Jacob Kaplan-Moss

Summary: want help? Email me: jacob@<this domain>.

I’ve been lucky and privileged enough to have had a long and successful career. I’m now in a position to use my accumulated knowledge, network, and experience to help others, and I’d like to do so. This is a list of ways I think I can help; if you see something here that’d be useful to you, please email me.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it is representative. There might be a few things I’m willing to do that aren’t listed but are similar. But if you ask me for something that’s not listed below, the odds I’ll be able t o do it are pretty low. However, do feel free ask anyway – the worst I’ll do is not reply or say “no”. I certainly won’t be a jerk.

Ways I’m available to help anyone

I’m available anyone who emails me (jacob@<this domain>) about any of these things:

  1. Answer concise questions via email about topics I know about. If you write me an email with a short, clear question, and I know the answer, I’ll try to answer in a fairly quick time-frame. Any topic I’ve written about recently is fair game. That said, for specific technical questions about Django or Python: StackOverflow, the Django Forum, or similar are better resources for that. I also generally don’t have time to do significant research, so I’ll probably only be able to give answers that I know off the top of my head.

  2. Introductions: I’m glad to provide introductions to people I know, if I believe it’s an introduction that they’d want and there’s a reason you haven’t reached out directly. “People I know” include many folks in the Python and Django communities, people I’ve worked with (consult my LinkedIn for an idea of who that might be), and a smattering of others. If you’re not sure, feel free to ask. If you’re emailing to ask for an introduction, it’ll speed things along if you include a brief paragraph about you that I can use when I send the email to the other person.

  3. Reference checks on companies and managers: if you’re considering a new job, I’m happy to give you a gut-check on the company or specific manager. Again my LinkedIn will be the most useful in deciding if I know a company or person, but I do have a fairly wide network and can back-channel some checks. There are, unfortunately, a lot of missing stairs in tech; if I can help you avoid one, I’d be thrilled.

Ways I’m available to help underrepresented people in tech

Additionally, if you’re someone from a background traditionally underrepresented in tech – a women, BIPOC, LBGTQ+, etc. – I will do more:

  1. Everything above, I’ll especially do for you. If you’re not sure if something’s appropriate – just go ahead and send it! The worst I’ll do is simply not respond; more likely, it’s totally fine and I’ll help to the extent that I can.

  2. Review a conference proposal on a topic I know something about. This is particularly true for the “flagship” Python and Django conferences (PyCon US, DjangoCon US, DjangoCon EU) as well as smaller Py- and DjangoCons. I’d love to help you maximize your changes of getting a talk accepted.

  3. Refer speaking opportunities to you. I get asked to speak a fair bit, and I’m generally trying to do less of it. This means I have a steady stream of opportunities to speak that I can forward on to you. If there’s something you’d like to speak about, let me know, and if I get asked I’ll send them your way.

  4. Help you find some job opportunities. Specifically, if you tell me what you’re looking for and a bit about your strengths, I can share your info – anonymously if you prefer – through my network. I’d post on Twitter, in some private Slacks, send a few emails, and make introductions if anything pops up.

  5. Give you feedback on a resume and/or cover letter. I generally can’t do this unless you’re applying for mid-career roles or higher (I don’t have a lot to offer beyond what’s on Google for more junior folks). If this is something you want, go ahead and send me the resume/cover letter directly, you don’t need to ask for permission first.

  6. Join your advisory board. I have some availability to sit on a board or three, and want to focus on companies led by underrepresented founders/CEOs. If that’s your company, and you think I’d have something positive to contribute as a advisor/board member, I’m interested.

  7. Invest in your company. Similarly, I have some funds I can invest. My focus is on companies that are solving problems with a strong social justice component – things like climate change, criminal justice reform, healthcare equity/access, and so forth. And, I’m only looking to invest in startups founded by those traditionally underrepresented in tech. If this describes your company, I might be interested.

Thanks to Will Larson, who put up a similar page to and inspired me to write this.