The One Where I Found My Way to DevRel

Summary

The author recounts a career path from creative interests and technical writing to developer relations, emphasizing that storytelling remained central while the audience changed. She began by producing API documentation, user guides, onboarding content, and other developer resources, then joined JDoodle, where conversations with developers shifted her focus from writing for them to connecting with them. Attending events and conferences, giving product demos, staffing booths, participating in community conversations, organizing hackathons, and running internal events helped her discover that developer advocacy matched her strengths in empathy, clear storytelling, and helping people succeed. She now announces a new role at Okta, where she will work with developers, creators, builders, and community members in identity and security while creating content, attending events, learning, and building connections.

Takeaways

1. 1

   The author’s technical writing work included API documentation, user guides, onboarding content, and other developer-facing resources.

2. 2

   Developer advocacy and documentation both rely on empathy, understanding the audience, clear storytelling, and helping people succeed.

3. 3

   In her new role at Okta, the author plans to create content, attend events, learn, and connect with communities focused on identity and security.