Women in Urbanism: How to Put Your Tech Skills to Work for Social Good
By Chrissy Mancini Nichols
This article first appeared at Remix.com
Translating Technical Skills into Social Change
How do you build cities that are inclusive and represent the voices of everyone? You empower people of different backgrounds and perspectives to move to decision making roles.
At Remix’s latest Women in Urbanism event, “Translating Technical Skills into Social Change,” we heard from women at the intersection of technology and social good who are tackling society’s most pressing issues. They’re propelling government to provide services that are simple, effective, and easy to use by creating tools to build healthy, diverse, and safe communities where different perspectives are represented and everyone belongs.
Here’s some key takeaways on how to put your skills to work for social good, based on the insights from panelists Alyssa Wright of OpenStreetMap; Erie Meyer of Code for America and the United States Digital Service; and Tracy Chou of Project Include and The Arena.
1. Work on a variety of projects
You may already be working in the tech industry or have an interest in design or UX, so where do you start? What skills and training do you need to have social impact?
First, figure out what you care about most, learn the space, and be vocal about what you need. There is a tremendous opportunity for someone with skills and interests to have impact. You don’t have to be the best coder or have a computer science degree. If you understand communities and user experiences you can be part of the tech solution to create change.
Chou recommends you optimize for growth. Work at different companies, internships, and startups where you can learn from the best. Work on a wide variety of projects so that when you turn to government or a non-profit, you’ll have the background necessary to anticipate what teams and products you might need, and how they can scale at different points of the project.
2. Social impact doesn’t just mean working for the government.
There’s more than one way to make social impact. You can be in an established space in the private and non-profit sector and still be an advocate for equity and social good. Some of the areas where you could have the most impact are large tech companies that broad reach, like Facebook or Airbnb.
3. Be kind to yourself. Careers are complicated. Embrace the ups and downs.
There’s no straightforward path, so have confidence in what you’re good at and passionate about and and be open to learning. As your network evolves so will your opportunities.
Even for people with a clear five year plan often have a circuitous path to their goals. If you’re trying, there are going to be ups and downs in your career — and failures. Wright’s path has been a roller coaster, so she celebrates successes, embraces the ups and downs, and remembers to reflect.
4. Build your team. And show up for your peers.
There can be a lot of pressure to have a mentor. If that works out, great. But it might not. One of the most important parts of Meyer’s career has not been in finding a formal mentor but instead through having frank and collaborative relationship with her peers.
So don’t wait for a mentor, figure out the type of people you want to work with and invest in those relationships. Build a team around you that can lift you up so you can succeed. They know the things that hold you back and they’ll challenge and help you along the way.
Don’t forget to be generous any time you can help others figure out their paths. Meyer puts generosity first and foremost. Remember that people have helped you along the way.
5. You’re not personally responsible for systemic issues.
When there are systemic problems in your way, it’s not your personal responsibility to hack your way out of it. Meyer’s says it best, “There’s no ten step process for dismantling the system.”
Chou has worked in challenging environments that were not diverse and inclusive. While she does believe she had the responsibility to make the situation better, being hard on herself when change didn’t come wasn’t the right approach.
Challenging situations may be fixable, but if not, Chou’s advice is to move to a more supportive environment. There is a fine balance between being calling out broken systems and being optimistic about to fixing the situation.
But do take on the burden to try to make things better for the people coming into industry. If we are not the ones to speak up, perhaps no-one will. So balance the responsibility but don’t be so weighed down by it.
6. Have empathy.
Bringing technology and design to a social problem most often is about listening, passion, and a commitment to keep going when a problem seems hard.
So have empathy and be generous because everyone is different. Create more accepting spaces to bring in diversity and be inclusive. Embrace weirdness because we all have contributions.
