Software may be built on machines, but it's built by and for human beings. Understanding our emotions helps us better motivate ourselves and manage our interactions with others. It's an essential set of skills for software engineers. Talk delivered at the UCSD Coding Bootcamp January 13, 2017

1. A Taste of
Emotional
Intelligence for
Engineers
April Wensel
Founder of Compassionate Coding
@aprilwensel @compassioncode
COMPASSIONATE
C O D I N G

2. @compassioncode

3. @compassioncode
It was the
best of
times…

4. @compassioncode
Learning
Fun
Financial stability

5. @compassioncode
…it was the
worst of
times…

6. @compassioncode
Burnout
Discrimination
Impostor Syndrome
Anxiety
Emptiness

7. @compassioncode
I realized I wasn’t
the only one

8. @compassioncode
h"ps://www.ny+mes.com/2017/02/22/
technology/uber-workplace-culture.html

9. “They’re not the happiest
bunch. They’re all
OVERWORKED and
UNDER PRESSURE.”
–Christina Grant, Ph.D., Vegan Gourmet Dinner
Meetup, Palo Alto, August 29, 2016
@compassioncode

10. @compassioncode
h"ps://www.wired.com/video/2017/06/techies-
are-using-ketamine-to-fight-their-depression/

11. @compassioncode

12. @compassioncode h"ps://gizmodo.com/exclusive-heres-the-
full-10-page-an+-diversity-screed-1797564320

13. 87%
of women experienced
demeaning comments
from male colleagues
@compassioncode h"ps://www.elephan+nthevalley.com/

14. 65% startup failures
are due to people
problems
Noah Wasserman, The Founder’s
Dilemmas. 2012.@compassioncode

15. 48%
40%
23%
17%
Changing or
poorly
documented
requirements
Poor team or
organizational
management
Developer
churn and loss
of key talent
Immature dev
tools and
application
platforms
Why Software Projects Fail
Application Developers Alliance. Developer Insights Report. 2015.
n = 850

16. @compassioncode

17. @compassioncode

18. SOFTWARE may
be built on
machines, but it’s
built BY AND FOR
HUMAN BEINGS
@compassioncode

19. @compassioncode
"I'm not worried about artificial
intelligence giving computers
the ability to think like humans…
I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
PEOPLE THINKING LIKE
COMPUTERS.”
–Tim Cook
h"p://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/09/watch-apple-
ceo-+m-cook-speaks-at-mit-commencement.html

20. C O D I N G
COMPASSIONATE
@compassioncode

21. @compassioncode
Emotional
Intelligence

22. @compassioncode
h"p://www.cs.colostate.edu/~bieman/Pubs/
turleyBiemanCSC94.pdf

23. @compassioncode

24. @compassioncode
Practice
mindfulness

25. @compassioncode
?

26. @compassioncode

27. @compassioncode
Uncover your
core values

28. @compassioncode
"Connecting to a deep set of
values…fuels a uniquely HIGH-
OCTANE SOURCE OF ENERGY for
change. It also serves as a
compass for navigating the storms
that inevitably arise in our lives.”
–Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz,
The Power of Full Engagement

29. @compassioncode

30. Whom do you admire?
What are their admirable
traits?
@compassioncode

31. @compassioncode
What moments in your life
are you most proud of?
What values did you
display in those moments?

32. @compassioncode
What would you do if you
had a year left to live?
A day?

33. @compassioncode

34. @compassioncode
compassionatecoding.com/
personal-retrospec+ves

35. @compassioncode
Cultivate self-
compassion

36. @compassioncode

37. @compassioncode
• decreased anxiety & depression
• improved relationships
• greater feelings of social
connectedness and satisfaction
with life
• increased ability to handle
negative events
• improved immune system
functioning
Olivia Fox Cabane, The Charisma Myth

38. @compassioncode
Don’t beat
yourself up!

39. @compassioncode
Speak to
yourself as
you would to
a good friend

40. @compassioncode

41. @compassioncode
Remember: you
have overcome
challenges
before

42. @compassioncode
1. Practice mindfulness
2. Connect to values
3. Cultivate self-
compassion

43. @compassioncode Photo from #WOCInTechChat

44. “If it is not tempered by
COMPASSION and EMPATHY,
REASON can lead men and
women into a MORAL VOID.”
@compassioncode
Karen Armstrong
h"ps://charterforcompassion.org/images/
menus/about/armstrong.jpg

45. Free resources and newsletter!
compassionatecoding.com