IT culture celebrates resilience. "Always on." Always performing. Always available. But what happens when the person behind the keyboard is fighting something invisible?

In 2024, I was diagnosed with lymphoma, incurable, and now a permanent part of my life. That diagnosis forced a choice: hide it until I couldn't, or speak openly. I chose openness. And it changed everything about how I show up at work.
This session explores the intersection of hidden disabilities and IT culture, a space where vulnerability rarely fits into sprint cycles or incident queues, and where the pressure to appear "operational" can silence struggles that deserve to be heard.

We'll examine:
Why do IT professionals, especially men, find it so hard to speak up about health challenges
The bias that equates illness with unreliability in technical roles
The emotional cost of masking a disability while solving everyone else's problems
What leaders, teams, and individuals can do to create genuinely inclusive workplaces

You'll leave with personal insights, practical guidance, and a new perspective on what strength really looks like in tech.

Because strength and vulnerability aren't opposites. They're allies.