Lead For Good

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Lead for Good:
Leading Through Change

While “code” is in our name, our reach extends far beyond coding: we support our community through tech and design, strategy, and human-centered solutions of all stripes, and we feel that excellent leadership is a fundamental building block in doing good work well.

Each Lead for Good panel discussion explores a different facet of leadership, and these sessions give both rising and experienced leaders opportunities to share insight, practice, and new perspectives on what it means to lead in our community.

Past Events

Tech Careers Off the Beaten Path

July 22, 2024

If you think working in the tech industry is just writing code, designing apps, or wrangling AI prompts, you are wrong! Careers in tech can be found in unexpected places, with job responsibilities you may have never considered.

West Michigan’s local tech industry (super)heroes will share their stories of where they began and how they ended up in leadership roles (by choice or luck), and how uncommon skills and experience can make a big difference.

Panelists

Rachell Calhoun

Rachell Calhoun

Staff Software Engineer @ Stryker

Beau Carnes

Beau Carnes

Developer and Teacher @ FreeCodeCamp.org

Angel Cruz

Angel Cruz

Startup Founder & Principal Consultant @ Aztech

Kate Mora-Woods

Kate Mora Woods

Scrum Master @ Meijer

Moderator

Raul Alvarez

Raul Alvarez

Chief Communicator, Storyteller & Synergist (Founder) @ GTSD Group

Local Business as a Catalyst for Positive Change​

June 26, 2023

Local businesses are more than just providers of goods and services. They are also catalysts for positive change in their communities. They create jobs, offer training, support causes, and foster connections. They are not just staffed by people – they are powered by people.

But how do you run a successful local business that also gives back to the community? How do you balance profit and purpose? How do you build trust and loyalty with your customers and neighbors?

Panelists

Brittany Hunter

Brittany Hunter

Delivery Practice Lead @ Atomic Object

Hannah Lewis

Hannah Lewis

Outreach Specialist, Economic and Workforce Development @ Kent District Library

Joshua Gray

Joshua Gray

Co-Founder and Director of Strategy @ Room 35

Alice Jasper

Program Director @ Good for Michigan

Moderator

Arick Davis

Co-Founder and CEO @ Last Mile Cafe

Building Better Solutions Through Diversity

June 27, 2022

Diversity in the workplace is not about meeting quotas or creating attractive marketing. Building technological solutions – especially those used by the general public – requires a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Inevitably, products built by diverse teams are more robust, serve a wider audience, and have a better user experience than those created by a homogenized group. It’s just simply better business.

Panelists

Kiran Patel

KIRAN SOOD PATEL

Senior Content Marketing Strategist OST

Andrea Wallace

ANDREA (DRE) WALLACE

Founder/CEO
 Opnr

Geraldo Gonzalez

GERALDO GONZALEZ

Co-Founder Aztech LLC

Annie Kibler

ANNIE KIBLER

Oak Tree Operations

Moderator

Kevin White

KEVIN WHITE

Partner + UX Strategist
EKKO Studio