I'm building a "Tech Diversity & Inclusion" community.

Hey friends ✌️

I am someone who turned their life around by learning to code. In the space of five years I have gone from being a broke construction worker to an Engineering Manager at the UK's #1 start up.

My passion is in representing people from un-traditional backgrounds in tech. I am amazed at the amount of pig-ignorant comments I get when I am promoting diversity, whether its documenting the work I am doing to make tech interviews more inclusive, or talking about how we can be standing up for or sponsoring those who feel under-represented in our community.

This has spurred me on to creating something to help.

I want to create a community for everyone who doesn't fit into the traditional mould of a software engineer. All ages, all nationalities, all genders. Folk who are neurodiverse. Folk who didn't do a degree. The list goes on.

There are some incredible organisations that concentrate on certain under-represented groups (Women who code, Black Girls Code etc etc) but I want to build a community for everyone who is supportive of diversity that will bring everyone together.

My first aim will be to create a brand that people can relate to.

My second aim will be to start interviewing those who have overcome adversity to be working with code so they can share their story and inspire.

My third aim will be to give something back to the non-profit resources that help so many. (Freecodecamp etc)

Whilst the details are very much in my head at the moment, I am keen to start documenting as I go.

I have started sharing my thoughts more openly on LinkedIn and other platforms and the support has been massive. I have 260,000+ views on one of my posts, and each post is averaging 30,000+ on LinkedIn. I have been invited to speak at no less than 10 meetups/conferences in about 5 days, so I feel I am getting some traction and I have the platform to really push this to fruition.

I would be massively appreciative for any comments regarding my idea, what you think I should be focusing on first and tips that you have for me.

The sole purpose of my mission here is to spread influence and challenge the status-quo. Revenue for myself is a plus, however it is not the driver of this mission.

Thanks, friends ✌️