Thread by @lindydonna

👏 You don't need a formal degree to succeed in tech.

👏 You don't need a CS degree to be a great product manager.

👏 Degrees are not magic! Hard work, intellectual curiosity, and good teamwork win every time.

Sincerely, someone with a fancy degree. 💫

Some clarifications:

1. This view is US-centric and does not generalize.

2. Degrees provide a TON of privilege. I don't think they should. I want to change this!

3. Hiring mangers often care about degrees. IMO they value the wrong thing.

More clarifications! Thank you everyone for your constructive feedback!

(thread)

I have a very high regard for foundational CS coursework. Didn't mean to imply that degrees are useless. 😀

If you want a degree and are lucky enough to afford a it, that's wonderful!

Degrees are really really important for immigration, where they are usually codified in immigration laws.

Software consulting companies often care about degrees because their clients will pay a higher hourly rate for degree holders. 🤷‍♀️

Marginalized folks get a much rougher break when they don't have a degree, since they already have to prove themselves.

So, if you're a white cis male, you're still getting opportunities.

Whereas a black woman with a master's degree will still have to prove herself.

I know black women in tech who have learned to advertise their credentials. A random white dude on the Internet can get more respect than some truly amazing WoC.

I am sick of WoC in tech being met with surprise when people find out they are actually badass engineers. It's fucking 2019. Do people assume segregation laws are still on the books?

(Incidentally, I'm not white. I'm Persian-American, but I *look* white, so I am afforded white privilege.)

But to end this thread on a positive note: I'm seeing a vibrant community of black women in tech who are truly a sisterhood. They lift each other up and have built a wonderful support network.

From my outsider's perspective, WoC seem to have more of a community and shared sense of purpose than male PoC. I love organizations like @BlackGirlsCode.

My perfect vision for the future: tech careers are accessible to everyone who has the passion and enthusiasm to succeed. Not only white cis hetero abled men.

I think the tide is starting to turn. ❤️