Working In Tech

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’re talking to Desiree Weston. Des is proof that it’s never too late to pivot into tech. After a successful career in accounting and enterprise software, she is now becoming a Cloud Engineer with a focus on AI/ML.She’s currently working on AWS certifications and building AI/ML projects powered by AWS, while also sharing her journey on YouTube and social media to inspire other Black and Brown women to break into tech.Des is also the co-host of Commit & Slay, a podcast that highlights the stories of women of color making their mark in tech and business. She will share her story of starting fresh in tech, her approach to learning cloud and AI/ML, and how she’s using her platform to inspire others to make bold career moves.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH DESLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-weston/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:30 - Why Cloud Engineering?4:38 - Why Tech?7:45 - Pivoting into Tech 15:30 - Committing to a Mid-career Switch23:30 - Challenging Yourself & Accountability29:15 - Getting the first Tech Job37:49 - Finding Your Dream Career1:01:05 - Starting in Cloud Engineering1:04:15 - Final Words1:07:00 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Chuks C-Madu. Chuks is a Site Reliability Engineer with experience at top companies like LinkedIn and Netflix. He also spent three years as the founder of Manful Health, a men’s mental health startup.Passionate about mentoring, Chuks teaches people how to break into the industry by leveraging their authentic stories with employers. Guided by his belief in practical execution and “creating your own luck,” he aims to inspire others to build careers that reflect who they are.Chuks will share his journey across tech and entrepreneurship, insights on mentorship, and advice on how to create your own opportunities in the industry.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH CHUKSLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccmadu/Website: http://www.manfulhealth.com/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:20 - Why Tech?4:40 - Breaking into SRE Without a Degree6:20 - Skills you need in SRE12:15 - Communication18:00 - Business Knowledge in Tech29:50 - The Personality Type for SRE37:30 - Networking46:00 - Asking the Right Questions53:40 - Career Progression56:40 - Resume Review1:00:40 - Final Words1:01:40 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’re talking to Kierra Dotson. Kierra is a multi-disciplinary technologist with experience in data, cloud engineering, cloud DevOps, and artificial intelligence. As a data + AI practitioner, speaker, and startup founder, she’s on a mission to make the field more accessible and help people successfully pivot into tech.Through her platforms on Substack, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, Kierra brings culture, creativity, and accessibility into conversations about technology. She also leads The Data Bloq, a consulting and career coaching firm where she has guided hundreds of professionals to secure new roles, promotions, and lasting career growth.Kierra will share her journey building in data and AI, why accessibility in tech matters, and the lessons she’s learned coaching professionals into thriving careers.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH KIERRALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kierra-dotson-8a2b05111/Newsletter: https://dataconversationalist.substack.com/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:10 - Why Tech?7:30 - Being a Self-starter13:02 - Getting the First Opportunity17:12 - Should I Learn to Code?24:20 - Discovering Love for Tech 29:30 - The Art of Not Knowing & Impostor Syndrome34:57 - AI in Home Appliances42:09 - Tech Roles in FinTech 47:30 - Sacrifices and Hard Work1:01:05 - Shoutouts1:04:25 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Adekunle Ayodele. Adekunle is a Senior Technical Program Lead at Meta with over 25 years of experience leading program and product execution across complex, high-impact initiatives.He’s the founder of Fostr, a global community supporting Africans and allies in Big Tech and startups. He also created Podway, a guided platform that helps people gain clarity and momentum in their careers and lives through structured pods and community support.Adekunle will share how he’s built a career at the intersection of strategy, execution, and community, and how he’s helping underrepresented talent thrive in tech.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH ADEKUNLELinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adekunleayodele/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro0:50 - Building Technology to Big Tech13:10 - Mentorship26:00 - FAANG, Google Rejections, Interview Tips37:00 - Giving the Right Signals in Interviews51:00 - Resume Tips59:30 - Fostr, Podway, and Community Building1:03:00 - Final Words1:08:30 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’re talking to DJ Lewis, a top-performing Sales Engineer who helps enterprise leaders turn big cloud, data, and AI plans into real results. He’s responsible for driving multi-million dollar cloud revenue and partnering with executive teams to simplify complex systems.A Georgia Tech alum, DJ is also deeply involved in the Atlanta community, raising hundreds of thousands for scholarships and mentoring first-gen professionals.DJ will talk about how he built a career at the intersection of tech and strategy, and how he stays grounded through community work.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH DJLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djlewis212/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro0:50 - Why Tech?6:10 - Learning Cloud 13:15 - Finding A Sales Job19:50 - Sales Engineer Skills32:20 - Prioritization41:25 - Getting the First Job55:00 - Working outside your Comfort Zone1:03:30 - Final Words1:04:06 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’re talking to Homer Gaines, a designer, UI engineer, and certified accessibility professional with over 30 years of experience. With a background in behavioral psychology and neurology, Homer leads and promotes accessibility at every stage of the product development process.Homer will share how his career has shaped his approach to inclusive design, what accessibility looks like in real product teams, and tips for building tech that works for everyone.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH HOMERLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/homergaines/Blog: http://www.rightbadcode.com/Speaker Booking: https://sessionize.com/homergainesCHAPTERS0:00 - Intro 1:16 - Accessibility in Tech7:20 - Breaking into UX25:45 - Opportunities in Accessibility35:16 - Career Path 40:00 - Simple Communication48:10 - Empathy in UX1:02:05 - Final Words1:03:40 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’re talking to Chima, a seasoned tech strategist with 10 years of experience leading strategy and operations across e-commerce, health-tech, gaming, and fintech.Chima started his career in management consulting before transitioning into tech, where he’s applied his analytical skills to solve complex problems at scale. Passionate about sharing what he’s learned, Chima also mentors aspiring tech professionals and helps others build careers that can evolve with the industry.He’ll share how to grow across industries, build transferable skills, and stay relevant in a fast-changing field.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH CHIMALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chima-onyewuchi-394a7432/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:30 - Why Consulting?5:45 - Strategy & Ops13:40 - Building Strategic Skills19:17 - Switching into Tech22:45 - Tips for Newcomers24:45 - Experience in Multiple Industries34:00 - Embracing AI45:30 - Salary Expectations47:40 - Bad Advice, Interview Tips51:30 - Final Advice57:50 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Bree Hall. Bree is a Software Engineer turned Developer Advocate at HubSpot who’s passionate about making tech more accessible.She creates technical content to help developers build on their own and feel more confident in their skills.Bree will share how she transitioned from engineering to DevRel, what it’s like working on a Developer Advocacy team, and tips for helping others learn and grow in tech.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH BREELinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannahall0/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCCoKFWpai3OO1R0e_AHeNKA CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:10 - Breaking into Tech in 20255:10 - Why Software Developer21:00 - Are CS Degrees Cooked?27:00 - Is AI Taking Your Job?39:35 - Day to Day of a DevRel45:00 - The Rewarding Part of DevRel49:50 - How to Become a Developer Advocate53:00 - Building in Public59:50 - Tips for Non-techie Techies1:03:00 - Final Words1:05:00 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’re talking to Kadisi Mitee. Kadisi is an Enterprise Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he builds cloud solutions at scale. He began his tech journey as a temporary fulfillment center associate and joined AWS in 2020. Since then, he has earned seven AWS certifications.Kadisi is also the founder of Prompt Computers, a company committed to empowering Nigerians to start and grow careers in tech. Through training, support, and employment opportunities, he’s helped many individuals gain the skills and confidence to break into the industry.Kadisi will share how he transitioned into cloud architecture, how Prompt Computers is bridging the gap between local talent and global opportunities, and tips for building a meaningful tech career from the ground up.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH KADISILinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kadisi/CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro1:10 - From Zero to Solutions Architect16:00 - Certifications and Free Learning21:35 - Breaking into Tech in 202527:55 - Climbing the Ranks in Amazon 42:46 - Software Engineer in Solutions Architecture53:00 - Building Excellence58:45 - SA in the Cloud1:01:40 - Kadisi's Company1:05:30 - Getting a job as a Grad1:08:40 - Final Words1:09:40 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Milecia McGregor. Milecia is an Associate Director and Senior Staff Engineer at Method, where she helps startups build full-stack TypeScript prototypes and manage cloud infrastructure on AWS.She’s held engineering leadership roles at Mediavine, written technical tutorials for DigitalOcean, and worked across the stack at companies like Mozilla, MindTrust, and Conducto. She also founded Flipped Coding, a mentorship program for aspiring developers.She will share how she went from a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering to senior software roles, the value of technical writing and developer advocacy, and her advice for building a flexible and lasting tech career.𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechieThreads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechieIG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechieCONNECT WITH MILECIALinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milecia/Company Website: https://flippedcoding.com/ Blog: https://dev.to/flippedcodingPortfolio: https://github.com/flippedcoderBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1098122259CHAPTERS0:00 - Intro0:57 - Why Tech13:56 - Joining Communities20:53 - First Tech Job27:00 - Interview Tips35:00 - Dev Rel43:40 - Technical Writing46:30 - FlippedCoding and Helping Young Devs53:00 - Workplace Relationships1:01:16 - Salary Progression1:04:00 - Final Words1:06:29 - Conclusion