Alyssa Kwan

Alyssa Kwan is a back-end software engineer in San Francisco, with a focus on big data. She works on issues of scalability, robustness, and correctness in distributed systems. Alyssa also advocates for queer people of color in a variety of venues, particularly trans women of color. She is particularly interested in the intersection of social justice and technology, and is actively looking for opportunities in that arena.

Pieces

A group of five men play foosball in an office environment. In the background a whiteboard wall has speech bubbles drawn on them, one of which reads 'This is way more fun than actual work!' and appears to line up with the head of one of the foosball players.

Hiring, Rock Stars, and How Camaraderie Fails Us

The mythos of the “rock star” is a compelling and seductive one.