GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech Building Bridges: From Developer to Developer Advocate • David Edoh-Bedi & James Beswick
Aug 19, 2025
David Edoh-Bedi, a Developer Advocate at Stripe, discusses his fascinating journey from Togo to the tech world, emphasizing the importance of empathy and communication in developer advocacy. He explores the shift from traditional software development to the API-centric landscape, touching on the complexities of payment systems and the evolution of financial technology. Alongside James Beswick, he shares insights into public speaking and the essential traits for thriving in developer relations, making it clear that understanding customers and fostering community are key to success.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Program On A Calculator
- David started programming on a TI graphing calculator and wrote a GCD function in high school.
- That early curiosity propelled him into computer engineering and C++ at Iowa State University.
Internship On Windows Upgrade Engine
- David interned at Microsoft working on Windows setup, specifically in-place upgrades and manifest automation.
- The project was small but fit into a huge migration engine, teaching him how his code affects a larger system.
Tackle Large Systems By Starting Small
- When facing massive legacy systems, start small and break problems into the smallest possible pieces.
- Lean on experienced colleagues and mentors to narrow the scope and make progress manageable.