Virginie Jourdan
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Please tell us about yourself, and where you are from.
I’m 47 yo, french/italian, married, with 3 children aged 18, 17 and 9 yo.
I live in Switzerland and work remotely for a French firm dedicated to PostgreSQL, Dalibo.
I usually say that I am a citizen of the world, because I have moved a lot, as a child, myself with my parents and my two sisters, but also with my husband and children later on !
We have moved around, firstly in France and then secondly we lived in Asia for 4 years, in China and India, where my youngest son was born.
My family gave me love for traveling, discovering new territories and places, new people and new cultures.
I’m not attached to any particular country nor am I patriotic. But I’m very attached to people, family and relatives, located all around the world from Brazil to Canada, France and Italy off course but as well in Luxembourg or USA.
Virginie Jourdan
How do you spend your free time? What are your hobbies?
Unfortunately, I have very little free time … which is why I spend it all with my family and children, reading (I have loved reading for as long as I can remember), cooking (I enjoy welcoming my family and friends and inventing new recipes, of which the success varies !!!) and finally, traveling.
When I was living abroad, I liked dedicating my spare time to the discovery of this foreign country, to the animation of the French community and to an orphanage in which I volunteered. The latter was a difficult experience that stayed with me ever since. Seeing the suffering of these abandoned children reminded me of how lucky I am that my family and I were “well-born”.
Any Social Media channels of yours we should be aware of?
Last book you read? Or a book you want to recommend to readers?
Les Refuges by Jérôme Loubry, a well-written and fascinating psychological thriller.
I like thrillers in general, but when they are poorly written, it becomes very unpleasant, sometimes to the point where it’s impossible to read! This book also satisfies my appetite for psychology, and it received an award, so I was curious to read it, which I didn’t regret !
Any favorite movie, or show?
Little Miss Sunshine, the colorful painting of a dysfunctional and suffering family that is brought together in the end by the power of love and around a common project.
And more recently Don’t look up, which crudely exposes the problems of social media, politics, and the press. All in all, it demonstrates our incapacity to protect our planet.
What does your ideal weekend look like?
Visiting a part of the world, with my family and friends.
What’s still on your bucket list?
Travels, as always: I would love to visit Australia, Korea, Polynesia, Taiwan and New York!
What is the best advice you ever got?
One linked to equality and respect: we are all equal, no one will ever be your superior and you will never be somebody’s superior, don’t let people disrespect you and respect others.
Do you remember which version of PostgreSQL you started with?
I entered the world of PostgreSQL at its 9.3 version, as I was joining Dalibo.
I had already experienced the open source community through my last professional occupation (in SIG) 15 years ago, and returning to this world seemed an easy choice because it meant a return to the source, after 4 years of pause due to my expatriation.
Have you studied at a university? If yes, was it related to computers? Did your study help you with your current job?
I studied economic sciences in Geneva, which gave me a good understanding of the world of business.
How do you contribute to PostgreSQL?
I’ve helped organize PostgreSQL conferences, like pgconf.eu, by participating in the choice of the speakers’ gifts or by helping with the logistics on the spot.
I’ve also taken part in the organization of SIG meetings in France (the FOSS4G.Fr).
Which PostgreSQL conferences do you visit? Do you submit talks?
In a Meetup in Italy in 2016, I submitted a lightning talk and … I wish not to go through the experience once again 😉 I am more at ease behind the scenes than in the spotlight!
What is your advice for people who want to start PostgreSQL developing - as in, contributing to the project. Where and how should they start?
For the non-techs like me, I would advise to forget their imposter syndrome, and to remember that the PG community is a very welcoming, benevolent one. Therefore, any help or skill that can be brought to the project will be happily welcomed !
I would have loved to know a “How to contribute to PostgreSQL” on this website, including the participations of non-tech people that can bring a lot to the table in terms of logistics at events, translations, marketing and more!
I liked this initiative for example: Postgres Women. I hope it will also encourage non-techs, man or woman, to contribute to PG!
Do you think PostgreSQL will be here for many years in the future?
Yes, I am convinced that it is the future !
PostgreSQL quality, reached thanks to cooperation and community-shared values, are a good basis for success.
Would you recommend PostgreSQL for business, or for side projects?
Of course, I do it every dinner 😉
Anything else you like to add?
Long live PostgreSQL!