Dinah Davis is the inspiring woman behind Code Like A Girl, a movement she began at the University of Waterloo’s “Think and Math” workshop where she was speaking with young girls in an effort to inspire them to consider a career in tech. Code Like A Girl’s mission is to provide girls with tools, knowledge, and encouragement they need to flourish in the world of coding, as well as to amplify the voices of women in tech. In this conversation, you can hear Dina’s passion for what she does and you’ll feel the genuine, caring place it comes from. I know you’ll want to get to know this incredible woman.
Dinah’s first computer science course opened the doors of possibility for her
As Dinah was considering what to do after high school, her guidance counselor took her aptitude for math as a sign that she should become a teacher. Looking back, Dinah feels that comment was steeped in a mindset of traditional roles for men and women that needed to be disrupted. But as a young woman, she didn’t realize that at the time and did go to university to pursue a teaching degree. During her studies, she put off the required computer science course because she’d heard it was so difficult. But in her Junior year of college, she took the course, and the first week of the class felt like a study in how her own brain worked and she found a new direction for her life. Dinah shares her story enthusiastically during this conversation and in doing so, reveals what a role model she is for women considering a career in tech.
Code Like A Girl is an effort to amplify all the voices of women in tech
Code Like A Girl was started because Dinah was feeling frustrated with the lack of opportunity for women who were in tech to tell their stories and share the possibilities of what women can accomplish. That was January of 2016 and in just over a year the organization has over 30,000 followers. It’s a testimony of the hunger there is among women to have both the support and community required to thrive in the tech world. Dinah’s voice is one among many now who are providing that support for each other. Find out how you can be a part of the Code Like A Girl movement, on this episode of NextFem.
The only way you can change sexist norms and biases is to talk about them
The biggest barrier for women in tech is the issue of unconscious bias. It’s the assumptions we make on a societal level about the appropriate roles of men and women. Typically, nobody is trying to be sexist or biased, but they are nonetheless, simply because it’s part of how they’ve grown up thinking. Dinah’s working diligently to bring those issues to the surface so dialogue can happen and clarity can come. She’s not hostile about it – she just wants to bring the issue to light so they can be addressed by society in ways that empower both men and women.
Future generations of young girls will excel by having role models
Dinah believes that the women of the future will only believe in their abilities and take the bold steps they are destined to take if they have role models who show them what is possible. She points to the number of black children today who believe they could become President because Barack Obama served as a role model for them. Dinah’s doing everything she can to amplify the voices of women, specifically those in the tech industry because she wants girls and young women to see that they can accomplish great things through coding, writing, and working in the tech industry. This conversation is great for any young woman (or older woman) to hear. It’s a boost to our confidence and inspiration to our souls. Don’t miss it.
Episode Highlights
- 1:54 – The path Dinah followed to a computer science career
- 5:05 – Things that inspired Dinah to found Code Like A Girl
- 8:58 – Dinah’s commitment to not stand for misogynistic practices in business
- 16:04 – Why amplifying women’s voices in tech is important to Dinah
- 20:49 – How Dinah went from a woman with a solo vision to mobilizing a team
- 26:10 – Problems and progress Dinah is seeing in tech regarding women’s roles
- 31:30 – Dinah’s view of “women only” awards – and the need for role models
Resources Mentioned
- Dinah on Twitter
- Dinah’s Medium blog
- Arctic Wolf – the company where Dinah works
- Code Like a Girl – the organization Dinah created
- The University of Lethbridge
- The University of Waterloo
- The CLAG Patreon Page (make a donation)
- Uber’s diversity program
- Susan J. Fowler
- BOOK: Production Ready Microservices by Susan J. Fowler
- ARTICLE: Tech Is the Best Industry for Women
- ARTICLE: I’m Not A Woman In Tech
- MOVIE: Hidden Figures
- MOVIE: Wonder Woman
- MOVIE: Ghostbusters
- MOVIE: Star Wars
- Misspossible
- BOOK: Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls by Elani Favilli
1. Favorite book for women?
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Dinah listens to audiobooks on her way to and from work to help herself disconnect
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “Take care of yourself first, so you can take care of others.” Advice given to Dinah during her participation in an eating disorder recovery course.
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
- Dinah is inspired mostly by the all the women she works with in Code Like A Girl.
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- It’s OK to love and accept yourself as you are. You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be who you are.
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