Michelle Bakels, Co-Founder of ReactMiami | Building a People First Culture

Summary

In this episode of Strictly From Nowhere, Justin Abrams speaks with Michelle Bakels, a program director at G2i and co-founder of React Miami. They discuss the challenges of hiring in the tech industry, the importance of community building, and the journey of creating React Miami. Michelle shares her experiences in event planning, the evolution of her career from art history to web development, and the unique approach G2i takes towards developer health and staffing solutions. The conversation highlights the significance of relationships in business and the impact of community-driven initiatives.

• Hiring is challenging; finding the right blend of skills is crucial.
• G2i has been a vital partner for Cause of a Kind.
• Community events can evolve from grassroots efforts.
• Event planning requires managing expectations and budgets.
• Feedback from attendees can be both positive and negative.
• Developer health is a priority at G2i
• Building relationships is key to G2i's success.
• Small events can have a big impact on community building.
• The journey from developer to community advocate is fulfilling.
• React Miami aims to connect developers and foster learning.

Chapters
00:00
Navigating the Hiring Landscape
01:54
The Journey of G2i and React Miami
05:34
Building Community Through Events
11:09
Challenges in Organizing Conferences
16:25
The Evolution of Michelle's Career
21:48
G2I's Unique Approach to Developer Health
27:10
Target Customers and Future Directions

https://www.reactmiami.com/
https://www.g2i.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-bakels-2052687a/
https://www.developerhealth.org/
https://www.devhealthos.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/