> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://rubycentral.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# RailsConf 2023 Speaker Spotlight: Selena Small
- URL: https://rubycentral.org/news/railsconf-2023-speaker-spotlight/
- Published: 2023-03-30T15:21:53.000Z
- Updated: 2023-03-30T15:21:52.000Z
- Author: Irene Kannyo
- Tags: Conferences

RailsConf always boasts an exciting variety of talks that highlight the creativity and interdisciplinary nature of the Ruby community. As a tech sector newcomer, I thought it would be fun to curate a series highlighting speakers whose stories about their experiences in tech captured my curiosity. Read on for today’s speaker spotlight…

## Title of Talk: 

10x your teamwork through pair programming

## Speaker: 

Selena Small

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/17/0a/170a5cb5-5524-4ba0-93b6-f17fc9bacca6/content/images/2023/03/selena_small_20191126---Selena-Small.jpg)

## How Did you get into Ruby? 

I was working as a bar tender in a night club and Tom the regular would come in, he started teaching to me to code - first Assembly 68k, then C, then Ruby and I never looked back!

## What’s your favorite part about working on Open Source Software? 

While I don't actively contribute, but developing the open means ideas can be easily shared and I rely on that.

## What’s your least favorite part about working on OSS? 

OSS doesn't promote pair-programming and doesn't always promote good TDD practices.

## What inspired you to give this talk? 

I've been working in a heavy pairing environment for the last 6 years and have learned the benefits - I want to share those with the world because there are a lot of misconceptions about what it is and what's involved. What makes a great pairing environment is what organisations often strive to be able to claim - a strong sense of psychological safety and collaboration to deliver better outcomes than what an individual can do alone.

## What do you want people to take away from it? 

Software is about people. Two heads are better than one. Be vulnerable and give it a try.

## What are you most looking forward to at this conference? 

Meeting some really cool people and enjoying some great social events.

## Do you have any other fun plans in Atlanta during the in-person conference week? 

[What is there to do in Atlanta?](https://railsconf.org/location?ref=rubycentral.org)

## Thanks, Selena, for sharing a bit of your story. See you at RailsConf 2023!