[Music] so first off how many of you have spent
so first off how many of you have spent
so first off how many of you have spent any amount of time in the last week
any amount of time in the last week
any amount of time in the last week thinking about your future career yes
thinking about your future career yes
thinking about your future career yes asking yourself things like what am I
asking yourself things like what am I
asking yourself things like what am I gonna do when I grow up what does that
gonna do when I grow up what does that
gonna do when I grow up what does that jobs gonna be how am I gonna get that
jobs gonna be how am I gonna get that
jobs gonna be how am I gonna get that job is it gonna pay well is it gonna be
job is it gonna pay well is it gonna be
job is it gonna pay well is it gonna be stable what if I told you you’re
stable what if I told you you’re
stable what if I told you you’re worrying about all of the wrong things
worrying about all of the wrong things
worrying about all of the wrong things and that you shouldn’t be thinking about
and that you shouldn’t be thinking about
and that you shouldn’t be thinking about the job that you’re gonna get or how are
the job that you’re gonna get or how are
the job that you’re gonna get or how are you’re gonna get it but you should be
you’re gonna get it but you should be
you’re gonna get it but you should be thinking about how you’re gonna create
thinking about how you’re gonna create
thinking about how you’re gonna create your future job so this technology is
your future job so this technology is
your future job so this technology is starting to increasingly take over jobs
starting to increasingly take over jobs
starting to increasingly take over jobs and automation is is is a real thing
and automation is is is a real thing
and automation is is is a real thing with that is an increasing opportunity
with that is an increasing opportunity
with that is an increasing opportunity for each and every one of us to carve
for each and every one of us to carve
for each and every one of us to carve out a new space to create a new rule for
out a new space to create a new rule for
out a new space to create a new rule for ourselves to create our future careers
ourselves to create our future careers
ourselves to create our future careers so meet Lauren Lauren’s 11 year old girl
so meet Lauren Lauren’s 11 year old girl
so meet Lauren Lauren’s 11 year old girl from Calgary and she started a company
from Calgary and she started a company
from Calgary and she started a company called robots are fun so she’s taken a
called robots are fun so she’s taken a
called robots are fun so she’s taken a workshops with us at girls learning code
workshops with us at girls learning code
workshops with us at girls learning code learning anything from game making to
learning anything from game making to
learning anything from game making to web making to wearable technology and so
web making to wearable technology and so
web making to wearable technology and so she as a normal 11 year old girl loves
she as a normal 11 year old girl loves
she as a normal 11 year old girl loves to play with her sister sports dance
to play with her sister sports dance
to play with her sister sports dance this than that but she also really
this than that but she also really
this than that but she also really really loves technology and she realized
really loves technology and she realized
really loves technology and she realized through talking with her friends that
through talking with her friends that
through talking with her friends that they didn’t understand how computers
they didn’t understand how computers
they didn’t understand how computers worked or how robots worked or how games
worked or how robots worked or how games
worked or how robots worked or how games worked and so she’s created this company
worked and so she’s created this company
worked and so she’s created this company that operates in Calgary’s a thriving
that operates in Calgary’s a thriving
that operates in Calgary’s a thriving business teaching other kids like her
business teaching other kids like her
business teaching other kids like her and teachers had introduced them to
and teachers had introduced them to
and teachers had introduced them to technology so this girl is not even in
technology so this girl is not even in
technology so this girl is not even in high school and she’s an entrepreneur
high school and she’s an entrepreneur
high school and she’s an entrepreneur meet Nancy Nancy came to ladies learning
meet Nancy Nancy came to ladies learning
meet Nancy Nancy came to ladies learning code in 2012
code in 2012
code in 2012 the degree of music really struggling to
the degree of music really struggling to
the degree of music really struggling to find consistent work that she really
find consistent work that she really
find consistent work that she really enjoyed and so she took a workshop with
enjoyed and so she took a workshop with
enjoyed and so she took a workshop with us a drupal workshop and made a social
us a drupal workshop and made a social
us a drupal workshop and made a social network for cats she’s not really
network for cats she’s not really
network for cats she’s not really practical but what it did is it sparked
practical but what it did is it sparked
practical but what it did is it sparked something in her and so she took more
something in her and so she took more
something in her and so she took more workshops with us learn to code
workshops with us learn to code
workshops with us learn to code eventually took a nine-week boot camp
eventually took a nine-week boot camp
eventually took a nine-week boot camp around technology and so now she a
around technology and so now she a
around technology and so now she a teaches people in her own City and
teaches people in her own City and
teaches people in her own City and Montreal had a code but B she works
Montreal had a code but B she works
Montreal had a code but B she works full-time as a front-end web developer
full-time as a front-end web developer
full-time as a front-end web developer building and working on many of the
building and working on many of the
building and working on many of the sites that we use every single day so
sites that we use every single day so
sites that we use every single day so coding has really propelled her it
coding has really propelled her it
coding has really propelled her it completely changed her career trajectory
completely changed her career trajectory
completely changed her career trajectory in just a short period of time
in just a short period of time
in just a short period of time meet AJ Angie’s up there in the top AJ
meet AJ Angie’s up there in the top AJ
meet AJ Angie’s up there in the top AJ is a curious kid like any other but what
is a curious kid like any other but what
is a curious kid like any other but what AJ’s different about AJ who who takes a
AJ’s different about AJ who who takes a
AJ’s different about AJ who who takes a lot of our programs here in Toronto is
lot of our programs here in Toronto is
lot of our programs here in Toronto is that he looks out and he sees problems
that he looks out and he sees problems
that he looks out and he sees problems as opportunities for things to solve and
as opportunities for things to solve and
as opportunities for things to solve and so AJ’s worked with us learn to code or
so AJ’s worked with us learn to code or
so AJ’s worked with us learn to code or 3d modeling wearable technology and he’s
3d modeling wearable technology and he’s
3d modeling wearable technology and he’s actually already started to develop and
actually already started to develop and
actually already started to develop and commercialize products in his life his
commercialize products in his life his
commercialize products in his life his first product on his site is the stachy
first product on his site is the stachy
first product on his site is the stachy it’s this multi-purpose tool that can
it’s this multi-purpose tool that can
it’s this multi-purpose tool that can allow you to you know put your laptop on
allow you to you know put your laptop on
allow you to you know put your laptop on it you can like practice your balance on
it you can like practice your balance on
it you can like practice your balance on it you know the ideas even as important
it you know the ideas even as important
it you know the ideas even as important is the fact that he now has the skills
is the fact that he now has the skills
is the fact that he now has the skills and the opportunity and the means to
and the opportunity and the means to
and the opportunity and the means to create products solutions to problems
create products solutions to problems
create products solutions to problems and his future career I think is pretty
and his future career I think is pretty
and his future career I think is pretty cool lastly meet Sophia she’s a 12 year
cool lastly meet Sophia she’s a 12 year
cool lastly meet Sophia she’s a 12 year old girl from Tennessee and so last
old girl from Tennessee and so last
old girl from Tennessee and so last summer Sophia’s aunt was hospitalized
summer Sophia’s aunt was hospitalized
summer Sophia’s aunt was hospitalized after having an adverse reaction to a
after having an adverse reaction to a
after having an adverse reaction to a drug and since the feel like any other
drug and since the feel like any other
drug and since the feel like any other 12 year old girl wanted I wanted to help
12 year old girl wanted I wanted to help
12 year old girl wanted I wanted to help she didn’t want that to happen to anyone
she didn’t want that to happen to anyone
she didn’t want that to happen to anyone else she didn’t want anyone else to
else she didn’t want anyone else to
else she didn’t want anyone else to suffer and so I mean what I would have
suffer and so I mean what I would have
suffer and so I mean what I would have done is host a fundraiser or you know
done is host a fundraiser or you know
done is host a fundraiser or you know maybe wrote a little letter to my local
maybe wrote a little letter to my local
maybe wrote a little letter to my local Member of Parliament but luckily Sophia
Member of Parliament but luckily Sophia
Member of Parliament but luckily Sophia was learning how to code and she was
was learning how to code and she was
was learning how to code and she was actually pretty good at it
actually pretty good at it
actually pretty good at it and so what she did instead was to
and so what she did instead was to
and so what she did instead was to create an algorithm which is basically
create an algorithm which is basically
create an algorithm which is basically like a fancy word for a recipe for
like a fancy word for a recipe for
like a fancy word for a recipe for computers she created an algorithm that
computers she created an algorithm that
computers she created an algorithm that would help doctors diagnose before
would help doctors diagnose before
would help doctors diagnose before prescribing medication whether or not a
prescribing medication whether or not a
prescribing medication whether or not a person would have an adverse reaction to
person would have an adverse reaction to
person would have an adverse reaction to it and so my story I’m not making any
it and so my story I’m not making any
it and so my story I’m not making any medical breakthroughs and I probably
medical breakthroughs and I probably
medical breakthroughs and I probably won’t my story is not unlike these and
won’t my story is not unlike these and
won’t my story is not unlike these and the countless others we see through our
the countless others we see through our
the countless others we see through our programs people who are using technology
programs people who are using technology
programs people who are using technology to create opportunities for themselves
to create opportunities for themselves
to create opportunities for themselves so in 1999 there’s a little bit later
so in 1999 there’s a little bit later
so in 1999 there’s a little bit later than that but in 1999 when my family got
than that but in 1999 when my family got
than that but in 1999 when my family got its first computer I was hooked I loved
its first computer I was hooked I loved
its first computer I was hooked I loved building things I loved solving problems
building things I loved solving problems
building things I loved solving problems so I spent two entire summers my
so I spent two entire summers my
so I spent two entire summers my sister’s here to vouch for it two entire
sister’s here to vouch for it two entire
sister’s here to vouch for it two entire summers doing nothing but building with
summers doing nothing but building with
summers doing nothing but building with with the computer building websites and
with the computer building websites and
with the computer building websites and games and if you would have asked me at
games and if you would have asked me at
games and if you would have asked me at the time what I was doing
the time what I was doing
the time what I was doing I would have said you know making a
I would have said you know making a
I would have said you know making a Harry Potter sorting hat website or blog
Harry Potter sorting hat website or blog
Harry Potter sorting hat website or blog for my friends at school but at that
for my friends at school but at that
for my friends at school but at that time something really transformational
time something really transformational
time something really transformational is happening and I didn’t even realize
is happening and I didn’t even realize
is happening and I didn’t even realize it and so technology really stuck with
it and so technology really stuck with
it and so technology really stuck with me I didn’t pursue it as a career I went
me I didn’t pursue it as a career I went
me I didn’t pursue it as a career I went to business school at Ivy I went into
to business school at Ivy I went into
to business school at Ivy I went into accounting but it always stayed with me
accounting but it always stayed with me
accounting but it always stayed with me through my extracurriculars I was
through my extracurriculars I was
through my extracurriculars I was building websites working on programs
building websites working on programs
building websites working on programs and it stayed with me when I actually
and it stayed with me when I actually
and it stayed with me when I actually ended up quitting my job in accounting
ended up quitting my job in accounting
ended up quitting my job in accounting to pursue something else I wanted to do
to pursue something else I wanted to do
to pursue something else I wanted to do something that created impact and and
something that created impact and and
something that created impact and and something that I could own in and build
something that I could own in and build
something that I could own in and build and so in June 2011 myself and three
and so in June 2011 myself and three
and so in June 2011 myself and three other women started ladies learning code
other women started ladies learning code
other women started ladies learning code we didn’t know what we were getting
we didn’t know what we were getting
we didn’t know what we were getting getting started with at the moment we we
getting started with at the moment we we
getting started with at the moment we we just knew we wanted to learn to code
just knew we wanted to learn to code
just knew we wanted to learn to code ourselves we wanted to be able to build
ourselves we wanted to be able to build
ourselves we wanted to be able to build and not just consume technology so we
and not just consume technology so we
and not just consume technology so we ran a workshop in August 2011 in Toronto
ran a workshop in August 2011 in Toronto
ran a workshop in August 2011 in Toronto it was a JavaScript workshop we were
it was a JavaScript workshop we were
it was a JavaScript workshop we were learning how to build a shopping cart
learning how to build a shopping cart
learning how to build a shopping cart online that workshop sold out in seven
online that workshop sold out in seven
online that workshop sold out in seven minutes a month later we wrote we hosted
minutes a month later we wrote we hosted
minutes a month later we wrote we hosted another workshop and it sold out in 30
another workshop and it sold out in 30
another workshop and it sold out in 30 seconds so what that meant two things a
seconds so what that meant two things a
seconds so what that meant two things a harder to get a workshop at ladies
harder to get a workshop at ladies
harder to get a workshop at ladies earning code than tickets to a Beyonce
earning code than tickets to a Beyonce
earning code than tickets to a Beyonce concert and there was this really
concert and there was this really
concert and there was this really intense desire and demand for other
intense desire and demand for other
intense desire and demand for other people women and men to learn to code in
people women and men to learn to code in
people women and men to learn to code in to build the future so all that said
to build the future so all that said
to build the future so all that said what is that what does that mean for you
what is that what does that mean for you
what is that what does that mean for you what do you need to do to take advantage
what do you need to do to take advantage
what do you need to do to take advantage of these opportunities how can you
of these opportunities how can you
of these opportunities how can you create the future for yourselves answer
create the future for yourselves answer
create the future for yourselves answer for me simple it’s learning how to code
for me simple it’s learning how to code
for me simple it’s learning how to code and so code what is code it’s just kind
and so code what is code it’s just kind
and so code what is code it’s just kind of daunting a daunting word and really
of daunting a daunting word and really
of daunting a daunting word and really what it is it boils down to is it’s
what it is it boils down to is it’s
what it is it boils down to is it’s actually part of something bigger which
actually part of something bigger which
actually part of something bigger which is computational thinking which also
is computational thinking which also
is computational thinking which also might be a terrifying work but what
might be a terrifying work but what
might be a terrifying work but what computational thinking is it’s actually
computational thinking is it’s actually
computational thinking is it’s actually really simple it’s how we use and solve
really simple it’s how we use and solve
really simple it’s how we use and solve problems through technology so how we
problems through technology so how we
problems through technology so how we use technology to solve problems and how
use technology to solve problems and how
use technology to solve problems and how we solve problems with technology and so
we solve problems with technology and so
we solve problems with technology and so coding is a part of that coding is the
coding is a part of that coding is the
coding is a part of that coding is the language that we use to communicate with
language that we use to communicate with
language that we use to communicate with computers and so if you know you may
computers and so if you know you may
computers and so if you know you may know you may not be familiar with
know you may not be familiar with
know you may not be familiar with computers but they’re actually not smart
computers but they’re actually not smart
computers but they’re actually not smart at all they seem like these big really
at all they seem like these big really
at all they seem like these big really powerful things
powerful things
powerful things but that’s actually taking the work of a
but that’s actually taking the work of a
but that’s actually taking the work of a lot of really good marketers and some
lot of really good marketers and some
lot of really good marketers and some exceptional programmers to make it look
exceptional programmers to make it look
exceptional programmers to make it look so easy
so easy
so easy computers can actually only understand
computers can actually only understand
computers can actually only understand two things on or off and so what it
two things on or off and so what it
two things on or off and so what it means is that it’s people like us who
means is that it’s people like us who
means is that it’s people like us who are the ones who actually builds the
are the ones who actually builds the
are the ones who actually builds the technology and who empower and impose on
technology and who empower and impose on
technology and who empower and impose on our on technology what makes them so
our on technology what makes them so
our on technology what makes them so great and so technology and coding you
great and so technology and coding you
great and so technology and coding you know it’s really it’s a skill it’s a
know it’s really it’s a skill it’s a
know it’s really it’s a skill it’s a it’s a skill set and it’s something that
it’s a skill set and it’s something that
it’s a skill set and it’s something that we as humans can can shape and to use
we as humans can can shape and to use
we as humans can can shape and to use for good and so again coding language is
for good and so again coding language is
for good and so again coding language is skill it might seem daunting but the
skill it might seem daunting but the
skill it might seem daunting but the good news is that many of you are
good news is that many of you are
good news is that many of you are already kind of coding already or at
already kind of coding already or at
already kind of coding already or at least thinking about computational
least thinking about computational
least thinking about computational thinking and so have you ever written a
thinking and so have you ever written a
thinking and so have you ever written a formula in Excel maybe just some some
formula in Excel maybe just some some
formula in Excel maybe just some some information or yes lots of you or have
information or yes lots of you or have
information or yes lots of you or have you done a find and replaced in a Word
you done a find and replaced in a Word
you done a find and replaced in a Word document for a book report going to the
document for a book report going to the
document for a book report going to the mall or a new place and you’re trying to
mall or a new place and you’re trying to
mall or a new place and you’re trying to optimize what the quickest route to get
optimize what the quickest route to get
optimize what the quickest route to get somewhere is maybe you’re flipping
somewhere is maybe you’re flipping
somewhere is maybe you’re flipping through a book looking for something and
through a book looking for something and
through a book looking for something and trying to figure out the quickest way to
trying to figure out the quickest way to
trying to figure out the quickest way to find that page in a book or you know
find that page in a book or you know
find that page in a book or you know maybe you have weekend plans and you’ve
maybe you have weekend plans and you’ve
maybe you have weekend plans and you’ve got a bunch of conflicting things and
got a bunch of conflicting things and
got a bunch of conflicting things and you’re trying to figure out like how can
you’re trying to figure out like how can
you’re trying to figure out like how can you optimize your scheduling and make it
you optimize your scheduling and make it
you optimize your scheduling and make it all work and so that’s the underpinning
all work and so that’s the underpinning
all work and so that’s the underpinning of coding you know what happens next is
of coding you know what happens next is
of coding you know what happens next is translating that into a language that
translating that into a language that
translating that into a language that computers can understand and that’s
computers can understand and that’s
computers can understand and that’s where groups like ladies learning code
where groups like ladies learning code
where groups like ladies learning code and many others in Canada and a and
and many others in Canada and a and
and many others in Canada and a and worldwide can help you learn that code
worldwide can help you learn that code
worldwide can help you learn that code but I think another important thing to
but I think another important thing to
but I think another important thing to really emphasize is it’s why I learn to
really emphasize is it’s why I learn to
really emphasize is it’s why I learn to code like you know it’s important it can
code like you know it’s important it can
code like you know it’s important it can do all this great stuff but why should
do all this great stuff but why should
do all this great stuff but why should all of you do that and how that’s gonna
all of you do that and how that’s gonna
all of you do that and how that’s gonna help you propel yourselves into the
help you propel yourselves into the
help you propel yourselves into the future I think when it comes down to for
future I think when it comes down to for
future I think when it comes down to for me coding here skip that slide is it’s
me coding here skip that slide is it’s
me coding here skip that slide is it’s coding is really a tool and so you think
coding is really a tool and so you think
coding is really a tool and so you think – fire fire the tool fire is fire and
– fire fire the tool fire is fire and
– fire fire the tool fire is fire and fire is really nothing more than just
fire is really nothing more than just
fire is really nothing more than just fire until us humans do something about
fire until us humans do something about
fire until us humans do something about it and so if you think back to millions
it and so if you think back to millions
it and so if you think back to millions of years ago when humans were first able
of years ago when humans were first able
of years ago when humans were first able to harness and to manipulate to control
to harness and to manipulate to control
to harness and to manipulate to control and to move fire that was an exciting
and to move fire that was an exciting
and to move fire that was an exciting time that was a huge turning point for
time that was a huge turning point for
time that was a huge turning point for us as a society if you think about that
us as a society if you think about that
us as a society if you think about that being able to harness fire what that
being able to harness fire what that
being able to harness fire what that means is that you could live in parts of
means is that you could live in parts of
means is that you could live in parts of the world that you couldn’t live before
the world that you couldn’t live before
the world that you couldn’t live before it means you could stay up and work
it means you could stay up and work
it means you could stay up and work beyond the Sun setting that means we
beyond the Sun setting that means we
beyond the Sun setting that means we went from 6-8 hours a day to 16 hours of
went from 6-8 hours a day to 16 hours of
went from 6-8 hours a day to 16 hours of day where we could produce and be
day where we could produce and be
day where we could produce and be productive what that means is something
productive what that means is something
productive what that means is something so simple as our food that we would have
so simple as our food that we would have
so simple as our food that we would have to eat raw can now be cooked which means
to eat raw can now be cooked which means
to eat raw can now be cooked which means things like starches when cooked can can
things like starches when cooked can can
things like starches when cooked can can digest better and we can actually
digest better and we can actually
digest better and we can actually harness so much energy as humans to
harness so much energy as humans to
harness so much energy as humans to actually output and produce more so the
actually output and produce more so the
actually output and produce more so the opportunity to harness fire was
opportunity to harness fire was
opportunity to harness fire was world-changing and I think we were there
world-changing and I think we were there
world-changing and I think we were there right now with code code on its own it’s
right now with code code on its own it’s
right now with code code on its own it’s just a tool it’s nothing more than a
just a tool it’s nothing more than a
just a tool it’s nothing more than a tool but it’s one us when humans start
tool but it’s one us when humans start
tool but it’s one us when humans start to work with to code with technology
to work with to code with technology
to work with to code with technology with tool and we harness it that’s when
with tool and we harness it that’s when
with tool and we harness it that’s when it becomes a force for change and that’s
it becomes a force for change and that’s
it becomes a force for change and that’s why I think each and every one of you
why I think each and every one of you
why I think each and every one of you need to learn to code well every single
need to learn to code well every single
need to learn to code well every single person maybe you don’t become a
person maybe you don’t become a
person maybe you don’t become a developer maybe that’s not your future
developer maybe that’s not your future
developer maybe that’s not your future career necessarily but you understand
career necessarily but you understand
career necessarily but you understand how technology works so you can leverage
how technology works so you can leverage
how technology works so you can leverage it you can use it to be the next Nancy
it you can use it to be the next Nancy
it you can use it to be the next Nancy or Lauren or AJ you can create the
or Lauren or AJ you can create the
or Lauren or AJ you can create the future opportunities is that so critical
future opportunities is that so critical
future opportunities is that so critical and it’s critical that each and every
and it’s critical that each and every
and it’s critical that each and every one of you participate because
one of you participate because
one of you participate because technology isn’t going anywhere every
technology isn’t going anywhere every
technology isn’t going anywhere every single one of us we can’t go anywhere
single one of us we can’t go anywhere
single one of us we can’t go anywhere with it I see technology everywhere
with it I see technology everywhere
with it I see technology everywhere around us and so if the technology that
around us and so if the technology that
around us and so if the technology that we use every single day isn’t built by
we use every single day isn’t built by
we use every single day isn’t built by every single one of us if our unique
every single one of us if our unique
every single one of us if our unique creativity empathy emotional
creativity empathy emotional
creativity empathy emotional intelligence if all of that isn’t
intelligence if all of that isn’t
intelligence if all of that isn’t harnessed with technology and we aren’t
harnessed with technology and we aren’t
harnessed with technology and we aren’t equally contributing that’s not how
equally contributing that’s not how
equally contributing that’s not how we’re gonna solve the world’s problems
we’re gonna solve the world’s problems
we’re gonna solve the world’s problems and so I think code again it seems
and so I think code again it seems
and so I think code again it seems daunting and it’s how do you get started
daunting and it’s how do you get started
daunting and it’s how do you get started in it this big thing but it’s really not
in it this big thing but it’s really not
in it this big thing but it’s really not it’s accessible it’s easy to get started
it’s accessible it’s easy to get started
it’s accessible it’s easy to get started and the important part is not again
and the important part is not again
and the important part is not again necessarily becoming a developer
necessarily becoming a developer
necessarily becoming a developer starting to understand how this tool can
starting to understand how this tool can
starting to understand how this tool can be harnessed how you can use this tool
be harnessed how you can use this tool
be harnessed how you can use this tool for social change and so I think about
for social change and so I think about
for social change and so I think about the questions I asked at the beginning
the questions I asked at the beginning
the questions I asked at the beginning thinking about what kind of career you
thinking about what kind of career you
thinking about what kind of career you might have what kind of job you might do
might have what kind of job you might do
might have what kind of job you might do what you might do
what you might do
what you might do at that job and I really urge you to
at that job and I really urge you to
at that job and I really urge you to flip that and I urge you to think about
flip that and I urge you to think about
flip that and I urge you to think about what problems do you want to solve how
what problems do you want to solve how
what problems do you want to solve how do you want to harness code for change
do you want to harness code for change
do you want to harness code for change what tools do you want to use and
what tools do you want to use and
what tools do you want to use and ultimately how do you want to change the
ultimately how do you want to change the
ultimately how do you want to change the world thank you
world thank you
world thank you [Applause]
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