I'm joining the Developer Relations team at Nexmo/Vonage, excited to be part of a company that values innovation and community building. I grew up as a Russian Jewish immigrant in Saint Louis, USA, which instilled in me an awareness of how people form groups and identities. After completing a programming bootcamp in 2016, I struggled to break into the tech industry but eventually landed a job at Le Wagon in Tel Aviv, where I taught code and built a community. My experience has provided numerous "Aha!" moments, including discovering my passion for developer advocacy and community building. I now call Tel Aviv home, where I can meet and learn from top startup founders and enjoy the city's beautiful beaches.