I found the people in
the people in
the people in the tech industry exceptionally helpful
the tech industry exceptionally helpful
the tech industry exceptionally helpful my teammates always answered all my
my teammates always answered all my
my teammates always answered all my questions they wanted me to learn and
questions they wanted me to learn and
questions they wanted me to learn and they gave me the feeling to belong there
they gave me the feeling to belong there
they gave me the feeling to belong there and they encouraged me to ask more
and they encouraged me to ask more
and they encouraged me to ask more questions they always made me feel
questions they always made me feel
questions they always made me feel comfortable even though I didn’t know
comfortable even though I didn’t know
comfortable even though I didn’t know many things about software development
many things about software development
many things about software development at that time but being the only woman in
at that time but being the only woman in
at that time but being the only woman in a software team has not always been easy
a software team has not always been easy
a software team has not always been easy sometimes when I went to work I felt
sometimes when I went to work I felt
sometimes when I went to work I felt like dressing nicely so and for that I
like dressing nicely so and for that I
like dressing nicely so and for that I got some weird comments from from
got some weird comments from from
got some weird comments from from colleagues at my company and one of the
colleagues at my company and one of the
colleagues at my company and one of the guys said you know you don’t have to
guys said you know you don’t have to
guys said you know you don’t have to dress up anymore
dress up anymore
dress up anymore you already got the job and I was like
you already got the job and I was like
you already got the job and I was like oh my god dude I think that I want to
oh my god dude I think that I want to
oh my god dude I think that I want to get some kind of advantage with the way
get some kind of advantage with the way
get some kind of advantage with the way I dress because this was not at all what
I dress because this was not at all what
I dress because this was not at all what I wanted so I thought I have to change
I wanted so I thought I have to change
I wanted so I thought I have to change myself I put my nice clothes on the back
myself I put my nice clothes on the back
myself I put my nice clothes on the back of my closet and I started wearing back
of my closet and I started wearing back
of my closet and I started wearing back conference t-shirts and hoodies like the
conference t-shirts and hoodies like the
conference t-shirts and hoodies like the guys did now they approved of that a lot
guys did now they approved of that a lot
guys did now they approved of that a lot one of them even congratulated me for
one of them even congratulated me for
one of them even congratulated me for becoming a nerd too but I didn’t feel
becoming a nerd too but I didn’t feel
becoming a nerd too but I didn’t feel very good about this not because I don’t
very good about this not because I don’t
very good about this not because I don’t like these clothes but I only did it to
like these clothes but I only did it to
like these clothes but I only did it to fit in so I went back to wearing the
fit in so I went back to wearing the
fit in so I went back to wearing the clothes I wanted I got some more strange
clothes I wanted I got some more strange
clothes I wanted I got some more strange comments and then it was fine then one
comments and then it was fine then one
comments and then it was fine then one day we went to work at the customers
day we went to work at the customers
day we went to work at the customers office and it was my first time there
office and it was my first time there
office and it was my first time there and I was walking down the aisle with a
and I was walking down the aisle with a
and I was walking down the aisle with a teammate of my company and then some
teammate of my company and then some
teammate of my company and then some guys from the customers company passed
guys from the customers company passed
guys from the customers company passed us and one of these guys asked my
us and one of these guys asked my
us and one of these guys asked my teammate hey dude is his bring your
teammate hey dude is his bring your
teammate hey dude is his bring your daughter to work day and I didn’t even
daughter to work day and I didn’t even
daughter to work day and I didn’t even know what to say and then my colleague
know what to say and then my colleague
know what to say and then my colleague said you know she’s a fully grown
said you know she’s a fully grown
said you know she’s a fully grown engineer and the other gap guy felt so
engineer and the other gap guy felt so
engineer and the other gap guy felt so bad about this and he apologized and he
bad about this and he apologized and he
bad about this and he apologized and he even bought me a cookie to make up for
even bought me a cookie to make up for
even bought me a cookie to make up for his mistake
his mistake
his mistake so yes I don’t think this will happen to
so yes I don’t think this will happen to
so yes I don’t think this will happen to him again so then I realized at that
him again so then I realized at that
him again so then I realized at that point that it was not normal for a woman
point that it was not normal for a woman
point that it was not normal for a woman to be in a technical position and people
to be in a technical position and people
to be in a technical position and people automatically associate this with
automatically associate this with
automatically associate this with something else so in this case I was my
something else so in this case I was my
something else so in this case I was my colleagues daughter even though I was
colleagues daughter even though I was
colleagues daughter even though I was only one year younger than he was and I
only one year younger than he was and I
only one year younger than he was and I wanted to change that because I don’t
wanted to change that because I don’t
wanted to change that because I don’t always want to explain myself why I’m a
always want to explain myself why I’m a
always want to explain myself why I’m a developer and also I don’t always want
developer and also I don’t always want
developer and also I don’t always want to be the only woman in my team so I
to be the only woman in my team so I
to be the only woman in my team so I co-founded a free programming course for
co-founded a free programming course for
co-founded a free programming course for women that’s running weekly to attract
women that’s running weekly to attract
women that’s running weekly to attract new women to software development to
new women to software development to
new women to software development to show them that it’s actually a very
show them that it’s actually a very
show them that it’s actually a very creative job that and that you have to
creative job that and that you have to
creative job that and that you have to have a lot of empathy to understand the
have a lot of empathy to understand the
have a lot of empathy to understand the users needs and that it’s not that we
users needs and that it’s not that we
users needs and that it’s not that we are not like wasted away nerds in
are not like wasted away nerds in
are not like wasted away nerds in cellars with crazy hair and uncapable of
cellars with crazy hair and uncapable of
cellars with crazy hair and uncapable of social interaction so and I’m very happy
social interaction so and I’m very happy
social interaction so and I’m very happy to say that some of these women are on
to say that some of these women are on
to say that some of these women are on their way are or already are software
their way are or already are software
their way are or already are software developers now so I’m very happy about
developers now so I’m very happy about
developers now so I’m very happy about this also I co-founded women techmakers
this also I co-founded women techmakers
this also I co-founded women techmakers this is a Google initiative to provide
this is a Google initiative to provide
this is a Google initiative to provide visibility and a platform for women in
visibility and a platform for women in
visibility and a platform for women in technology and I talk to many women and
technology and I talk to many women and
technology and I talk to many women and I realized that not only do we have the
I realized that not only do we have the
I realized that not only do we have the problem that many women don’t consider
problem that many women don’t consider
problem that many women don’t consider position in a technical field but also
position in a technical field but also
position in a technical field but also many women that used to work in a
many women that used to work in a
many women that used to work in a technical position left many times to
technical position left many times to
technical position left many times to work in marketing or communication and
work in marketing or communication and
work in marketing or communication and when I asked them for the reason about
when I asked them for the reason about
when I asked them for the reason about why they left they gave me some answers
why they left they gave me some answers
why they left they gave me some answers that made me think a lot and I want to
that made me think a lot and I want to
that made me think a lot and I want to share three of their statements with you
share three of their statements with you
share three of their statements with you one lady said my salary is much lower
one lady said my salary is much lower
one lady said my salary is much lower than the men’s salary even though our
than the men’s salary even though our
than the men’s salary even though our work is the same a second lady said
work is the same a second lady said
work is the same a second lady said I was the only woman in the team and
I was the only woman in the team and
I was the only woman in the team and they didn’t take me seriously as a
they didn’t take me seriously as a
they didn’t take me seriously as a female developer and the third lady said
female developer and the third lady said
female developer and the third lady said I applied for a promotion and even
I applied for a promotion and even
I applied for a promotion and even though my boss said that I was more
though my boss said that I was more
though my boss said that I was more suitable for the job they promoted the
suitable for the job they promoted the
suitable for the job they promoted the guy in my team because it was what
guy in my team because it was what
guy in my team because it was what everyone expected
everyone expected
everyone expected now I thought a long time about this and
now I thought a long time about this and
now I thought a long time about this and I did research on this and I came up
I did research on this and I came up
I did research on this and I came up with three main reasons for these
with three main reasons for these
with three main reasons for these problems
problems
problems the first is men tend to ask for more
the first is men tend to ask for more
the first is men tend to ask for more more salary for promotions and I wanted
more salary for promotions and I wanted
more salary for promotions and I wanted to find out if this was true so I talked
to find out if this was true so I talked
to find out if this was true so I talked to many guys in my company and outside
to many guys in my company and outside
to many guys in my company and outside and many of them said oh yeah I asked
and many of them said oh yeah I asked
and many of them said oh yeah I asked for a raise in every performance review
for a raise in every performance review
for a raise in every performance review when I asked women at our meetups about
when I asked women at our meetups about
when I asked women at our meetups about this topic they say oh no I’m already
this topic they say oh no I’m already
this topic they say oh no I’m already glad that they gave me a job and I don’t
glad that they gave me a job and I don’t
glad that they gave me a job and I don’t want to seem ungrateful and I think they
want to seem ungrateful and I think they
want to seem ungrateful and I think they will give me a raise when they think
will give me a raise when they think
will give me a raise when they think it’s time well from my experience you
it’s time well from my experience you
it’s time well from my experience you hardly get something for free without
hardly get something for free without
hardly get something for free without asking the second problem is the
asking the second problem is the
asking the second problem is the difference of the handling of success
difference of the handling of success
difference of the handling of success and failure in men and women men tend to
and failure in men and women men tend to
and failure in men and women men tend to attribute their success to themselves to
attribute their success to themselves to
attribute their success to themselves to their hard work to their skills and
their hard work to their skills and
their hard work to their skills and their failure to you know circumstances
their failure to you know circumstances
their failure to you know circumstances and bad luck on the other hand women
and bad luck on the other hand women
and bad luck on the other hand women tend to attribute their failures to
tend to attribute their failures to
tend to attribute their failures to themselves and the lack of skills and
themselves and the lack of skills and
themselves and the lack of skills and they attribute their success not to
they attribute their success not to
they attribute their success not to themselves but to the team and to being
themselves but to the team and to being
themselves but to the team and to being at the right place at the right time and
at the right place at the right time and
at the right place at the right time and this is all about how we present
this is all about how we present
this is all about how we present ourselves and I also did a little
ourselves and I also did a little
ourselves and I also did a little experiment on that with a friend of mine
experiment on that with a friend of mine
experiment on that with a friend of mine who’s also female developer we went to
who’s also female developer we went to
who’s also female developer we went to to a workshop like a hackathon where the
to a workshop like a hackathon where the
to a workshop like a hackathon where the main idea was to learn about new
main idea was to learn about new
main idea was to learn about new technologies and to build something with
technologies and to build something with
technologies and to build something with these new technologies and we were
these new technologies and we were
these new technologies and we were working and other teams passed by and
working and other teams passed by and
working and other teams passed by and asked how we were doing
asked how we were doing
asked how we were doing and she answered we are doing terrible
and she answered we are doing terrible
and she answered we are doing terrible and we almost didn’t achieve anything so
and we almost didn’t achieve anything so
and we almost didn’t achieve anything so far and I don’t think that this will go
far and I don’t think that this will go
far and I don’t think that this will go anywhere and then nobody passed by
anywhere and then nobody passed by
anywhere and then nobody passed by anymore and today was over some weeks
anymore and today was over some weeks
anymore and today was over some weeks later we attended such an event again
later we attended such an event again
later we attended such an event again people stopped buying asked how we were
people stopped buying asked how we were
people stopped buying asked how we were doing and before this time before she
doing and before this time before she
doing and before this time before she could answer I said we are doing correct
could answer I said we are doing correct
could answer I said we are doing correct we you know I’ve learned so many things
we you know I’ve learned so many things
we you know I’ve learned so many things in the last two hours we even started to
in the last two hours we even started to
in the last two hours we even started to build something and we will continue in
build something and we will continue in
build something and we will continue in the afternoon then I heard some people
the afternoon then I heard some people
the afternoon then I heard some people go to the organizers team and to tell
go to the organizers team and to tell
go to the organizers team and to tell them that they are onto something and I
them that they are onto something and I
them that they are onto something and I think they do a really good job in the
think they do a really good job in the
think they do a really good job in the end we got to present our project but
end we got to present our project but
end we got to present our project but guess what we didn’t achieve any more on
guess what we didn’t achieve any more on
guess what we didn’t achieve any more on the second day than we did on the first
the second day than we did on the first
the second day than we did on the first it was all about how we presented
it was all about how we presented
it was all about how we presented ourselves and our work the third problem
ourselves and our work the third problem
ourselves and our work the third problem and I think this is the most important
and I think this is the most important
and I think this is the most important is unconscious bias unconscious bias is
is unconscious bias unconscious bias is
is unconscious bias unconscious bias is the ability of our brain to categorize
the ability of our brain to categorize
the ability of our brain to categorize events that we experience and and like
events that we experience and and like
events that we experience and and like categorize them unconsciously for many
categorize them unconsciously for many
categorize them unconsciously for many things this is useful because our brain
things this is useful because our brain
things this is useful because our brain can’t handle everything consciously but
can’t handle everything consciously but
can’t handle everything consciously but it can be dangerous if decisions in the
it can be dangerous if decisions in the
it can be dangerous if decisions in the workplace are based on unconscious bias
workplace are based on unconscious bias
workplace are based on unconscious bias an example for this might be if a man
an example for this might be if a man
an example for this might be if a man and the woman applied for a promotion
and the woman applied for a promotion
and the woman applied for a promotion and there are only men in the team and
and there are only men in the team and
and there are only men in the team and the person making the decision is also a
the person making the decision is also a
the person making the decision is also a man and unconsciously he might think you
man and unconsciously he might think you
man and unconsciously he might think you know the man that applied here maybe he
know the man that applied here maybe he
know the man that applied here maybe he looks similar maybe he has similar
looks similar maybe he has similar
looks similar maybe he has similar values maybe they even went for beers in
values maybe they even went for beers in
values maybe they even went for beers in the last couple of weeks so he gets this
the last couple of weeks so he gets this
the last couple of weeks so he gets this kind of feeling that the man is more
kind of feeling that the man is more
kind of feeling that the man is more suitable for the job and when decisions
suitable for the job and when decisions
suitable for the job and when decisions are made on a basis of unconscious bias
are made on a basis of unconscious bias
are made on a basis of unconscious bias it’s very hard to argue even if you have
it’s very hard to argue even if you have
it’s very hard to argue even if you have facts on the table that the woman is
facts on the table that the woman is
facts on the table that the woman is more suitable now I thought a long time
more suitable now I thought a long time
more suitable now I thought a long time what we can do about this and free
what we can do about this and free
what we can do about this and free programming courses
programming courses
programming courses and meetups for women in tech is great
and meetups for women in tech is great
and meetups for women in tech is great but I find that that the only way to
but I find that that the only way to
but I find that that the only way to change this problem is if every woman in
change this problem is if every woman in
change this problem is if every woman in technology changes her own situation we
technology changes her own situation we
technology changes her own situation we should not wait until the industry
should not wait until the industry
should not wait until the industry magically changes itself we should be
magically changes itself we should be
magically changes itself we should be part of this change so if you’re a woman
part of this change so if you’re a woman
part of this change so if you’re a woman in technology and you feel that you are
in technology and you feel that you are
in technology and you feel that you are treated unfairly
treated unfairly
treated unfairly if you feel or you know that you get
if you feel or you know that you get
if you feel or you know that you get less salary for the same work
less salary for the same work
less salary for the same work you should call to your supervisor you
you should call to your supervisor you
you should call to your supervisor you should stand up for yourself and you
should stand up for yourself and you
should stand up for yourself and you should ask for more more salary because
should ask for more more salary because
should ask for more more salary because everyone else does it too and it it
everyone else does it too and it it
everyone else does it too and it it doesn’t hurt
doesn’t hurt
doesn’t hurt then next take credit for your success
then next take credit for your success
then next take credit for your success when you did a great job you can be
when you did a great job you can be
when you did a great job you can be proud of it
proud of it
proud of it of course many times it’s the work of
of course many times it’s the work of
of course many times it’s the work of the team but you can be proud of the
the team but you can be proud of the
the team but you can be proud of the contribution you made to that team and
contribution you made to that team and
contribution you made to that team and take credit for that and finally call
take credit for that and finally call
take credit for that and finally call out unconscious bias only then do the
out unconscious bias only then do the
out unconscious bias only then do the people working with us have the
people working with us have the
people working with us have the opportunity to change their behavior my
opportunity to change their behavior my
opportunity to change their behavior my colleague called out unconscious bias in
colleague called out unconscious bias in
colleague called out unconscious bias in the guy who asked if it’s bring your
the guy who asked if it’s bring your
the guy who asked if it’s bring your daughter to work day and I could see on
daughter to work day and I could see on
daughter to work day and I could see on his reaction that he didn’t do it on
his reaction that he didn’t do it on
his reaction that he didn’t do it on purpose and he didn’t mean bad and it
purpose and he didn’t mean bad and it
purpose and he didn’t mean bad and it will not happen to him again so by
will not happen to him again so by
will not happen to him again so by changing our own situation we can also
changing our own situation we can also
changing our own situation we can also help changing the situation of other
help changing the situation of other
help changing the situation of other women that will later at the point later
women that will later at the point later
women that will later at the point later in time work with these people and I
in time work with these people and I
in time work with these people and I know it takes a lot of courage and it’s
know it takes a lot of courage and it’s
know it takes a lot of courage and it’s sometimes hard to change that and to
sometimes hard to change that and to
sometimes hard to change that and to stand up for yourself but I can tell you
stand up for yourself but I can tell you
stand up for yourself but I can tell you from my own experience it feels good
from my own experience it feels good
from my own experience it feels good thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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