Irina Anastasiu
What makes a great Software Engineer? Challenging our Assumptions Instead of Talking about Imposter Syndrome
#1about 1 minute
Moving beyond imposter syndrome as an individual issue
The conversation around imposter syndrome often incorrectly places the burden of fixing systemic issues onto individual women.
#2about 5 minutes
Deconstructing the "not technical enough" stereotype
A personal interview story illustrates how obscure technical trivia is used to gatekeep, reinforcing the harmful stereotype of a "geek" engineer.
#3about 1 minute
Expanding the definition of valuable engineering skills
Great software engineering is creative problem-solving that requires valuing communication, collaboration, and planning skills equally with coding ability.
#4about 2 minutes
The industry cost of a narrow definition of engineering
A limited view of engineering talent contributes to the diversity deficit and drives experienced women out of technical roles into other fields.
#5about 2 minutes
Why bad software is a communication problem
Contrasting an idealized workflow with a realistic one shows how projects fail due to poor requirement gathering and a lack of communication, not technical incompetence.
#6about 3 minutes
Understanding the complete creative problem-solving process
Effective software development involves a full cycle of problem definition, idea generation, evaluation, planning, and stakeholder buy-in, not just implementation.
#7about 4 minutes
Introducing four distinct problem-solving archetypes
The Basadur profile identifies four styles of problem-solving—generator, conceptualizer, optimizer, and implementer—that are all crucial for team success.
#8about 4 minutes
Combining different styles for better team outcomes
While different problem-solving styles like generators and optimizers can create friction, combining their strengths leads to more robust and well-thought-out solutions.
#9about 2 minutes
Redefining what it means to be a technical person
Technical ability should be recognized across all problem-solving styles, such as the ability to generate novel solutions like inventing GraphQL without prior knowledge.
#10about 10 minutes
An interactive exercise to find your problem-solving style
A guided Miro board activity helps participants identify their own preferred problem-solving archetype within the four-quadrant model.
#11about 8 minutes
Reflecting on motivations and undervalued strengths
Participants use a Miro board to share what motivates them in tech and identify valuable strengths that are often overlooked in the industry.
#12about 10 minutes
Analyzing audience feedback on engineering culture
A review of the collaborative board reveals key undervalued skills like empathy and "glue work" and common frustrations with ego and bro culture.
#13about 3 minutes
Company initiatives for supporting women in tech
An HR representative shares how their company supports women through internal networking communities and dedicated events like a "women's week."
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