Lightning talk: On a mission for equality and diversity in tech

by Marion Schleifer

In her lightning talk at Helvetic Ruby 2024, Marion Schleifer shares her journey and the mission of her nonprofit organization, Code Blossom, which focuses on increasing equality and diversity in the tech industry. With a background in Ruby and experience in developer education at Hura, she emphasizes the importance of having diverse perspectives in technology to build inclusive products.

Key points discussed in the talk include:
- Importance of Diversity: Marion stresses that a diverse workforce leads to better product development and innovation, as it incorporates various perspectives that reflect the needs of all users.
- Identifying the Gap: Despite having highly educated individuals in developing countries, especially women, there exists a significant lack of opportunities due to cultural and societal barriers. For instance, she cites the example of women in Pakistan who, despite being well-educated, often find themselves confined to household roles.
- Role of Code Blossom: The organization aims to empower these women by providing web development skills and creating pathways for remote work, thereby promoting independence and equality. This mission is rooted in the belief that enabling women leads to a more diverse tech landscape.
- Curriculum & Support: Code Blossom offers a curriculum aligned with market needs, accompanied by mentorship and practical projects to foster learning and ensure employability. Participants gain hands-on experience while receiving financial incentives, and the supportive community plays a crucial role in maintaining motivation.
- Community Impact: Marion highlights the success stories from the program, including team members who have taken on leadership roles, thus creating a ripple effect of empowerment for women in tech.
- Personal Motivation: Marion expresses her gratitude to those who supported her in her tech career and emphasizes her desire to uplift others, encouraging feedback and connections from the audience.

In conclusion, the talk underscores the need for targeted initiatives to bridge the inequality gap in the tech industry. By sharing her experiences and the objectives of Code Blossom, Marion inspires action towards fostering greater diversity and empowering women through technology.

00:00:04.680 Hi everyone, can you hear me okay? Yes, today I'm here to talk to you about Code Blossom. First of all, I want to say I feel very humbled to be here because nine years ago, I made the switch to a tech career, starting with Ruby, of course. Many people helped and encouraged me along the way, and many of these individuals are in this room today. So, I want to thank all of you for enabling me to have the career I have now and for being part of this amazing community that helps people get started so easily.

00:00:14.400 At the moment, I'm working at Hura as the head of developer education. I also have a side job with my nonprofit organization called Code Blossom. First, let’s quickly recap why diversity is important, especially in tech. We want to build products that are inclusive for everyone, which requires having people with different perspectives and backgrounds involved in the process. This diversity allows us to create better products.

00:00:37.680 I've traveled to many developing countries that we are working with at Code Blossom, and I have seen a lot of intelligent individuals from minority backgrounds. Many of them have education, not just basic, but in fact higher education, such as bachelor's and master's degrees. They have the necessary infrastructure like laptops and stable internet connections, and they also have family support to help them start their careers. It raises the question: why is there a lack of diversity in tech? There are many talented individuals who could join the workforce but somehow can’t.

00:01:31.680 My theory is that the gap stems from a lack of opportunities. For example, in Pakistan, women often get married and move into their husband's homes, where they are expected to manage the household. However, many of them have ample time—more than a typical workday—yet they feel stuck at home despite being highly educated. If we can enable these women to receive education remotely and secure remote jobs, not only would we create opportunities for them, but we would also diversify the tech industry.

00:02:24.960 Code Blossom aims to bridge this gap. We are a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for women in developing countries and teaches them web development skills. Our purpose is to empower these women to establish their own careers, fostering equality and independence. We want to create opportunities that are currently missing and simultaneously work towards making the tech industry more diverse. Our philosophy is that when everyone wins from this initiative, it succeeds.

00:03:10.480 There are many educational programs out there, but we have unique aspects that set us apart. We offer a curriculum based on market demand and continuously evaluate it with companies to identify the technologies that our participants need to learn. Naturally, the goal is for them to get hired once they complete the program. Our curriculum is open-source, so anyone can learn on their own; however, we have found this to be challenging, as the abundance of resources online does not guarantee success without additional support.

00:03:47.440 To address this, we provide mentors for every participant. We also include paid projects after each major module, allowing participants to practice what they have learned while receiving financial motivation. The most significant factor in our program is our supportive community. We offer a Slack community, social skill sessions, and all-hands calls where everyone comes together. These meetings can be emotional, as people share their stories, and they help maintain motivation throughout the program.

00:04:03.439 I love enabling women to start their careers, and beyond that, I'm thrilled to mention that we have team members like Steph from El Salvador, who leads our Latin America branch, and S from Pakistan, who leads our Asia branch. They are stepping into their first leadership roles and are working to empower women not only to enter the job market but also to ascend into leadership positions.

00:04:49.720 Now, my motivation for doing this stems from the many people who have lifted me up, many of whom are in this room. I feel it's now my turn to lift others up. If you're curious to give us feedback about the curriculum or just want to connect, I would be happy to talk to you. Please catch me in the hall or reach out anytime. Thank you so much!