Interview: Sharon Levy - PHP Developer
Continuing our discussions with this year’s Women in Open Source speakers, we sat down with Sharon Levy, PHP developer and local Southern California FLOSS enthusiast. We had a chance to discuss of the inner workings of PHP Certification as well as the best ways to deal with negative first impressions of the FLOSS community.
- Gareth
Gareth: Hi Sharon, can you tell us a little about your background?
Sharon: After attaining a B.A. from UCLA, I subsequently earned a certificate in C/UNIX from UCLA Extension. I made a mid-career transition from being an administrative assistant to becoming a Web Developer, choosing to specialize later as a PHP Developer. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of industries including new media, e-commerce and avionics. This past September, I became one of the very few women in the world who is a Zend Certified Engineer in PHP5.
Gareth: What does it mean to be a Zend Certified Engineer in PHP5 and what is the process to become certified?
Sharon: The ZCE distinction indicates that one has achieved a commendable level of expertise with PHP5. It serves to validate one’s knowledge and experience using PHP5 which is personally most satisfying and it helps perspective employers to evaluate one’s suitability for a position. The process of certification entails taking an exam in which one must answer questions involving using PHP with respect to a dozen different content areas, including object oriented programming, security, xml and web services (see more at: http://www.zend.com/en/services/certification/php-5-certification/). By taking the time to prepare and take the exam, one is also demonstrating a serious committment to PHP.
Gareth: How did you first get involved with technology?
Sharon: I joined an online forum related to a TV series to connect with other fans of the show. One of the members announced one day that we should visit her webpage in Geocities, suggesting that we too could obtain free web space there. So, I did just that and became a Geocities homesteader, even though I had yet to figure out HTML.
Gareth: What about the Open Source community?
Sharon: I began paying attention to the Open Source community when I switched from working with classic ASP to coding with Perl. That one change brought me in contact with other Open Source advocates. My enthusiasm for Open Source propelled me to attend the O’Reilly Open Source Convention twice on my own dime. Each time resulted in a great experience as I met interesting people, genuinely eager to talk techie and share “the wealth.”
Gareth: Do you feel as though you are treated differently in the technology world because you’re a woman?
Sharon: Yes, I’ve had such experiences. Sometimes that has even worked in my favor. For example, when I first got interested in technology, I started attending user groups and made the acquaintance of several men who shared their technical knowledge and even hardware and software with me. Some of those guys admired my brains while others were noticeably more attracted to its vessel.
Gareth: What about the Open Source Community?
Sharon: It happens occasionally.
There was the time I enthusiastically trotted off to a LUG meeting armed with donuts, hoping to make a good impression. The leader of the group informed me that I had come to the wrong group because they were not a singles group. As if I was looking for a date!
Gareth: I’ve heard a few stories like that, some people roll with and don’t let it bother them. Others get very upset and are completely put off from the FLOSS community. How did you react?
Sharon: Frankly, rolling with it, ie. the water-off-a-duck’s-back approach, is unhelpful to the community at large while at the same time it’s insufficient if I get upset.
All of us in FOSS, both men and women, need to get upset when any techie demonstrates unacceptable behavior. We need to agree that sexism and sexual harassment is unacceptable and to soundly condemn it.
Gareth: And how do you combat those?
Sharon: Combat? I think that in the long run, lasting change is the result more of
sustained creativity rather than combative effort. Case in point: the Linux operating system. Look at the profound effect it’s had on the world of technology and that was the result of one man, Linus Torvalds, who had a brilliant idea. So, when faced with a hurdle I am prepared to get creative, very creative whether that involves coding, writing or public speaking.
Gareth: What methods do you use to encourage other women to get involved in technology?
Sharon: I let them know what a rewarding and creative endeavor it can be. Also, that it can enhance the quality of one’s life. What really helps is when other women hear about what I’ve been able to accomplish; it gives them hope that they can do the same.
Gareth: What about getting involved in the open source community?
Sharon: I suppose you mean getting involved with an open source project. While that is indeed a most commendable pursuit, I find that my own site PreserveStaffnow.org commands my interest far more. While I intended it to be a source of support for working men and women, Cornell University’s ILR School recognized it as a resource for HR professionals.
Gareth: In your opinion, what else can be done?
Sharon: I think ultimately it’s a numbers game. The more we highlight the accomplishments of women in the open source community, the more other women will notice and want to find out where they might fit in. So, we need more
women to write articles and books as well as participate as speakers at conferences. Mentoring is also extremely important. I was fortunate to have had some wonderful mentors. Whether a mentor is male or female is irrelevant; a woman just needs to have someone involved in teaching her how to succeed in the world of technology
Gareth: That’s definitely important to think about. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us today.