Empathy is a Technical Skill
Keynote Speaker!Empathy is a technical skill. Don't worry. You read that correctly. While empathy is often cited as a critical 'soft skill,' it doesn't stop there. Empathy is also an incredibly technical topic that is more accessible to analytical engineers and more vital to building software than you might think. In this engaging presentation, Andrea Goulet, a noted expert on communication in the software industry, will debunk several myths around empathy. Empathy is a feeling? Nope. Technicians can't access empathy? Nope. Empathy is just a high-level, touchy-feely fad? Nope. Andrea will demonstrate how empathy is a crucial skill for developing software and will focus on giving you practical and immediately actionable advice for making empathy a central focus of your daily development practice. You'll walk away with a solid understanding of what empathy is, what it isn't, how you can build your empathy skills, and a framework for using empathy while coding. If you've ever thought that you're 'good with machines' but have struggled to understand people, this is a talk you won't want to miss.
Andrea Goulet
Andrea Goulet is on a mission to integrate empathy into the tech industry. As a sought-after keynote speaker, Andrea is best known for making empathy accessible to analytical skeptics. Her approach to empathy is pragmatic and practical, and she has a particular knack for providing concrete and relevant ways to use empathy for software system health and resilience. In 2009, Andrea co-founded Corgibytes, and spent over a decade helping clients modernize complex legacy software systems as its CEO. In 2015, she launched Legacy Code Rocks, an online community and podcast for people who find joy in software maintenance. Andrea is currently the Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Heartware, an organization that focuses on helping tech teams transform soft skills into software skills. She is the founder of Empathy In Tech, on online community where code and compassion connect.