Michelle Gienow's article "Voices of Gatsby: The 'O' Word (Or, Being Older in Tech)" explores the challenges and experiences faced by Generation X professionals, like herself, transitioning into tech careers later in life. Despite the appealing opportunities in emerging technologies, Gen-Xers are reportedly hired 33% less often compared to younger candidates with similar qualifications, leading to feelings of exclusion in tech environments. Gienow shares personal anecdotes and those of peers, highlighting age-related biases in hiring practices, such as assumptions about fitting in based on age rather than skills. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes the importance of focusing on skills and projects rather than age, sharing positive outcomes like her own employment at Gatsby, which she describes as an inclusive workplace. The narrative underscores commonalities among developers of all ages, united by a passion for creating with code, while advocating for a shift in tech industry perceptions to value experience and ability over age.