Lead For Good
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
Staff Software Engineer @ Stryker
Beau Carnes
Developer and Teacher @ FreeCodeCamp.org
Angel Cruz
Startup Founder & Principal Consultant @ Aztech
Kate Mora Woods
Scrum Master @ Meijer
Moderator
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
Delivery Practice Lead @ Atomic Object
Hannah Lewis
Outreach Specialist, Economic and Workforce Development @ Kent District Library
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
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 SOOD PATEL
Senior Content Marketing Strategist OST
ANDREA (DRE) WALLACE
Founder/CEO
Opnr
GERALDO GONZALEZ
Co-Founder Aztech LLC
ANNIE KIBLER
Oak Tree Operations
Moderator
KEVIN WHITE
Partner + UX Strategist
EKKO Studio