Naomi Ceder—educator, author, and former chair of the Python Software Foundation—shares her raw, powerful journey of becoming. From hiding her identity for decades to leading one of the world’s most influential tech communities, Naomi rewrites the rules on resilience, authenticity, and inclusion. She shares candid insights on Imposter Syndrome—rooted in her lived experience as a trans woman—and why owning your truth is the most powerful antidote. Naomi opens up about transitioning in midlife and why she stopped waiting for permission to be herself. Along the way, she chall...
Naomi Ceder—educator, author, and former chair of the Python Software Foundation—shares her raw, powerful journey of becoming. From hiding her identity for decades to leading one of the world’s most influential tech communities, Naomi rewrites the rules on resilience, authenticity, and inclusion. She shares candid insights on Imposter Syndrome—rooted in her lived experience as a trans woman—and why owning your truth is the most powerful antidote. Naomi opens up about transitioning in midlife and why she stopped waiting for permission to be herself. Along the way, she challenges how we teach, why representation matters, and how real change is built. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, this conversation is your reminder: you do. Listen in and get inspired to lead with truth, build with purpose, and never shrink who you are.
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TRANSCRIPT:
https://www.shelightstheway.com/naomi-ceder-interview-transcript
STORY:
https://www.shelightstheway.com/stories/naomiceder
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EPISODE LINKS:
Naomi’s Website: https://www.naomiceder.tech/
Naomi’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiceder/
Naomi’s BlueSky: @naomiceder.bsky.social
The Quick Python Book: https://www.manning.com/books/the-quick-python-book-fourth-edition
Trans*Code: https://www.trans.tech/
The Hatchery: https://us.pycon.org/2024/events/hatchery/index.html
Friendly Guides Series:https://www.springer.com/series/17128
KEY MOMENTS:
00:00 A powerful reframe of Imposter Syndrome
02:00 Introductions
03:00 Helping make tech approachable
04:00 Naomi’s discovery of constructivist, student-driven learning
07:00 Why real motivation matters in education
09:00 A pivotal moment with Guido van Rossum
11:00 Early days of PyCon
12:00 Naomi’s role in the evolution of the Python community
14:00 Giving quieter or newer contributors a space to shine
15:00 A deeply personal turning point
17:00 Building spaces for diverse voices in tech
21:00 The birth of TransCode
23:00 How TransCode events became transformative experiences
24:00 Reflecting on the honor of serving as PSF chair
25:00 Naomi’s biggest challenges & greatest lessons learned
27:00 Value of perseverance in hard transitions
28:00 Naomi’s decision to live authentically as a trans woman
30:00 Healing from internalized misogyny and transphobia
32:00 Naomi’s antidote to Imposter Syndrome
36:00 What gives Naomi hope
38:00 Choosing listening over labeling
39:00 What She Lights the Way means to Naomi
40:00 Closing
*Correction: At 10:00, Naomi mentions Linux World 2021, where she intended to say Linux World 2001.
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