Working In Tech

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Zalyia Grillet, a UX Conceptual Creative with over 11 years of experience transforming user experiences for Fortune 500 companies like Deloitte Digital, General Electric, and Salesforce. Recognized on platforms like Beyoncé’s site and People of Color in Tech, Zalyia has shaped her career at the intersection of ethnomusicology, UX, and behavioral science. As the founder of TechUnleashed, Zalyia leads a community of Black creatives in tech, combining her passions for music, fashion, and art with mentorship to uplift others. She consults with organizations like RVATech and Black Girls in Cyber to make tech more inclusive. Zalyia will share her journey as a UX visionary, her insights on building inclusive tech spaces, and advice for blending creativity with tech to make a real impact. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH ZALYIA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zgrillet/ Website: http://zgrillet.co/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Choosing UX 12:40 - Finding a Community 18:30 - Finding a Purpose 24:20 - The First Role 31:45 - Keys to Understanding UX 35:41 - Challenges of being in UX 41:35 - Salary Progression 47:50 - Getting in on the Ground Floor 51:15 - Career Progression 53:15 - AI & UX 54:45 - TechUnleashed 57:00 - Final Words 58:41 - Conclusion

The #WorkingInTech series follows the career journeys of thriving professionals, unpacking their stories to turn lessons learned into practical tips to help you make winning career moves. In this episode of #WorkingInTech, we’ll be talking to Kanika Tolver, CEO, founder of Career Rehab, LLC, and an experienced product manager. Through her company, Kanika helps clients transform their careers with coaching programs, webinars, events, and digital resources designed to help them reach their career goals. Kanika, featured on platforms like CNN, CNBC, and Black Enterprise, is also the author of the acclaimed book *Career Rehab: Rebuild Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work*. Tune in to hear Kanika’s insights on career coaching, her experience as a product manager, and actionable advice on building a personal brand that empowers you to take control of your career path. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH KANIKA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanikatolver/ Website: http://kanikatolver.com/ Career Rehab: http://careerrehabacademy.com/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Helping People Break into Tech 2:35 - Why Tech? 6:30 - First Job in Tech 10:45 - Interviewing 14:44 - Questions to Ask the Interviewer 17:55 - From Developer to Product Manager 21:25 - Continuous Learning 27:45 - ServiceNow 35:55 - Certifications 44:40 - Public vs Private Sector 49:38 - Salary Progression 51:55 - Salary Negotiation 1:01:55 - Learning and Teaching 1:04:50 - Final Words 1:06:45 - Conclusion

This week, Rachel Alexander, AI Innovation Lead at Clario, shares her journey from managing at Hertz to leading AI in biotech. She discusses the importance of internal networking and mentorship for career transitions. Rachel highlights how to implement AI solutions effectively while balancing innovation with quality. She also explores unconventional job search strategies and the significance of practical experience in tech. Plus, she offers tips on crafting an engaging resume and navigating AI career paths.

What does it take to sell tech products for Google? Listen to find out. The #WorkingInTech series follows the career journeys of thriving tech professionals. We unpack their career stories to turn lessons learned into useful tips to help you make winning career moves. On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Khalil Simmons. Khalil is a digital marketing professional with over 5 years of experience at Google. As an Account Strategist, he partners with advertisers to develop strategic, data-driven approaches that scale their businesses and deliver exceptional results. Passionate about sales and customer development, Khalil has helped countless businesses achieve transformative growth. He began his career at General Mills, managing the convenience business in Florida, before transitioning to the tech world at Google. Khalil will share his journey from traditional retail to digital marketing, insights on crafting innovative solutions for clients, and advice for succeeding in the fast-paced world of digital advertising. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH KHALIL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalil-l-simmons-0411/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 2:35 - Why Sales? 7:24 - Landing a job at Google 16:45 - Learning Sales Skills 27:15 - The Role of Account Executive 40:00 - Building Relationships 42:45 - Salary in Tech Sales 46:39 - Going from Sales to Tech Sales 53:50 - Finding a Mentor 1:00:30 - Building SPARK CONNECT 1:02:14 - Final Words 1:04:50 - Conclusion

Tech is a team effort, and knowing how to nurture multi-functional teams is what leads to great products. On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Anjuan. Anjuan is a seasoned software development leader with over two decades of experience. At companies like Accenture and Deloitte, as well as several startups, he's excelled at shipping features customers love while managing healthy teams. Passionate about sharing knowledge, Anjuan is an energetic speaker who presents at conferences, universities, and corporations worldwide. He covers topics including leadership, diversity and inclusion, and effective software development practices. Anjuan will share his journey leading development teams, his approach to blending corporate rigor with startup agility, and advice for delivering impactful software while nurturing strong teams. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH ANJUAN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjuan/ Website: http://www.anjuansimmons.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/anjuan Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anjuan CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Why Tech? 4:08 - Gaming Inspiring Tech Careers 7:05 - Breaking into Tech12:17 - Learning and Building with People25:50 - Job Search Experience32:40 - Learning Data35:35 - What Makes a Great Resume?44:29 - Salary Progression49:19 - Doing it Without a Degree53:15 - Hiring the Best Candidates59:20 - Final Words1:01:39 - Conclusion

Passionate about technology since childhood, Zaakirah has impacted numerous individuals and companies across various tech fields. As a cancer survivor and PCOS warrior, she brings a unique perspective to her work. Zaakirah will share her journey in HealthTech and photography, keys to empowering entrepreneurs of color, and advice for turning personal challenges into professional strengths. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH ZAAKIRAH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaakirahmuhammad/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Why Tech? 3:40 - Using Photography as a Tool 6:10 - Branding Specialist 8:00 - Finding Flexibility 11:10 - Storytelling and Networking 36:20 - Speaking at TedX 42:11 - Unconventional Paths 44:30 - Building Resilience 45:20 - Traveling to Africa 48:04 - Business and Tech 50:50 - Building Confidence 53:17 - Building a Brand 54:30 - Final Words 56:55 - Conclusion

Ready to shift from coding to non-coding roles? Krista's got the blueprint! The #WorkingInTech series follows the career journeys of thriving tech professionals. We unpack their career stories to turn lessons learned into useful tips to help you make winning career moves. On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Krista, a Technical Program Manager at Google. Krista brings a diverse background in front-end development, product management, scrum mastery, and product ownership to her role at one of tech's biggest companies. Passionate about the intersection of design and technology, Krista founded CX with Kris to help professionals transition into technical program management roles. Her expertise in shaping digital experiences that enhance our daily lives stems from her education in both Computer Science and Digital Media from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Krista will share her journey from development to program management at Google, insights on blending tech and design, and advice for those looking to pivot their careers in the tech industry. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH KRISTA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krspea/ Website: http://cxwithkris.com/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - Discovering TPM & Google 8:30 - Using Stories in Interviews 17:25 - Taking the Traditional Route 24:35 - Getting the First Role 27:37 - Certifications 36:57 - CX With Kris 41:07 - Networking 43:27 - Salary Progression 45:56 - What Makes A Good Program Manager? 49:35 - Addressing Competing Priorities or Resources 51:58 - Switching Between Engineering and Management 54:09 - Owning the Outcome 56:00 - Getting Things Done 58:50 - Final Words 1:01:40 - Conclusion

How do companies like Instagram, Duolingo and Spotify create apps that wow their customers every single day? Maleea, a UX Researcher, has the answers. On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Maleea Sade Kim. Maleea is a UX Researcher who transitioned into tech after earning degrees in psychology and foreign affairs. With experience in education and digital marketing in South Korea, she brings a unique perspective to the world of user research. Passionate about helping others, Maleea leverages her curiosity to challenge norms in UX research. She has gained valuable insights on networking, breaking into tech, and standing out as a UX Researcher. Maleea will share her journey transitioning into tech, the keys to successful networking, and advice for those looking to enter the tech space. She'll also discuss how she uses her diverse background to excel in user research and how she gives back through coffee chats in her free time. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH MALEEA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maleea-s-kim/ Website: https://uxfol.io/maleeakim CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:55 - Why Tech? 5:50 - Choosing between Design and Research 10:00 - Working in Korea 13:00 - Google, Walmart, PayPal 17:10 - Adapting to Roles 20:40 - Job Search Strategy and Networking 43:33 - Salary Progression 45:00 - Skills and Certifications 51:43 - Portfolio 1:02:20 - Final Words 1:04:45 - Conclusion

Meet the man that helped build Twitter! The #WorkingInTech series follows the career journeys of thriving tech professionals. We unpack their career stories to turn lessons learned into useful tips to help you make winning career moves. On Friday 9/20, I’ll be speaking with Bobby Dorlus, a veteran Engineer turned Professional Speaker with over 20 years of experience in technology and engineering. Bobby's expertise lies in site reliability engineering (SRE), with a focus on hyper-scale distributed infrastructure. During his impressive 9-year stint at Twitter, Bobby achieved the prestigious title of Staff Engineer, breaking barriers as one of the few Black engineers to reach this level. He'll share his firsthand account of Twitter's technological evolution and its journey towards diversity and inclusion. In this episode, Bobby will discuss: - His transition from engineering to professional speaking - The challenges and triumphs of being a Black engineer in Silicon Valley - His current mission with #TheTechHustle to mentor and inspire the next generation of diverse tech talent 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH BOBBY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-bobby-dorlus/ The Tech Hustle: http://thetechhustle.com/ GitHub: https://github.com/bdorlus CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 4:00 - Discovering Tech 8:30 - Skills over Diplomas 17:20 - Mentorship and Building Relationships 22:08 - Tech is Everywhere 25:38 - Layoffs 31:00 - Working at Twitter 49:45 - Planning a Career in Big Tech 54:00 - Salary Progression 56:00 - #TheTechHustle59:10 - Final Words 1:00:55 - Conclusion

What do the FBI, PlayStation, and Google all have in common? They all need top talent. And throughout his career, Jevic has been the go-to expert helping companies like these hire the right people, especially Black talent in tech. On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Jevic Muteba. Jevic is a former NCAA student-athlete who successfully transitioned from basketball to the dynamic world of high-growth tech organizations. With over 15 years of experience in Sales, Media, and SaaS, Jevic has developed deep expertise in cultivating vital business partnerships, overseeing contractual agreements, and leading event and vendor procedures. Born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Jevic has leveraged his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to social justice to cultivate strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies like Google, FBI, and PlayStation. Jevic works closely with teams focused on DEI, Talent Acquisition, Multicultural Event Marketing, and Employer Branding. Jevic will share insights on driving career advancement, enhancing brand visibility, improving talent acquisition strategies, and bolstering employee retention, especially for Black Talent in Tech. 𝕏 CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIALS 𝕏 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juwonthetechie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuwonTheTechie Threads: https://www.threads.net/@juwonthetechie IG: https://www.instagram.com/juwonthetechie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juwon-io/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juwonthetechie CONNECT WITH JEVIC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jevicmuteba/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Why Tech? 4:20 - Scaling Up 6:40 - Putting in the Work 12:45 - Talent Development 16:20 - Networking 21:55 - Building Curiosity 28:35 - Job Search and Building Value 49:55 - Salary Progression 53:40 - Future of Tech 55:57 - Entryway 57:50 - Jevic’s Podcast 59:30 - Final Words 1:00:33 - Conclusion