Anna McDougall has made waves in the tech industry, having entered software engineering following a professional career as an opera singer. As a technical speaker and a Google Women Techmakers Ambassador, Anna prides herself in taking technical topics and making them easy to understand for people from all walks of life: be it for her own colleagues; at events and conferences; or for corporate clients. From software engineering and generative AI, to technical careers and DEI, Anna brings high-quality information to life with her quirky style and friendly personality.
Her book "You Belong in Tech: How to Go From Zero Programming Experience to Hired" was published in June 2022, and quickly became a #1 Bestselling New Release Career Guide on Amazon. In 2023, she delivered her talk "Finding and Proving Your Value as a Career Changer" for TEDx TU Berlin (YouTube release coming late 2023).
To the podcast:
Introduction to Anna J McDougall
Career Transition to Software Engineering
Rapid Career Progression in Tech
Natural Affinity with Programming
Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in Tech
The State of D&I in the Tech Industry
Challenges in Hiring and Diversity
Initiatives to Improve Diversity
Role of Men in Promoting D&I
Listening and Addressing Sexism
Downplaying Knowledge Based on Gender
Creating Space for Women in Meetings
Perceptions in Group Dynamics
Individual vs. Gender Representation
Berlin as a Tech Hub
Initiatives to Promote Diversity
Role of Men in Diversity Efforts
Future Plans and Aspirations
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