Tech can be so detached from people. We have users and developers and titles. And sometimes, we forget that there are human beings with complex lives behind those titles. This talk both acknowledges that and focuses on the importance of community, psychological safety, and being open to growing as part of every experience, as informed by my own experience with trauma and applying the person-centered approach.

I'll start with my own journey through trauma and how that lead me to change careers and eventually start the Virtual Coffee developer community.

We'll explore the four principles of a person-centered approach and how to apply them. Every team, workplace, and person has different needs; identifying these needs and considerations allows for a more informed and personal application of this approach.

Through an understanding of this application, we can do a better job of avoiding gatekeeping, creating strong and supportive workplaces and communities, and allowing for growth.

- Talk previously given to Venture Cafe Philadelphia and a version given to Virtual Coffee (https://virtualcoffee.io/)