Working In Tech

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Ayotomide Alo. Ayo is a Business Analyst with over a decade of experience in technology solution projects, specializing in Process Improvement, Automation, and Robotics Process Automation (RPA). As a Data Analyst, Ayo has worked extensively on productivity data analysis and reporting, from data cleaning to visualization, and from data gathering to storytelling. He's also a founding partner at HiTech Blitz Consulting, where he helps businesses make informed decisions through data analysis. Today, Ayo will share his journey from a background in English Language and Communication Management to becoming a tech expert, his experience in data analysis and visualization, and how he's helping newcomers start their tech careers through training programs at HiTech Blitz Consulting. 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 AYO LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayotomide-alo/ Website: http://www.hitechblitz.com/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 2:00 - Communication to Tech 7:50 - Fitting In as An Immigrant 12:45 - Building a Network 19:32 - Data Analyst Skills 22:40 - Storytelling in Data 30:50 - Certifications 35:15 - Building a Startup 38:17 - AI In Tech 52:30 - Culture Shock 54:50 - Learning Resources 57:00 - Tips for Newbies 1:03:45 - Shoutouts 1:07:10 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Miriam, a Partner Success Manager at ApprovalMax. With a hands-on approach, Miriam guides clients through the onboarding process, ensuring they are set up for success. She helps businesses streamline their financial processes and improve their operations using technology. Today, Miriam will share her experience in the tech industry, her role in helping businesses adopt new technologies, and how to kickstart a career in the B2B space 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 MIRIAM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-owusu-405aa9231/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - Playing Soccer and Tech 6:40 - Breaking into Tech 11:35 - Networking 19:45 - 3 Skills to Have 29:50 - Certifications 33:45 - Community 44:10 - Switching Industries 50:23 - Building Confidence 53:05 - Job-hopping 56:50 - Salary Progression 1:02:30 - Good Reading 1:03:25 - Shoutouts 1:05:10 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Shaundai. Shaundai is a Senior Software Engineer at Netflix and a TC39 Delegate based in Atlanta, GA. She's passionate about making programming interesting and approachable for all. Shaundai shares her expertise through her work as a course instructor at [tsforjs.com](http://tsforjs.com/) and as a technical blogger. Her efforts focus on breaking down complex programming concepts and making them accessible to a wider audience. Today, Shaundai will share her journey in software engineering, her experience as a TC39 Delegate, and her approach to creating engaging tech education content. She'll also offer advice for aspiring developers looking to enter the field and make their mark 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 SHAUNDAI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaundai/ Twitter: https://x.com/shaundai Blog: http://www.tsforjs.com/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why Tech? 4:00 - Sales to Engineering 19:36 - Community and Self-learning 35:30 - Passion and Success 39:39 - Biggest Surprise 44:05 - Cold DMs 52:33 - Using Sales Skills 54:45 - Salary Progression 57:50 - Shoutouts! 1:01:10 - Referrals 1:05:10 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Nomi Nazeer. Nomi is a Global Business Strategy Manager at Microsoft with 25 years of experience across various business functions in tech. At Microsoft, he drives business architecture for Data Security and Data Governance in the era of AI. Passionate about collaboration, Nomi has worked in retail, sales, channel development, partner alliance management, global marketing, events, market research, business strategy, and business operations. His strength lies in helping people and organizations work together to build value-rich businesses while nurturing partner alliances for mutual success. Today, Nomi will share his journey through different tech roles, insights on building successful partnerships, and advice for adapting to new technologies like AI in the business world. 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 NAUMAN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nauman-nomi-nazeer-he-him-52062919/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 2:49 - Why Tech? 9:30 - Career Trajectory 17:18 - Advice for Newcomers 23:00 - Learning Sales 31:55 - Top 3 Skills 45:45 - Certifications 47:45 - Standing Out 50:55 - Salary Progression 53:10 - Networking 1:01:55 - Final Words 1:03:35 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're talking to Ady. Ady is a JavaScript Tech Lead and UI Architect with 24 years of experience in the tech industry. He specializes in building simple, engaging, and intuitive consumer-facing products. Passionate about user experience, Ady has spent his career producing intuitive systems that are easy to scale and maintain. His journey in tech began with a curiosity about how computers work, sparked by playing PacMan. Today, Ady will share his journey in front-end development, keys to creating user-friendly and scalable systems, and advice for aspiring UI architects looking to build a long-lasting career 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 ADY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adyngom/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Discussing UI 11:00 - Why Tech 14:30 - First Project 19:25 - Securing The First Role 28:05 - Dealing with Setbacks 32:50 - Salary Progression 39:25 - Mistakes to Avoid 47:30 - Web Dev vs App Dev 50:30 - Starting Out New 53:15 - Finding Community 56:20 - Building a Network 1:05:30 - Final Words 1:08:00 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkingInTech, we're chatting with Bobby McNeil Jr., an experienced Talent Acquisition Manager with a decade of delivering successful recruitment strategies across Fortune 500 companies. Bobby's expertise lies in identifying top talent for roles like Software Engineering, R&D, Corporate IT, and non-technical positions. His abilities have earned him recognition as an industry leader and trusted voice. As the President of the award-winning Blacks in Technology Raleigh-Durham Chapter, Bobby champions diversity and inclusion within the tech industry. With hundreds of successful hires under his belt, Bobby takes pride in guiding job seekers towards rewarding opportunities and witnessing their professional growth. Before recruiting, Bobby had a successful college basketball career, even winning an NCAA National Championship. In this episode, Bobby shares insights on talent acquisition, career coaching, and his upcoming book providing candid advice for job seekers in today's corporate landscape. If you enjoy the discussion, leave a like and share! 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/bmcneil/ Website: https://direct.me/bobbythebuilder CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:55 - Why Tech? 6:20 - Recruiting in and out of Tech 10:40 - Transferable Skills 16:50 - Sports and Tech 29:45 - DEI and ‘Breaking into Tech’ 37:15 - Resume and Interviewing 50:45 - Challenges 52:29 - Salary 53:35 - Dealing with Rejection 55:25 - Recruiting and HR 59:45 - Moving within Recruitment 1:02:30 - Bobby's Book and His Work With BIT 1:05:55 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Sean Oliver. Sean is a Senior Business Analytics Lead at Microsoft with experience working for Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Accenture, and Starbucks. Passionate about writing and mentoring, Sean has published over 30,000 words online on topics including productivity, decision-making, and networking. Sean has guided numerous early career students and professionals, helping them navigate the complexities of their industries. Today, Sean will share his journey in business analytics, insights on productivity and decision-making in tech, and advice for aspiring professionals looking to make their mark in the 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 SEAN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-e-oliver/ Sean's Essays: typeshare.co/seanoliver CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 2:20 - Why Tech? 4:40 - Should I Wait or Not? 19:30 - First Interview 21:55 - Weakness to Strength 27:40 - First Step 42:50 - Contract vs Full-time 46:15 - Career Progression 51:10 - Switching Industries 56:10 - Direction 1:03:45 - Final Words 1:04:15 - Conclusion

On this episode we chat with Torrance Evans, a software engineer at JP Morgan with an unconventional path. He earned a business administration degree on a basketball scholarship and has entrepreneurial experience in real estate, car rentals, and Airbnb. Torrance started coding through self-teaching and later joined a sponsored program covering his tuition. He's actively involved in the community, leading the Atlanta chapter of Black Boys Code, a nonprofit teaching African American boys coding and tech opportunities. Torrance also serves on the board of directors for the Atlanta chapter of Blacks in Technology. He builds community through his email list, sharing weekly networking events in Atlanta for tech professionals seeking career pivots, networking, or employment. RESOURCES Free Code Camp: https://www.freecodecamp.org/ LinkedIn Interviews: https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-do-you-overcome-common-online-interview-challenges Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/ Educative: https://www.educative.io/ Microsoft LEAP: https://leap.microsoft.com/en-US/ JP Morgan ETSE: https://careers.jpmorgan.com/global/en/students/programs/emerging-talent-software-engineers-fulltime 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 TORRANCE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torranceevans/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:55 - Community Work 4:00 - Learning Programming 5:50 - Building Connections 7:50 - Breaking into Tech 10:10 - Picking a Path into Programming 11:55 - Salary Progression 14:30 - Benefits of Joining Communities 17:30 - Learning and Doing 19:40 - Dealing with the Difficulties 23:25 - Combining your Talents 25:12 - Getting More Black People in Tech 30:42 - Resources 34:30 - Knowing When to Apply 41:00 - Learning on Your Own 51:45 - Picking a Good Bootcamp 56:23 - Job Security 59:25 - Certifications 1:04:25 - Final Words 1:05:20 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Zachary Johnson. Zachary is a dedicated Product Manager with a strong background in leading cross-functional teams and driving product development. He excels in creating strategies that enhance user experience and boost business growth. Today, Zachary will share insights into his career journey, strategies for successful product management, and advice on how to thrive in the fast-paced 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 ZACHARY LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharydavidjohnson/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Breaking into Tech 8:15 - Product Mgt. and Data Science 11:45 - CEO to 9-5 18:25 - Community 20:54 - Top 3 Skills for Product Managers 24:15 - Learning Communication 30:40 - Salary Progression 33:08 - Skills Product Mgt. Recruiters Want 36:45 - Exciting Developments in Tech 40:00 - Day-to-Day of a Product Manager 42:25 - Math in Tech 46:22 - Tech Jargon 50:06 - Growth Product Manager 53:50 - Final Words 55:20 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're talking to Lawrence Lockhart (LawrenceDCodes). Lawrence is a former hospitality manager turned full stack software developer who loves enhancing the customer experience with digital products. In his personal time, Lawrence is continually learning and investing time in others seeking to build their tech skills and communities. He's positioned himself as a developer advocate for the soon-to-be-developer. Lawrence is a coding bootcamp teaching assistant, tech meetup leader, and Advisory Board Member for the Memphis Technology Foundation. Today, Lawrence will share his journey pivoting from hospitality to tech, keys to paying it forward through mentorship and community building, and advice for making an impact beyond just your day job. 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 LAWRENCE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencelockhart/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 2:30 - Why Tech? 15:30 - Going the Extra Mile 20:53 - Starting and Quitting 25:32 - Staying Motivated 29:04 - Using Transferable Skills 46:25 - Aligning Visions 48:39 - Bootcamps and Degrees 55:04 - Certifications 1:01:40 - Finding a Mentor 1:09:41 - RenderATL 1:12:30 - Conclusion