Scaling and Systematizing Grassroots Leadership: Lessons from PythonPH and PyLadies Manila

Abstract

**The tech is the easy part; people are the real challenge. Machines follow instructions. People follow principles — and that’s what makes leadership both hard and meaningful. Communities rarely fall apart because people lack passion; they fall apart because they lack systems and resources.** When Matt and I first attended PyCon PH 2012, we didn’t plan to lead anything. We were just two young developers who found a community that felt alive. In 2013, with seven others, we incorporated PythonPH to keep that spark going. What followed were years of learning the hard way: burnout, stretched volunteers, and the truth that passion alone can’t sustain a community. Early on, it takes unsustainable effort before anything feels stable. As co-founders stepped back — the way people naturally do when life and priorities shift — we stayed because someone had to. But when responsibility quietly piles onto the same few people, it wears them down. That’s how burnout really happens. Over time, we learned that communities flourish not because of exceptional leaders, but because of systems that make leadership shareable. When the structure makes it easy for committed people to step up, sustainability finally follows. This talk is for anyone who carries the invisible load of keeping a community alive — especially those who quietly hold things together. The emotional labor, the coordination, the reliability. These things are rarely seen, but always felt. And showing up matters; you never know who’s drawing strength from your example. For many women, that quiet kind of role modeling will feel familiar. If you’re stretched thin but still hopeful, this talk is for you — a reminder to pause, reconnect with what matters, and lead from your values. The work is tough, but rewarding, and you don’t have to carry it alone.

Speakers