I entered the tech industry from a nontraditional path. I felt as if I was alone during my journey. I constantly felt overwhelmed by the idea of entering the industry as a black, female, self-taught, developer. Growing up, I was told I had to be twice as good to get half of what they got. This nontraditional path broke that idea, and I struggled with finding a way to overcome my own self-doubt.

To me, getting community right was simple: create a space where the most marginalized people feel safe, and this space will be safe for everyone. As an individual, this is what I tried to do whenever anyone needed help on their tech journey. At work, during events, and in online communities, I became the person that would drop anything to help someone that was stuck in their tech journey. Little by little, I saw what type of organization people needed. I saw the gaps in the market, and I knew I had the empathy and skill set to build it.