On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

Remember Pong ? That ’ s how Deb Goodkin got her start . Here , she tells us what time in tech since has taught her so far .

I have to thank my career counselor at the University of California , San Diego , who saw my love for math and advised me to study computer engineering . This was a time when you didn ’ t grow up with computers . The challenge of writing computer programs from a simple compiler to a Pong game on an oscilloscope gave me a solid foundation for hardware and software . My dream job was to become a computer architect !

faced . We emerged without letting anyone go and with more money in our reserves .

We emphasized employee well-being and family come first by enacting a no-travel policy and ensuring employees knew they could take paid time off .

As a Foundation , had to change how we interacted with the community . We provided more opportunities for engagement through video series and virtual developer summits . This allowed folks who had never had the opportunity before to attend events . We engaged with the community more , listening to their struggles and questions , and trying to be there for them .

How would you characterize your management philosophy at the FreeBSD Foundation ?

After working on embedded systems in the storage industry as a firmware engineer , logic design and applications engineer , the FreeBSD Foundation founder approached me and introduced me to the concept of open source . I was offered the job to run the FreeBSD Foundation and once I started working with our community , I was sold on open source . Most of these folks did it as volunteers ! I was impressed with how smart these people were and how welcoming the community was too .

What has been your most memorable career achievement ?

We are at a pivotal point in our growth and support of FreeBSD as we define the path for the Foundation ’ s 2024 activities and beyond . As I lead the team through this period , my management style adapts to embrace the changes needed to take the Project into the future . Ensuring the team understands their roles and responsibilities , providing them the tools they need to do their job and being available for direction and guidance when needed are key activities . It ’ s important the team has the opportunity to work on interesting and challenging work they are passionate about . As a distributed organization , I also focus on helping the team feel more connected .

Leading our company through the pandemic was one of the most memorable and challenging tasks I have

I strongly believe there needs to be a work-life balance for everyone . As a runner , I like taking 1 – 2 hours daily

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