Techstrong Unplugged

Sterling Chin, a senior developer advocate at Postman, delves into the transformative power of mentorship in the tech industry. Sterling shares his unique career journey from construction to software engineering and his passion for mentorship. Discover actionable advice on structuring mentorship programs, the mutual benefits of mentoring relationships, and how mentorship plays a pivotal role at all career levels.

Christine Spang, founder and CEO of Nylas, shares her remarkable journey from a childhood immersed in building and exploration to studying computer science at MIT, contributing to open-source projects, and eventually founding her own tech startup. Christine dives into how her passion for creating and her family’s engineering background shaped her path, her unique experiences with gaming and programming, and the lessons she’s learned as a tech entrepreneur leading a company of more than 100 employees.

Tejas Kumar is a seasoned web developer with more than 20 years of experience at organizations like Spotify, Vercel, and Zeta. He breaks down the evolving role of AI engineering, dispels myths surrounding imposter syndrome, and explores the intersection of technology and human creativity. From his journey overcoming health challenges to the importance of balancing work with personal well-being, Tejas shares insights on focus, productivity, and the future of AI in development.

Grace Francisco is a seasoned tech leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning Microsoft, Atlassian, MongoDB, Roblox, and more. Grace shares her evolution from software developer to guiding startups and fostering developer ecosystems. Discover her insights on the diverse career paths in tech, the transformative role of generative AI, and her advice for women navigating the industry. 

Kevin Dubois, developer advocate at Red Hat, shares his unique journey from studying linguistics and aeronautical engineering to finding his passion for programming and open source. Discover his insights on developer experience, the joys of contributing to open-source projects, and the importance of balancing technology with outdoor adventures like snowboarding and packrafting. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on career evolution, creativity and maintaining a healthy work-life balance!

Rob Koch, co-chair of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Working Group and advocate for accessibility in the open source community, shares insights into the group's initiatives, including creating a Kubernetes sign language glossary and developing best practices for accessible conferences. He also discusses the role of AI in accessibility and the importance of allyship in fostering a more inclusive cloud-native ecosystem. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on breaking barriers and driving meaningful change in tech.

Catherine Paganini, head of marketing at Buoyant and co-chair of the CNCF Contributor Strategy Working Group, dives into her impactful work on diversity initiatives, including programs for the deaf and hard of hearing, BIPOC, and visually impaired communities. Learn how these initiatives are reshaping accessibility in tech and how the open-source community is uniquely positioned to lead the way.

Kaitlyn Hornbuckle, a computer science student at Oregon State University, shares her journey from journalism to cybersecurity, navigating challenges like learning to code and adapting during the pandemic. She discusses her passion for bridging technology with communication, her hands-on experience teaching kids Minecraft modding, and her future plans for advancing educational tech workshops. Tune in for insights on blending creativity, technology, and community impact!

Marina Moore, a recent PhD graduate and security researcher at Adira, discusses the evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Marina shares her journey from a math-loving student to co-chair of CNCF’s Technical Advisory Group for Security. They explore topics like the Update Framework (TUF), software supply chain security, and the challenges of container isolation in multi-tenant environments. Marina also reflects on her experiences navigating open-source communities as a woman in tech and her passion for creating welcoming, inclusive spaces.

Cassandra Chin dives deep into a conversation with Hippie Hacker, who believes in "developing people, not software." Explore how the concept of "instant infrastructure" evolved into empowering collaboration through innovative tools like II pods and sharing.io. Hear inspiring stories of community transformation, from bootable USB sticks in Cambodia to empowering youth at Cloud Native Kids Day. Learn how secure router initiatives aim to protect privacy and how strategic projects have shaped the global Kubernetes landscape.