The Beautiful Chameleon
Naomi Ceder—educator, author, and former chair of the Python Software Foundation—shares her raw, powerful journey of becoming, from hiding her identity for decades to leading one of the world’s most influential tech communities
Some conversations stay with you—not because they shout the loudest, but because they tell the truth with quiet, undeniable strength. My conversation with Naomi Ceder was one of those.
Naomi has worn many hats: teacher, author, advocate, leader, and former chair of the Python Software Foundation. But it’s her unwavering commitment to truth and inclusion that makes her story unforgettable. In our discussion, she opens up about living as an imposter for decades, what finally gave her the courage to stop hiding, and how she’s used her voice to help others do the same.
Her story is more than a professional journey—it’s a lesson in what happens when we refuse to let anyone else define our worth.
Choosing Life
Naomi knows Imposter Syndrome in a way many of us can’t even imagine. As a trans woman, she spent more than half her life living as someone she wasn’t. Coming out wasn’t a choice made lightly. It was a decision driven by necessity. Naomi spoke with raw honesty about what it’s like to live with a truth so heavy that it begins to erode your will to keep going. Her decision to transition wasn’t about bravery—it was about survival. And in choosing authenticity, she chose life.
“I was convinced that I was going to be able to live with that until I died. And the problem was, by the time I reached my fifties, I realized I wasn’t dying nearly fast enough. And so, you know, something had to be done.”
When she finally stepped into her truth, she met with a world wasn’t always ready. But delightfully and a bit surprisingly, she also found she was a part of a community — the Python software community — that did accept her for who she was.
From Isolation to Leadership
The tech world hasn’t always been kind. But the Python community gave Naomi space—not just to code, but to lead. Naomi didn’t just find her footing in the tech world—she helped reshape it. From early involvement in Python’s education efforts to chairing the Python Software Foundation, she has championed inclusion at every level.
She organized PyCon poster sessions, providing quiet and new voices with a spotlight, carved out a Spanish language track at global PyCon conferences, and co-founded Trans*Code to create space for trans technologists who’d been told “no one like you exists here.”
“Here I was—this sort of old trans woman—and you’re leading the organization for one of the most popular programming languages in the world. How does that even happen?”
The Truth about Imposter Syndrome
Most people think Imposter Syndrome is a flaw in your thinking. Naomi challenges this common understanding of Imposter Syndrome, calling it out for what it truly is: internalized rejection. It’s not a personal flaw, she says—it’s a defense mechanism born from a society that tells you you’re not enough. Her insight reframes the entire narrative, offering compassion instead of critique—and truth instead of shame.
“Imposter Syndrome is a person who has internalized society telling them that they’re worthless in one way or another... It’s a defensive mechanism.”
Just Keep Going
When asked how she’s weathered change and adversity, Naomi’s answer is simple but striking: just keep going. Her life has been marked by deep transitions—career, identity, leadership—and yet her advice for others comes back to steady perseverance. She draws wisdom from marathon running: no matter how bad it feels now, it won’t always feel this way. And even when it does, you keep going anyway. The only way through is forward.
“Nothing ever always gets worse... No matter how crappy you feel, if you keep going, you’re probably not going to feel that crappy a couple of miles down the line.”
The Kind of World We Could Build
One of the most moving parts of our conversation was Naomi’s reflection on judgment. In a world obsessed with sorting people into categories—good, bad, right, wrong—she’s made a conscious decision to listen instead. To not judge based on appearance, gender, or identity, but to stay open to the whole of a person. It’s a small act with world-changing ripple effects.
“I’m not in the business of judging other people... There are certainly actions that are not acceptable... But judging a good person, a bad person, based on a lot of these things? It’s just not helpful.”
So what gives her hope? The steady, ongoing work of building real inclusion. Naomi sees promise in new voices rising, in communities that listen, in ideas that challenge the status quo. And she’s still lighting that path forward, one connection at a time.
Naomi’s story is one of radical self-acceptance and quiet revolution. She didn’t kick down the door. She opened it. Held it. Invited others in. And lit the path behind her.
At She Lights the Way, we share the stories of unsung women making the world better—not with perfection, but with purpose. Naomi reminded me that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop pretending—and just be who you are. Loudly. Proudly. Without apology.
If this conversation moved you, share it. Talk about it. And keep lighting the way.
Learn more about Naomi’s work and connect with her on her website, LinkedIn and BlueSky.
