Levelling the Tech Playing Field with No Code
The tech world is striving to its elevate diversity and inclusion, gaining more attention over recent years. Our No Code Lab ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ event, part of the IT MOD Week, saw four expert international panellists come together. They discussed the challenges of getting into no-code, how we could change the dynamic and diversity of the tech sector and ultimately reduce the barriers of entry and constraints.
Code of Change
Our co-founder Georgia Halston kicked off the event, rounding up No Code Lab’s community and activity since we launched and important pillars.
Eight events with 495 registered attendees.
3,405 follows across social media.
14k engagements.
78 members of the No Code Lab member site.
1,500 in our community mailing list.
“We see the true value of including anyone, who could be possibly interested in technology within the no-code movement, breaking down those barriers and creating a diverse community.”
– Georgia Halston
Let’s Level the Playing Field
Zandra Moore our co-founder hosted the event and introduced us to our MEGA international panel.
“No code is a really accessible community and I feel out of all tech communities, it is really open, vulnerable and authentic.”
– Zandra Moore
Greg Smith, Operations Consultant and Owner at Wheelhouse Solutions
Our first speaker Greg Smith, previously part of the GoFundMe founding team (employee number two), delved straight into the topic, telling us all about how he got into no code and his experience and thoughts of the no-code movement. Although Greg says he is not a ‘techy’ person, no code tools allow him to make automations, prototypes and solutions.
“We need more training with real-world examples. Nobody goes into this searching for no code, it’s still world outcomes and solutions and it’s often disguised as the regular issues and solutions that we are trying to solve.”
– Greg Smith
Greg felt that people aren’t afraid of getting into tech, it’s the awareness that is the problem.
“Technology now is approachable and it’s far easier to get in there. The more storytelling we do to the tech timid industries and show how solutions are getting done is going to be the way that helps to spread this.”
– Greg Smith
Greg felt that people should have the opportunity to start earlier in no code at a younger age, but those within the no-code community must give others the correct tools to demonstrate the art of the possible.
Jennifer Stirrup, CEO & Founder of Data Relish
Next up Jennifer Stirrup, the Founder and CEO of Data Relish and a recognised leading authority in AI and Business Intelligence Leadership, gave us an insight into her background and journey of no code, starting with Zapier on Google, which allowed her to be productive as quickly as possible.
“People’s expectations are really low of what you can achieve. People can achieve fantastic things if they are given the opportunity and confidence. It’s not just about the technical skills, it’s about allowing people to have freedom and imagination.”
– Jennifer Stirrup
Jennifer discussed how there are different intersections of characteristics that could disadvantage certain groups of people. However, no code allows people to find productivity and tech skills, to attain financial independence.
“No code can give people the opportunity to get in front of executive decision-makers, business leaders and their organisations. It’s a golden ticket to get in front of these people. No code can help level out the playing field.”
– Jennifer Stirrup
Gio Kakhiani, Bubble Developer ODNC3 and Founder of Go Fund My Launch
Our next speaker Gio Kakhiani has always been interested in creating products but realised coding was not for him and is now a full-time Bubble developer. After discovering no code around 10 months ago, it gave him the power to launch ten products in the last two months, whilst also having a YouTube channel talking all things no-code. Alongside this, he has created gofundmylaunch.com, which allows people to find financial funding when they are in the process of launching a product.
“An issue getting into the tech world is that we see a lot of hype around salary, working on cool stuff and romanticising start-ups, however, what people don’t say when we talk about tech, is that it is real engineering, it’s not a game. I see a lot of people give up because they don’t enjoy coding and tech.”
“If you want to get into coding. No code is the best way to go. No code will enable you to understand how the basics work, how the front end looks like the back end. Once you know the basic concepts, it’s just like changing language and you can get into coding.”
– Gio Kakhiani
Gio would like to see people not just getting into no code because of the hype around it. He believes if you are interested, you should have a play around on different tools and then jump into it.
“One of the greatest things in general of no code is that it allows you to start the product quickly, and the internet gives you access to this huge market. No code enables you.”
– Gio Kakhiani
Dominic Norton, Cybersecurity Product Manager of Code Insights and Founder of Missingblackpeople.com
Our final speaker Dominic Norton got into no code, after taking a week-long web design summer class when he was twelve years old, using Dreamweaver. Fast forward 10+ years, Dominic is heavily immersed within the no-code movement. Using his skills and knowledge he launched missingblackpeople.com, a no-code site that raises awareness of appeals of missing black people within the UK. He also has a YouTube channel and Hackathon network and shares his awareness of no code to disadvantaged communities.
“In my teaching and working with communities, someone has to introduce you. If you don’t come from a community where lots of people are introducing you at a young age, you don’t know about it, like minority communities in most countries no one is introducing these talented kids.”
– Dominic Norton
With the speed and time efficiency of no code, it allows Dominic to focus on things that matter such as organising volunteers, talking to the media, and raising awareness of what he does.
“The potential for no-code solutions, or the solutions built with no code is huge, but there is also the side of the barriers that I don’t think many platforms are thinking about. I think the next big no-code platforms will be in those emerging nations that satisfy those users’ needs.”
– Dominic Norton
Affordability and availability offline excludes a huge amount of the global population when using or building on a no-code platform. Dominic would like to see the no-code movement have a more deliberate outreach to communities, to introduce them to the world of no code to realise the benefits and gain access, whatever their circumstances may be.
The Future of No-Code
Our co-founders rounded up the main points from our panel and gave some final impactful statements to conclude the event.
“No Code Lab is here to ensure we are having these conversations and coming up with ideas of code of conduct, starting earlier, lowering the hype, reaching out and making sure we are reaching everywhere.”
– Zandra Moore
“Be in that change you want to see.”
– Georgia Halston
Thank you to our incredible panel, hosts and everyone else who joined us for the event, to discuss a very important topic within no-code and tech. If you have an exciting no code solution or want to know how to get involved in our next event, get in touch!