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Giving Thanks for Diversity in Tech: Michelle Sandford

Published Dec 5, 2019

Updated Feb 14, 2023

2 min read

Giving Thanks for Diversity in Tech - 15 Part Series

This article was written over 18 months ago and may contain information that is out of date. Some content may be relevant but please refer to the relevant official documentation or available resources for the latest information.

Michelle Sandford is a passionate tech community organizer and prolific speaker based out of Perth, Western Australia. As an employee of Microsoft, she hosts a number of events through the company and is a key supporter of Fenders, JuniorDev, Pyladies, and Australian Computer Society.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, including Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) ’20 in 20’ Award Winner 2018, The 2018 MCV 50 Most Influential Women in Games, The 2017 MCV Pacific Women In Games List, The Game Changers Diversity and Inclusion Community Award - Microsoft 2016, and was included in the 2016 MCV Pacific 100 Most Influential Women In Games list. She has also recently delivered talks on community building in tech at GDG Melbourne, where she delivered a keynote, and at DDDPerth.

Though proud of her own accomplishments, she is equally interested in helping other women and young people enjoy the sort of career that she has. She is a mentor for SheCodes, an organization that enables women to learn Python and Djanjo through receiving mentorship from, and later providing mentorship to, peers in the program.

Michelle also just ran a diversity dinner where she asked organizations to buy a table, and give half of the seats back for women who cannot afford a seat at the table. “In this way we had a wonderful event, paid for by industry and seated with them will be students, junior devs, and role models who might want to work with those companies in the future. A very real way for organizations to put their money where their mouths are as far as diversity is concerned and for women to see who they really should work for,” she said.

She added to this sentiment, sharing, “Inclusion is about seeing people who are less privileged and using my privilege to raise them up or enable them. There is always someone who is less powerful than us, which means there is always someone each of us can do something for. Turning slightly so that you can see them and then inviting them in is what each of us can do.”

If you don’t catch Michelle at one of the many tech events she supports, you might find her at the beach with her surf board, or taking her pups for a walk!

If you would like to keep up with Michelle, you can follower her on Twitter at @msandfor.

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Giving Thanks for Diversity in Tech: Jen Luker

Jen Luker is a Senior Front End Engineer at Gremlin, whose areas of expertise include React, PHP, and Accessibility. Not only is Jen a talented developer, but she is also a prolific speaker, regularly giving talks on accessibility, the history of programming, as well as imposter syndrome- a term which represents the tendency for some to believe that they are inadequate, despite successes that they experience within their jobs. When asked what advice she would give to other women who want to pursue careers in tech, she shared, “Don't let anyone dictate to you what you are allowed to love, or how you are allowed to love it. How a technology works, and how that tech can be used to solve problems, are two sides of the same coin. Find what drives you to learn this tech, and own it.” But, of course, Jen hopes that a greater push towards inclusion in tech will help people from underrepresented groups feel more welcomed and empowered to succeed within the industry. She shared, “My favorite inclusion quote: ‘Diversity is when you count the people. Inclusion is when the people count.’ It isn't enough to just include a diverse group of people. The people should feel like they belong.” Jen has a ton to look forward to in the next year! On April 17, 2020, she will be making her first international conference appearance at React Summit in Amsterdam. But if you want to catch her before then, you might find her at the yarn store, picking up knitting supplies, or at the library, taking out a new book to read! If you would like to know more about Jen, or keep up with everything she is doing in the next year, you can follow her on Twitter, @knitcodemonkey....

Dec 17, 2019

2 mins

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Giving Thanks for Diversity in Tech: Maria Lamardo

Maria Lamardo is a Front End Engineer at Pendo, who works with Vue.js and has a particular passion for web accessibility. She is a very active community organizer in the RTP area of North Carolina and beyond, serving as the founder of Devs@RTP, the NC Chapter leader for Vue Vixens, and the Co-Founder of A11y Devs. Maria has had an amazing year on the conference circuit, having spoken at VueConf US, DevFest, Vue London, All Things Open, and Vue Toronto about various topics on Vue as well as Web Accessibility. When asked about Diversity and Inclusion, Maria shared that, “Inclusion means that everyone is treated fairly and with respect; everyone should feel welcome and have their ideas heard”, adding that she feels that having more diverse hiring panels is a great first step to creating more inclusive workspaces. Maria is able to do her part to contribute to tech diversification with her work in Vue Vixens, which runs free workshops for women in tech. “ It is very important for us to be the change we want to see in the world and putting myself out there is it for me,” says, Lamardo, “I love my community and helping people grow and succeed.” She is also very excited to be launching, “Devs@RTP Teens” an offshoot of the original organization built specifically for young people. If you would like to see Maria speak, you can catch her in 2020 at Vue Amsterdam, Vue Vixens Day, as well as VueConf US! And if you are in the RTP area, she invites you to attend a Vue Vixens workshop, the A11y Devs Meetup, an event hosted by Devs@RTP! Want to keep up with everything Maria is doing in this next year? You can follow her at @MariaLamardo!...

Dec 19, 2019

2 mins

Diversity

“Music and code have a lot in common,” freeCodeCamp’s Jessica Wilkins on what the tech community is doing right to onboard new software engineers

Before she was a software developer at freeCodeCamp, Jessica Wilkins was a classically trained clarinetist performing across the country. Her days were filled with rehearsals, concerts, and teaching, and she hadn’t considered a tech career until the world changed in 2020. > “When the pandemic hit, most of my gigs were canceled,” she says. “I suddenly had time on my hands and an idea for a site I wanted to build.” That site, a tribute to Black musicians in classical and jazz music, turned into much more than a personal project. It opened the door to a whole new career where her creative instincts and curiosity could thrive just as much as they had in music. Now at freeCodeCamp, Jessica maintains and develops the very JavaScript curriculum that has helped her and millions of developers around the world. We spoke with Jessica about her advice for JavaScript learners, why musicians make great developers, and how inclusive communities are helping more women thrive in tech. Jessica’s Top 3 JavaScript Skill Picks for 2025 If you ask Jessica what it takes to succeed as a JavaScript developer in 2025, she won’t point you straight to the newest library or trend. Instead, she lists three skills that sound simple, but take real time to build: > “Learning how to ask questions and research when you get stuck. Learning how to read error messages. And having a strong foundation in the fundamentals” She says those skills don’t come from shortcuts or shiny tools. They come from building. > “Start with small projects and keep building,” she says. “Books like You Don’t Know JS help you understand the theory, but experience comes from writing and shipping code. You learn a lot by doing.” And don’t forget the people around you. > “Meetups and conferences are amazing,” she adds. “You’ll pick up things faster, get feedback, and make friends who are learning alongside you.” Why So Many Musicians End Up in Tech A musical past like Jessica’s isn’t unheard of in the JavaScript industry. In fact, she’s noticed a surprising number of musicians making the leap into software. > “I think it’s because music and code have a lot in common,” she says. “They both require creativity, pattern recognition, problem-solving… and you can really get into flow when you’re deep in either one.” That crossover between artistry and logic feels like home to people who’ve lived in both worlds. What the Tech Community Is Getting Right Jessica has seen both the challenges and the wins when it comes to supporting women in tech. > “There’s still a lot of toxicity in some corners,” she says. “But the communities that are doing it right—like Women Who Code, Women in Tech, and Virtual Coffee—create safe, supportive spaces to grow and share experiences.” She believes those spaces aren’t just helpful, but they’re essential. > “Having a network makes a huge difference, especially early in your career.” What’s Next for Jessica Wilkins? With a catalog of published articles, open-source projects under her belt, and a growing audience of devs following her journey, Jessica is just getting started. She’s still writing. Still mentoring. Still building. And still proving that creativity doesn’t stop at the orchestra pit—it just finds a new stage. Follow Jessica Wilkins on X and Linkedin to keep up with her work in tech, her musical roots, and whatever she’s building next. Sticker illustration by Jacob Ashley....

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“We were seen as amplifiers, not collaborators,” Ashley Willis, Sr. Director of Developer Relations at GitHub, on How DevRel has Changed, Open Source, and Holding Space as a Leader

Ashley Willis has seen Developer Relations evolve from being on the sidelines of the tech team to having a seat at the strategy table. In her ten years in the space, she’s done more than give great conference talks or build community—she’s helped shape what the DevRel role looks like for software providers. Now as the Senior Director of Developer Relations at GitHub, Ashley is focused on building spaces where developers feel heard, seen, and supported. > “A decade ago, we were seen as amplifiers, not collaborators,” she says. “Now we’re influencing product roadmaps and shaping developer experience end to end.” DevRel Has Changed For Ashley, the biggest shift hasn’t been the work itself—but how it’s understood. > “The work is still outward-facing, but it’s backed by real strategic weight,” she explains. “We’re showing up in research calls and incident reviews, not just keynotes.” That shift matters, but it’s not the finish line. Ashley is still pushing for change when it comes to burnout, representation, and sustainable metrics that go beyond conference ROI. > “We’re no longer fighting to be taken seriously. That’s a win. But there’s more work to do.” Talking Less as a Leader When we asked what the best advice Ashley ever received, she shared an early lesson she received from a mentor: “Your presence should create safety, not pressure.” > “It reframed how I saw my role,” she says. “Not as the one with answers, but the one who holds the space.” Ashley knows what it’s like to be in rooms where it’s hard to speak up. She leads with that memory in mind, and by listening more than talking, normalizing breaks, and creating environments where others can lead too. > “Leadership is emotional labor. It’s not about being in control. It’s about making it safe for others to lead, too.” Scaling More Than Just Tech Having worked inside high-growth companies, Ashley knows firsthand: scaling tech is one thing. Scaling trust is another. > “Tech will break. Roadmaps will shift. But if there’s trust between product and engineering, between company and community—you can adapt.” And she’s learned not to fall for premature optimization. Scale what you have. Don’t over-design for problems you don’t have yet. Free Open Source Isn’t Free There’s one myth Ashley is eager to debunk: that open source is “free.” > “Open source isn’t free labor. It’s labor that’s freely given,” she says. “And it includes more than just code. There’s documentation, moderation, mentoring, emotional care. None of it is effortless.” Open source runs on human energy. And when we treat contributors like an infinite resource, we risk burning them out, and breaking the ecosystem we all rely on. > “We talk a lot about open source as the foundation of innovation. But we rarely talk about sustaining the people who maintain that foundation.” Burnout is Not Admirable Early in her career, Ashley wore burnout like a badge of honor. She doesn’t anymore. > “Burnout doesn’t prove commitment,” she says. “It just dulls your spark.” Now, she treats rest as productive. And she’s learned that clarity is kindness—especially when giving feedback. > “I thought being liked was the same as being kind. It’s not. Kindness is honesty with empathy.” The Most Underrated GitHub Feature? Ashley’s pick: personal instructions in GitHub Copilot. Most users don’t realize they can shape how Copilot writes, like its tone, assumptions, and context awareness. Her own instructions are specific: empathetic, plainspoken, technical without being condescending. For Ashley, that helps reduce cognitive load and makes the tool feel more human. > “Most people skip over this setting. But it’s one of the best ways to make Copilot more useful—and more humane.” Connect with Ashley Willis She has been building better systems for over a decade. Whether it’s shaping Copilot UX, creating safer teams, or speaking truth about the labor behind open source, she’s doing the quiet work that drives sustainable change. Follow Ashley on BlueSky to learn more about her work, her maker projects, and the small things that keep her grounded in a fast-moving industry. Sticker Illustration by Jacob Ashley....

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