“I started my YouTube channel because representation definitely matters. I didn’t know that you could be a software developer without going to college.”

“I’ve learned that you can have a huge impact through tech (with a product seen by millions of users), and it’s really hard to have that level of impact and visibility through work in other fields.”

“If you want to come invent and live in the future, you will do that at Amazon.”

“If you're looking to come into the game space, now is the best time: once you learn a few of the key skills, then you can contribute to a team right away, and will have a skillset that is universally sought after.”

“I always tell people that we are the best-kept secret, but we shouldn’t be, because we provide a public opportunity and benefit for anybody who lives in the U.S.”

“A project might look opaque at first, and you think, ‘there’s no way I'm going to figure it out.’ It’s about being persistent and not giving up, and knowing that if it can be built, it can be taken apart.”

“Stay curious, pop the hood, and DO: writers improve when they write, coders improve when they code. So, practice solving coding challenges and speaking the language.”

“Give factories a chance: they’re fun, they run on software, they need better software, and they need all kinds of different skills.”

"Do lots of side projects. Do projects that interest you and are personally compelling so that when you’re stuck and frustrated, you’ll keep going.”

“The more projects you build and the more times you fail, the better you become at that particular technology. Be open and have an appetite for learning, as there’s so much to learn!”

“We want you to find your home here, enjoy what you’re doing, and be here for a while.”

“You don't always need a bachelor's or computer science degree; you just need experience, and to have shown the ability to pick up technology and new skills.”

“The doing is where the learning is. Getting armpit deep in designing is the best way to learn and also the most fun way to learn.”

“Building your personal brand – creating blog posts, YouTube videos, sharing your knowledge journey – is a great way to get into a role like this, to give back to a community, and become engrained in part of the community.”

The opportunities are so vast to find a technology that turns you on. Go contribute to that in the open-source world. You can learn from the community and make contributions to the community. When I see someone doing that, it’s so impactful for me.

“This whole program is intended to bring people in from all walks of life. It’s about finding the people who want to start at a company and grow their career here.”

“Everyone wants a really good candidate experience because that’s also a reflection of the business and the culture. So even though an interview can be intimidating, just be yourself because that’s the most important thing.”

“You guys took on some really challenging projects… …you attacked real-world problems and brought solutions that were relevant…it was eye-opening to see how these apps were developed and thought out.”

“I know there’s a lot of competition out there for your amazing talent and skills. So, bringing a culture of innovation that is supportive of getting more underrepresented communities into our pipeline is critical.”

“Are you moving the right connections into meaningful and relevant conversations that can move you into a conversation focused on your career?”

“Once a customer gets to know you and sees that you’re good at ‘X’ – whatever ‘X’ is – they’re more inclined to let you do ‘Y’ even if you aren’t as good at ‘Y.’ Those growth opportunities can be pretty cool.”

“I personally look to see if the person has done anything that they’re passionate about: have you done anything on the side that has taught you some skill that you wouldn't have otherwise learned if you hadn’t done the project?”