01/27/2025
Hey everyone! I wanted to take some time to re-introduce myself. (Please read the graphic for TLDR)
👋 I’m Austen, CEO, and Co-Founder of YYC Q***r Innovation (QIM), a grassroots community founded in May 2022 to address the lack of 2SLGBTQIA+ representation in tech and innovation in . Over two incredible years, Co-Founder and I have partnered with local q***r-owned and allied businesses, organizations, and startups in the tech sector, hosted events, speaking, and education opportunities, and built an incredible community advocating for inclusion.
Things have been quieter lately as the latter half of 2024 brought personal challenges—burnout, severe mental health, various other things in my personal life, and starting my proud journey of transition. 🏳️⚧️ I share this not because of everything I went through, but because I had to step back, from this community and a lot of areas in life, and I want to be transparent about why meetups paused.
This community remains my passion, and looking ahead, I’m working on evolving QIM and excited to get it back on its feet with new strategies to include greater opportunities inside and outside the tech sector across arts, music, writing, performing, and more—creating spaces for storytelling, advocacy, workshops, and meaningful connections.
This may take some time, but stay tuned for updates, and if you’re a q***r artist, storyteller, or partner eager to collaborate, let me know! I am forever grateful for all of you! Thanks for your continued love and support. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
💙Austen
***r ***revents ***rbiz ***rcommunity ***rartist ***rpride ***rintech ***rinnovation
