From Prison to Programming

Mar 13, 2022

10:00am – 11:00am CT

Your company is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, right? Great. Let’s talk about how hiring formerly incarcerated engineers fits into that picture.
Sha Stepter learned how to program in prison while serving a life sentence for assault with a firearm. He'll share how technology and entrepreneurship shaped his experience growing up in the prison system and eventually getting out.
Repeat founder and unicorn CTO Jessica McKellar will then talk brass tacks on both the inclusive recruiting infrastructure needed to give formerly incarcerated applicants a fair chance, and a strategy that actually works for sourcing high-caliber engineers from this overlooked and undervalued talent pool.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

photo of Jessica McKellar
photo of Sha Stepter
Sha Stepter

Slow and Steady Media

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