An Inspired Pursuit of Knowledge
As she follows her passion for data and metrics, Dawn Foster talks about the importance of embracing vulnerabilities, advocating for ourselves and forging our own paths
The world of open source is a unique and special place, akin to a family in some sense. The software – licensed under open source licenses that allow people to view, modify, and redistribute the code – is built and sustained by communities of developers, community managers, program managers and others who contribute to it. It’s within this world that Dawn Foster and I first met, and our paths have continued to criss-cross since then. She was a mentor to me in my early days in open source, and now, years later, I’m excited to sit down with her to talk about her journey.
During our conversation, Dawn uncovers the pivotal moments and serendipitous encounters that shaped her path, from her early role as a junior system administrator to her current position as director of data science for the CHAOSS Project. We gain insights into her philosophy of aligning work with passion, seizing opportunities, advocating for oneself, and her commitment to mentorship and uplifting others in the tech industry.
Journey of Discovery
Dawn's journey has been one of relentless pursuit of knowledge and an unwavering determination to forge her own path. From her humble beginnings on a farm in Ohio, where her possibilities may have seemed limited, to her daring leap into the unfamiliar realm of corporate life and her decision to embark on a doctoral journey in her forties, her path has been marked by an insatiable curiosity and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
“It really doesn’t matter where you come from. I think you can figure out how to make things work, how to learn new things and figure things out as you go along.”
When Dawn headed off to university, she initially pursued a path to become a math teacher, but she realized she didn't have the passion for working with children. With limited funds and few clear options, Dawn settled on pursuing a computer science degree, capitalizing on the overlap with her previous math coursework to accelerate graduation. At the time, she had no grand vision for her future - she simply wanted to leverage that degree into some kind of stable career path.
Dawn's introduction to the world of technology was a stroke of serendipity, landing a junior system administrator role fresh out of university. Reflecting on those early days, she recalls the excitement of delving into Unix systems and navigating the intricacies of infrastructure. It was a time of discovery, laying the groundwork for a career defined by curiosity and perseverance.
Seizing Opportunities
Throughout our conversation, Dawn speaks passionately about the importance of seizing opportunities as they arise. Time and again, Dawn found herself at crossroads, faced with the choice of remaining comfortably within the confines of her current role or venturing into uncharted territory. And each time, she chose the path of growth, of challenge, of adventure.
“You can’t wait to ask to be included or to be given an assignment. If there’s something that you really want to do sometimes you just have to invite yourself to the table and offer to take on new assignments.”
From system administration to software development, from e-commerce ventures to pivotal roles in open source and community strategy at tech giants like Intel, VMware and Puppet Labs, Dawn's journey reflects a willingness to embrace change and adapt to new challenges. From her forays into market research, which taught her the invaluable skill of critically analyzing data, to her decision to uproot her life and move to London to pursue a Ph.D., Dawn's story is woven with threads of courage, determination, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
A Passion for Data & Metrics
Dawn and I continue to work together through the CHAOSS Project, which focuses on providing metrics to help open source projects understand which areas are successful and which can be improved. While earlier work I did in elevating women and marginalized groups led me to the CHAOSS project, Dawn came to the project from the perspective of her passion and background in data and metrics, which aligns well with its goal of providing insightful metrics for open source projects. She is also a long-time user of the software tools that CHAOSS has integrated. And as Dawn explains, the role and value of community managers is often unclear across different open source projects; she has leveraged data and metrics over the years to quantify and demonstrate the impact of community efforts.
This year is an exciting one for the CHAOSS Project. The project has grown exponentially over the last few years, and we talked about the project’s 2024 goals. These goals aim to standardize metrics, expand outreach and collaboration, improve software accessibility, enhance data analysis and insights, and adapt to emerging technologies. We talked more extensively about these goals on one of the project’s recent podcasts.
Going (Cloud) Native
Dawn is the co-chair of the Contributor Strategy Technical Advisory Group (TAG) at the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), hosted by the Linux Foundation. This group focuses on providing guidance and tools to foster sustainable growth and inclusive environments for contributors in CNCF projects in a few key areas:
Governance: helping projects set up and evolve their governance models as they grow from smaller to larger contributor bases by providing templates, guides and assessments.
Growing contributor base: advising projects, especially those initially driven by single companies, on strategies to attract more contributors beyond their founding organizations.
Accessibility: recently expanded efforts to increase involvement of underrepresented groups like the deaf/hard of hearing community and indigenous populations in open source projects through mentoring programs.
Dawn is quick to point out that the scope of this work has expanded thanks to contributors like Catherine Paganini driving initiatives around accessibility and inclusivity for diverse communities.
Forging Local Connections
To engage more deeply with her local community, Dawn has gotten involved with OpenUK, an organization focused on promoting open technologies - open source software, open data, and open hardware - there. OpenUK hosts the annual State of OpenCon conference, which she appreciates for its curated content covering topics beyond open source, like data and hardware, from speakers globally. In early February, she delivered a talk focused on a strategic approach to assessing the viability of open source software projects.
Opening the Door to Possibilities
Dawn’s decision to eschew the traditional corporate ladder in favor of roles that ignited her passion is a powerful reminder that true fulfillment lies not in the pursuit of titles or accolades, but in meaningful work.
“Think about what makes you happy at work and figure out how you can find more of that because I feel like people get stuck in other people’s expectations of what they should do.”
Her advice for others is simple: Remain open to unexpected pathways and unplanned detours. Don't feel bound to follow a prescribed career track or succumb to external expectations. Instead, listen closely to what piques your curiosity and stokes your inner fire. Embrace the passion when you find it, even if it emerges from completely unforeseen sources or follows a zigzagging route. You never know when a pragmatic degree choice or random opportunity may ultimately lead you down a path more vibrant and engaging than you could have ever envisioned. The winding roads are where you'll uncover your purpose - as long as you remain open to where they lead.
We talked about the importance of advocating for yourself, especially vital in a world where gender biases still permeate a myriad of industries. While boldly asking for roles that speak to our souls and inviting ourselves to the table takes a willingness to embrace our vulnerabilities, it’s well worth it.
“If you don’t tell people what you’ve accomplished, they probably won’t notice. And frankly, that includes your manager.”
Paying It Forward
Dawn's light extends far beyond her own accomplishments, illuminating the path for others and guiding them towards their own dreams and aspirations. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or simply leading by example, Dawn embodies the spirit of paying it forward, lighting the way for others to follow, particularly women, who may be navigating similar career trajectories. In the end, it's not just about reaching the summit; it's about the journey itself – the friendships forged, the lessons learned, and the lives touched along the way.
You can learn more about Dawn and her work, and connect with her, at her website or on GitHub, LinkedIn, Twitter/X or Mastodon.
As our conversation drew to a close, I found myself filled with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for Dawn’s insights. She has been more than just a mentor to me; she is a beacon of inspiration, and I’m thankful to count her among my dear colleagues and friends.
