Alaina Percival, Women Who Code, & Breaking Down Bias in Tech
About the Episode
In this episode of Queen Me!, the focus is on Alaina Percival, co-founder of Women Who Code, and her journey in breaking down bias in the tech industry. The episode covers her early career, the founding of Women Who Code, and the importance of continuous learning and challenging biases for women in tech.
Key Takeaways
Alaina’s early career in the performance wear industry taught her valuable leadership skills, which she later applied to managing Women Who Code.
After facing biases in San Francisco for not having a tech background, Alaina emphasized the importance of continuous learning and started learning to code, leading to the founding of Women Who Code.
Women Who Code supports women in the tech industry by providing a community for learning and belonging, addressing the underrepresentation of women in technical roles.
Alaina encourages women to apply for roles even if they don't meet all the requirements, highlighting the need for more technologists as all industries become technology-driven.
Addressing concerns and providing guidance to young women interested in STEM is crucial for breaking down barriers in male-dominated industries.
When faced with questions about their presence in tech, women should challenge the biases behind such questions and remember their rightful place in the industry.
Building a strong network and community is essential for women to support each other in moments of subtle bias and to normalize talking about their career successes.
Women are encouraged to “succeed shamelessly” and to support each other by echoing each other's successes, highlighting the importance of visibility and recognition.
Learning coding fundamentals is crucial, even for those not pursuing a technical path, as the tech industry reshapes the world.
Women Who Code offers resources, events, and coding scholarships to young women interested in tech, encouraging them to connect through their website and social media channels.
Dive Deeper
Website: https://womenwhocode.com/
