Category: Mindsets

New Automattic research on how to improve gender representation for technical roles

Post author By Paul
Post date 2019-08-29
No Comments on New Automattic research on how to improve gender representation for technical roles

Our team has just released a white paper titled “Trust, Growth,Inclusion: A Study ofWomen Engineers’Job-Search Priorities” that explores what motivates women and non-binary technical professionals to join companies, and what helps retain them.

Better gender representation is a challenge. I’m proud of our team’s efforts to better understand this challenge, and how to meet it. It’s clearly not something that’s capable of a simple fix, but I’m glad that we seem to be moving in a good direction. Here are some links if you’re interested in reading further:

If you’re interested in joining Automattic, we’re hiring people for a number of roles, especially in Engineering!

Work with us!

Tags automattic, diversity, gender representation, motivation, white paper

Blogs and blogging Mindsets Semantic Web Social Web Web/Tech

Resisting closed platforms with the open Web

Post author By Paul
Post date 2019-07-03
2 Comments on Resisting closed platforms with the open Web

Simon commented on the state of the Web in a recent post:

Thanks to the open web it was possible to create massive platforms, which inevitably became closed.

He asks an important question:

Do we now abandon the open web or is it essential for keeping the closed platforms in check?

I think the only real answer to this question is not to abandon the open Web. The open Web remains essential, both in itself, and to offer a compelling alternative to closed platforms.

The open Web can offer a healthier, more sustainable alternative to closed platforms. What we need are services that are as good as, or better than, closed platforms. Perhaps more importantly, the open alternatives should be just as convenient to use. This is where open solutions seem to be lacking, for now at least.

Featured image by Tim Gouw

Tags closed ecosystem, closed web, open web

Mindsets Sports

Austrian Grand Prix Spoiler Alert Fail

Post author By Paul
Post date 2019-06-30
No Comments on Austrian Grand Prix Spoiler Alert Fail

I sat down to watch the pre-recorded Austrian Grand Prix after work. My son came up to me …

Son: Do you know who won the race?
Me: No, I haven’t looked. I just want to watch the race.

My son left the room, and returned a few minutes later.

Son: Can I show you something?
Me (thinking this has to do with a game he’s been playing lately): Ok.

He shows me the Formula 1 app on his phone, and gleefully shows me who won the race I just started watching. 😱

Me: Haven’t you heard of spoiler alerts?! 😭

🏎️

By the way, what a race! If you’re interested, here are some race highlights (🚨 SPOILER ALERT 🚨):

Tags formula 1, Grand Prix, kids, spoiler alert, spoilers

Mindsets Spirituality

We can be more considerate towards each other in prayer too

Post author By Paul
Post date 2019-06-26
No Comments on We can be more considerate towards each other in prayer too

Shoshanna shared this tweet about her friend who went to shul to say Kaddish for a parent:

My friend is saying Kadish for a parent. So that she can be "answered" a men says it as well. But he says it so fast that she can't keep up. It pains her deeply as she fears the responses to him won't count for her kaddish. I went with my girls to answer & so she isnt alone pic.twitter.com/y4ptcZHQHl
— Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll (@skjask) June 25, 2019

It’s a reminder that there’s always room to be more considerate towards each other, especially in prayer. I’m not particularly religious, but when something means so much to someone, we can slow down a bit, and be more compassionate.

It's such a small act for me but means so much to her. The men can't understand why she needs it slower, why she wants to enunciate every word. The male and female experience is so different in Orthodoxy … Just try to hear us, even if you don't get it.
— Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll (@skjask) June 25, 2019

Tags compassion, consideration, Kaddish, prayer, shul

Mindsets Policy issues Social Web

Knowing when NOT to share something online

Post author By Paul
Post date 2019-04-03
No Comments on Knowing when NOT to share something online

Facts Matter pin on a backpack — Photo by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash

It’s really easy to share stuff online (that’s the point of social media, isn’t it?). At the same time, just because we can share something online, doesn’t mean we should share it.

With all this talk about the term “fake news” that a certain president made popular, there is plenty of material that is misleading, and inaccurate, and yet not so easy to discern. Being able to spot the fakes is a great way to fight growing disinformation online, often from the very people who portray accurate reporting as fake.

This Smarter Every Day episode includes an interview with Katy Byron, the Editor & MediaWise Program Manager at MediaWise that’s worth watching:

Featured image by The Climate Reality Project

Tags fact checking, fake news, mediawise, sharing, smarter every day

Events and Life Mindsets Sports Wellbeing

Today’s alternative to my usual run

Post author By Paul
Post date 2019-04-02
No Comments on Today’s alternative to my usual run

Frisbee and a ball — Our frisbee and ball

I finally took some time to get outside, and exercise for the first time in about a week. I was going to do my usual run (it’s effective but I don’t particularly like it) when my daughter asked me to take her to the park.

I was about to say “No”, and that I wouldn’t have time, and then it occurred to both of us that I could take her to the park, and get my cardio workout.

So we took a ball and a frisbee. Our daughter (and, later, her friend too), threw the frisbee, or kicked the ball, and I ran around fetching it for them.

This worked out to be a win-win, I think.