Be(come) a mentor! Help others succeed!
a talk by Anna Ossowski

There is always something new to learn in technology. We are always experts in one and beginners in another field. In order to learn successfully it’s important to have a mentor but it’s equally important to learn how to be a good mentor. In my talk we’ll explore what a mentor is, why we should all be(come) mentors, tips and tricks of mentorship, and concrete ways you can get involved as a mentor.

All of us are lifelong learners. Especially in technology there is always something new to learn so we are always experts in one and beginners in another field. In order to learn, make progress, and succeed, it’s really helpful to have a mentor. But it’s equally important to learn how to be a good mentor to others. All of us started out as beginners and if it wasn’t for the help of others, who shared their knowledge with us, lent a hand, and guided us, we probably wouldn’t be where we are today. Let’s start giving back! Let’s help others succeed!

Mentorship can be super fun and rewarding, you will learn a ton by helping others, and you don't need to be an expert in order to mentor someone. In my talk we’ll explore what a mentor is and why you should become a mentor. I’ll also give you mentorship advice and tips and we’ll learn about the Do’s and Don’ts of mentorship. Finally, I’ll present some concrete ways you can help as a mentor and which projects you can get involved in.

Anna Ossowski

Anna loves working at the intersection of tech and people and is currently managing the community and operations of Django REST Framework.

She is a former director of the Python Software Foundation, PyCon US Open Spaces-Chair, DjangoCon US Diversity Chair, and group leader of the PyLadies Remote group.

In her free time she loves speaking at conferences and mentoring future speakers. Anna is very passionate about diversity and community outreach and wants to encourage more women to learn programming because it's awesome!

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