60 Seconds with WITS West Speaker — Devon Jones

Devon Jones is an Automation Engineer with Aetna Digital. Her session at WITS West is Transitioning into Tech: How to Leverage Bootcamps for Diversity in Recruiting.

• Why is speaking at WITS important to you?

As a woman who transitioned into a tech career, I want to demonstrate how valuable and effective coding bootcamps can be in bringing diversity and innovation to tech companies.

• What inspires you?

People who aren’t just in it for themselves. People who are driven and brave enough to try and make things better for people they don’t know.

• Most useful article you’ve read in the last month.

“The deadly truth about a world built for men — from stab vests to car crashes” by Caroline Criado-Perez. It describes all of the ways women are put in danger due to products and policies that weren’t created with women in mind, despite the fact that we make up over half of the population. It’s a great example of how having more women present in all industries would effect great change.

• When you were a kid what was your dream job?

It changed frequently! Actress, diplomat, astronaut, teacher, psychologist… I wanted to work with people, have exciting experiences, and learn new things. Even as an adult I struggled to find a path that checked all my boxes, until I transitioned into tech.

• Tell us something about your session.

There isn’t just one way to do tech well.