Hi Sblasa,

great suggestions! Thank you :)

In a survey, I conducted for this article I asked developers to propose three developers they admire. I also ask them what traits do they think a good developer has.

The insights from the survey are super interesting.

The survey was posted in my home group (Slovenia), I sent it to my students (worldwide) and I posted it to many FB groups (majority members I saw were from India, and other non-European countries). I was really hoping to get more diversity.

In the results from my own country, there was not even one woman on the list (183 answers came from Slovenia). From other groups, only a couple were suggested (I was suggested by my students).

I researched for more diversity and added a few myself.

But then I started thinking. Is this what I want?

I’d found many inspiring women. Really, really great developers and entrepreneurs, so I added them. But then I stopped.

I wanted this list to grow organically. I want to add people to the list as they are suggested.

I’d love it if this article was read by many people who could help me find inspiring devs, engineers, and entrepreneurs. This is what I’m after. I’m after finding people that can inspire me and motivate me to be a better dev and a better person.

Many devs on my list said they believe a good developer should have a lust for learning, great communication skills, and a desire to build stuff. I see myself in that description.

I see myself in that description, not because I’m a woman, just because it’s what I am.

I don’t want to be added on the list because I‘m a woman and list needs to be more diverse. It’s not about that.

I believe men and women are not the same. I made that mistake early on in my career.

Because there were no men in any company I worked at, I thought I needed to be more like a man. So I behaved like one. I tried to deny my feminine nature. And I felt bad.

In the last years, I started to accept myself as I am. And I’m a person whole loves to learn, loves to do creative stuff, and is sometimes very emotional (not because I’m a woman, just because I’m a sensitive person) and so on.

We all bring unique traits and I want to be hired because of these traits. I want to be hired because of me, not because I’m a woman and the company needs to be more diverse. It’s not about my boobs.

Thank you for great suggestions!

Let’s find more people from all over the world that do inspiring work in the field of engineering and development.

The world needs more inspiration.

Kind regards,

Jana