On today's show we sat down with a fellow DJ turned tech professional. Be the first of all your friends to hear this fresh new episode of SnackWalls!

While the tech industry is still heavily dominated by male staff, Andrew has found that in his current position, finding diverse talent hasn't been much of a hurdle. It helps that he works at a university where there is a diverse selection of students coming through every year. Andrew thinks that the push to remove CS degree requirements for software engineering roles is a good move. There was a time when people needed to be in a university setting to learn about computer science, however that is not the case anymore. An apprenticeship model, for example, would work in tech because it provides hands on experience that is invaluable and often cannot be taught through coursework alone. In order to retain diverse talent, Andrew would advise companies to be upfront about their views and policies on diversity. The company culture and hiring processes should reflect this commitment so that every employee is on the same page.

Andrew DeGarmo is an experienced Web Development leader with a history of working in private, government (DOD) and nonprofit industries. He strives to foster a team environment where progress and accountability are front and center. With a BS in Computer Information Systems, Systems Security, he weighs in on Information Security and Assurance conversations regularly. On a personal level Andrew lives for music and so he launched a boutique record label and DJs professionally. He possesses a certificate in Music Production from the Berklee College of Music.

• Andrew DeGarmo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adegarmo
• Stay:Up Record Label: https://www.stayup.us
• Stay:Up Bandcamp: https://stayup.bandcamp.com
• More episodes of the SnackWalls Podcast: http://podcast.snackwalls.com

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