What were your reflections from the video?
"our world-view can actually exert and influence beyond our conscious awareness." This is a powerful statement. This fact seems to be an easy thing to lose track of.
You can try to think about "Who you think your user is" when building something innovative, but "our unconscious biases define the boundaries you're unwilling to expand." These were perhaps two of the most profound statements throughout the video, to me.
In what ways have you examined your implicit biases before coming to Turing?
In working in the restaurant industry, implicit bias was very present. It was easy to gear your approach to each individual table based on who you decided your guests were. I found my biases to be wrong far more times than not. It taught me a great deal in opening my approach with each individual compilation of guests. I was able to create a larger number of regulars and was able to be more open and honest with most all of them (new guests or not), which, in turn, lead to FAR more success.
What kind of software do you imagine building in the future? How will understanding biases (or avoiding understanding biases) impact your products?
Perhaps an application that would see through biases! How brilliant. Rather than collecting information based on "income", "ethnicity", "birth date", "location"...a program that takes information based more on your interests and values.
On your same gist, reflect on the following quesitons:
When you consider the way you move through the world, what elements of your identity are you most aware of on a daily basis?
I think the most obvious elements to me are that I am a white male living in the United States. It is something that I stay aware of in my approach to most things. I make sure that I remain conscious of the sort of priviledge that that entails. By staying conscious of these elements, I do my best to be sure to be empathatic towards those that, for no good reason, have come upon harder times than myself.
What strengths does your identity give you? How will you utilize those at Turing?
Again, I remain conscious of these elements of my identity and will continue to be ALL INCLUSIVE of people from every background, ethnicity, gender, etc.
How do you think you could value the identies of those around you to bring out their strengths at Turing? Has there been a time where you were able to advocate or include people around you?
I've dealt with mental health issues, myself, over the years, and can easily recognize when someone like myself is struggling. I feel that I'm very good at creating the proper approach for someone with similar struggles and creating a "safe" environment for said person(s) to open up.
How will your strengths impact you as a teammate? What will you bring to your cohort?
I find that I'm very easy to connect with on many levels. If it's not professional, it seems we'll at least connect on a personal level. I feel that I'm a very easy person to engage. I've the tendency to bring people together that perhaps wouldn't "like" each other. I've found myself to be a link that has sparked many unlikely friendships. I've had much success in the workplace (especially in high end, busy restaurants where not everyone gets along) bringing back a team-feel to the staff, when perhaps it appeared to be an unlikely possibility.