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ShopifyJulia HurrelmannProblem & solution
Attracting Local Talent And Building Mobile Apps: A Developer Hiring Initiative
Summary
Shopify’s “Build Things, Show Shopify” initiative used app development to reach local mobile developers beyond traditional recruitment channels and strengthen its talent pipeline. From May to August, workshops in Ottawa supported 75+ participants with help from more than 20 Shopify product managers, developers, designers, and computing educators, covering workflows, coding, code reviews, design, and presentation skills. At the September showcase, 13 developers presented 12 apps through rapid three-minute rotations, after which six promising projects advanced to a grand panel of Shopify leaders who provided technical questions and feedback. Participants left with fully developed apps, while a later Ottawa showcase connected them with angel investors and technical recruiters. The initiative also exposed a retention and inclusion problem: participation fell from 24 women among 77 at launch to 16 at the last event, with only two reaching the showcase, prompting consideration of daytime workshops.
Context
Shopify sought to connect with skilled developers outside traditional recruitment channels, build an Ottawa developer community, and create a more diverse talent pipeline. The initiative also revealed that its participation requirements and evening schedule may have limited retention, particularly among women.
Approach / What changed
Shopify ran a series of Ottawa workshops from May to August, pairing participants with product managers, developers, designers, and computing educators for guidance on app workflows, coding, code reviews, design, and presentations. Participants submitted completed apps to a September showcase, presented through three-minute rotations, and six promising projects received further feedback from a senior multidisciplinary panel. A subsequent showcase connected developers with angel investors and technical recruiters.
Takeaways
Workshops supported 75+ participants with input from more than 20 Shopify product managers, developers, designers, and computing educators.
The final showcase featured 13 developers presenting 12 apps; six promising apps advanced to a grand panel for deeper technical questions and feedback.
Women’s participation declined from 24 of 77 participants at launch to 16 at the last event, with only two reaching the showcase; Shopify associated this partly with evening scheduling.
FAQ
How did developers present their apps at the final showcase?
Developers presented to one or two Shopify developers for three minutes before rotating to new reviewers. Six promising apps were then selected for presentation to a grand panel of Shopify designers, developers, leads, and directors.
Why did Shopify consider changing the workshop schedule?
Participation declined over the course of the initiative, with a disproportionate loss of women. Shopify identified evening scheduling as a possible factor because social and familial obligations could prevent some people from attending, and noted that its daytime Android Bootcamp often had 50% or more women attending.
What did participants receive from the initiative?
Each app developer finished with a fully developed app that could demonstrate their skills and experience. Participants also received feedback from Shopify staff and opportunities to connect with developers, angel investors, and technical recruiters.
Source and freshness
- Source
- shopify.engineering
- Published
- Added to Yomu
Summaries are generated from the original by a language model. Check the original before relying on it.
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