From Accidental to Intentional: Taking Your NPtech Career to the Next Level

transcript

From Accidental to Intentional: Taking Your Nonprofit Tech Career to the Next Level

Thursday, 3/23/17 | #17NTC#17NTCintentCollab. Notes: po.st/17NTCintentEvaluation: bit.ly/2n6Qcay

Johanna Bates, DevCollaborativeRev. Tracy Kronzak, Salesforce.orgJessie Lee, Palante Technology CooperativeCindy Leonard, Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management

Welcome!

Survey Says...

My biggest concern is being viewed as less competent than someone who has a formal degree in CS or design.

What really stung was when a previous organization's leadership brought in consultants, who presumably charge more than I was paid, who told them the same things I could have… . Compensation is important, but not as much as respect for what people bring to the table whether they have a degree in it or not.

My biggest concerns are: imposter syndrome, and dealing with it. Not being able to afford an additional CS or graduate degree on a nonprofit salary… when the nonprofits that do value tech seem to value those who come from a strong tech background.

Formal, expertFormal, confident

Formal, sophomorehttps://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-P6QHQNTG/

Symptoms of Imposter Syndrome* * May be intermittent

● Feeling like a fraud;● Not applying for jobs, promotions, and other employment opportunities;● Disclaiming or understating your experience/skill when speaking or writing;● Worrying that someone will find out your lack of qualifications and fire you;● Having higher stress;● Over-preparing for tasks;● Nervousness about talking to others in your field, especially if those others are

perceived as highly skilled/experienced;● Not submitting papers to conferences or journals;● Attributing successes to chance or luck.

http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Impostor_syndrome

If I get a more formal degree / master this new thing, I won’t feel

like an imposter anymore!

“We call it ‘impostor syndrome’, but we’re not sick. The real sickness is an industry that calls itself a meritocracy but over and over and over fails to actually reward merit.”

- Leigh Honeywell

https://hypatia.ca/2016/04/13/equalpayday-impostor-syndrome-and-flipping-tables/

How to Cope with Imposter Syndrome

“Keep reminding yourself that technology, for as much as it is a science… [it] is an art as well. There are a lot of ways that you can solve any given problem. If your solution is not the solution that everyone around you would have come up with, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s wrong.”

- Denise Paolucci

https://adainitiative.org/2013/06/26/kicking-impostor-syndrome-in-the-head-lessons-from-adacamp-dc-and-sf/

Your Unique Career Path Has Value

Go From Accidental to Intentional!

Where Do You WANT To Work?

Tech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just codingTech is not just coding

YOU HAVE SKILLS!!!!!

● Searching!

● Explaining!

● MAYBE Coding!

● IT!

● Workflow!

Find Place to Round out Skills!

● What still gives you trouble?

● Work those things more!

● Take advantage of all the resources you’ll see later!

STILL DOESN’T HAVE TO BE CODING!

Building Your Network

Ongoing Learning and Skill Building

The Care and Feeding of Your Technology Career

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do I have/want a career in technology?

• What brings me joy?

• What is my higher purpose?

• What is the relationship of joy and higher purpose to my career?

• Into what am I “Leaning In?”

It’s all about you...

There is No Such Thing as an “Accidental” Admin

● Aptitude = Career

● Aptitude ≠ Destiny

Own your aptitude

Things I Wish I’d Learned Sooner...● Say “no.”

● Listened to my mentors.

● Prioritized my career.

● Understood that good work is NOT it’s

own reward.

● Investigated my ego vs. self-esteem.

● Advocated better for my needs.

● Took better care of myself and my coping

mechanisms.

● Found a greater purpose.

● Learned from, instead of internalized,

failure.

● Stopped being the diversity.

Obstacles

● Intersectional

● Organizational

● Incidental

● Intentional

The part that’s not about you...

Obstacles

● Self Care/Therapy

● Find an Ally

● Money ≠ Joy

● Leave

What to do about them?

Technology and Mission

● Mission leads technology

● Ego-driven implementations

● Starvation Cycle

● Failure

● Magic

If it feels hard, it’s because it is hard...

Group Discussions:

Your Most Pressing Career Challenge Right Now

Final Thoughts or Questions

Thank you! Evaluation: bit.ly/2n6Qcay

From Accidental to Intentional: Taking Your NPtech Career to the Next Level

Government & Nonprofit