Last March 28, 2016 I spoke at the Rails Girls Melbourne event. I have done short presentations at our company’s showcase but this is my first ever to speak in public outside the office. I’m an introvert and speaking in front of 80+ people is scary as hell. Even though a small part of me was scared, I also want to do it. Not because I was the best choice since I’m the only woman dev in our team but it’s because I felt it’s time for me to speak up. I felt that I am in the best position to encourage girls to pursue a career in tech.
My presentation was all about what it’s like as a developer and what it looks like day-to-day at our company. I also put a little encouragement at the end to inspire women, to not get discouraged. Having been in the tech industry for 12 years now, I have joined 8 companies and only 2 out of those 8 where I found myself not the only woman in the dev team. Sadly, I didn’t came out unscathed and had my fair share of sexism and racism in tech. As a result of that, my self-confidence is shot. I have a bad case of imposter syndrome that it sometimes felt like a living thing that I constantly have to beat down. But despite all this, I didn’t give up. I love my work. I love solving problems and creating stuff. I want to send out the message to other girls that if I can do it then they can too.
After the event, I can’t remember the last time I’ve talked that much to other people I have just met. I have met students who have some coding experience and just needs a little nudge of encouragement in the right direction. I have met girls who doesn’t have any coding experience at all. It was challenging explaining stuff that I use everyday like the terminal to someone totally alien to it.
I came home that day exhausted and drained but at the same time I was on a high. It became clear to me after that this is what I want to do. To teach girls to code and inspire women to take on the journey. Even if that means putting myself out there and exposing myself (like what I am doing writing this blog post). Even if that means speaking in front of people and telling them my story. Even if afterwards it’ll leave me shaking and hyperventilating and wanting to hide in a corner.
