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Shaving my head made me a better programmer by Alex Qin How do perceptions and stereotypes affect those in software and on engineering teams? This talk tells the true story of how I hacked my appearance, by shaving my head, to change the way I was perceived as a programmer. This talk also serves as a primer on unconscious bias and stereotype threat, and their effects on individuals and teams. I will provide actionable advice on how to make engineering teams more inclusive, more diverse, and thusly more productive, successful, and attractive to potential hires.
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**Main Topic** This talk by Alex Qin explores how perceptions and stereotypes affect individuals in the software and engineering fields, using her personal journey as a case study. **Key Points** - **Background**: Alex Qin is a software engineer originally from Paris, who moved to the U.S. for college, where she fell in love with coding. - **Challenges in Identity**: Despite excelling academically, Qin faced stereotypes and biases as one of the few women in her computer science classes, leading to feelings of isolation and a need to prove herself. - **Professional Experience**: After graduating, she encountered similar condescending attitudes in the tech community, prompting her to seek advice and build a network of supportive peers. - **Appearance Change**: Following a suggestion to alter her image for greater respect, she shaved her head, resulting in a significant shift in how she was perceived—transitioning from being marginalized based on her femininity to being recognized for her programming abilities. - **Cultural Reflection**: The experience led Qin to reflect on the broader issues of cultural bias in tech, realizing the need for systemic change rather than personal adaptation alone. - **Passion for Inclusivity**: Motivated by her experiences, she dedicated herself to teaching and mentoring, focusing on underrepresented groups in tech, particularly women and minorities. - **Initiatives**: Qin has contributed to initiatives like Coalition for Queens and founded the Code Cooperative, emphasizing the importance of diverse backgrounds in tech education and programming. - **Current Role**: At Skillshare, she has helped create a diverse engineering team, highlighting that inclusivity is attainable and beneficial. - **Final Insight**: Qin concludes that excellence in programming is not limited to a specific type of individual; rather, talent can emerge from any background if supported adequately. **Conclusions** The talk emphasizes that personal identity and appearance can profoundly impact perception and opportunity in technical fields, advocating for a culture shift toward inclusivity and diversity to enhance success within engineering teams. This message reinforces the importance of support systems for all aspiring programmers, fostering an environment where skills and talents can thrive, regardless of background or appearance.
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