From Highland Fling to Hacking, with Ruth Suehle

Think you know what to expect from an open source leader? Think again! Ruth Suehle is a kaleidoscope of passions - from software to Scottish dancing, embroidery to mermaiding. In this inspiring interview, Ruth shares her delightfully zigzag journey from journalism grad to open source pioneer at major tech companies. Along the way, you'll discover her unexpected forays into baking, cosplaying, crafting, and more! Ruth's story shatters preconceptions about having just "one passion." Instead, she'll inspire you to embrace all your curiosities and interests. You'll get her refreshing take on what true success means and tips for "doing all the things" that light YOU up. Whether you're a techie, maker, dancer or aspiring "kaleidoscope" yourself, don't miss this captivating look at Ruth's colorful, unconventional life. Her authenticity and zest will make you rethink what's possible! Show Notes: 00:00 Welcome to She Lights the Way: Meet Ruth Suehle 00:12 Introducing Ruth: A Journey from Journalism to Open Source 00:34 Ruth's Multifaceted Life: From Open Source to Scottish Dancing 01:31 Exploring Passions and Pivotal Moments 02:37 The Zigzag Path: Embracing Change and Finding Joy 06:25 Creative Outlets and the Joy of Making 09:33 Leadership and Learning in the Open Source Community 11:00 Reflecting on a Rewarding Life and Defining Success 14:26 Advice for a Fulfilling Life: Do Things That Matter 21:50 Looking Forward: Anticipations and Aspirations 23:19 Closing Thoughts: The Essence of She Lights the Way Guest Bio: Ruth Suehle is Director of Open Source at SAS, where she is creating a nearly 50-year-old analytics, data management, and AI software company’s first open source program office (OSPO). Ruth has helped build open source communities for nearly two decades, much of which she spent in the OSPO at Red Hat. She is executive vice-president of the Apache Software Foundation, a producer of the ApacheCon conference, and serves on the Open@RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) advisory board. In the past, Ruth served on the governing board and TSC of the Open 3D Foundation. Co-author of Raspberry Pi Hacks (O’Reilly, December 2013) and former editor of Red Hat Magazine and opensource.com, she is a frequent writer, currently as core contributor at GeekMom.com (previously of WIRED), where she covers the adventures of motherhood and fandom. Learn more about Ruth’s work and connect with her: LinkedIn Twitter/X GitHub Women Take the Conn Raspberry Pi Hacks Note: The title of the book about the women of Star Trek that Ruth talks about in our discussion has been changed to Women Take the Conn.