Working In Tech

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Mariame Sow, a Google Cloud specialist. Mariame transitioned from biology and sales into cloud computing. Her background allows her to bridge technology and real-world applications. Mariame helps clients tailor Google Cloud solutions to optimize operations and drive growth. Today, Mariame will discuss her journey into cloud computing and how you can make the switch too. 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 MARIAME LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamesherazadsow/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 2:35 - Cloud Training Program 3:55 - Acronyms in Sales 5:00 - Collaboration in Sales Roles 6:50 - Choosing Sales as a Career 9:55 - Google Cloud Certification 12:55 - Networking & Building Relationships 20:23 - Soft Skills 24:43 - Salary Progression 28:50 - B2B Sales Background 31:30 - Best Certifications for Cloud Sales 32:36 - Strategies for Quick Career Growth 35:50 - Job Search Strategies 38:30 - Growing Competence in Sales 44:25 - Sales Tools and Software 46:10 - Biggest Cloud Platforms 47:00 - Taking the Difficult Path 48:56 - Being a Minority in Sales 51:10 - Typical Day at Work 52:05 - Red Flags to Avoid 53:44 - Exciting Trends in Cloud Computing & AI 58:34 - Final Words 59:24 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Chanel, a seasoned Chemist and Mathematician turned Software Engineer. She excels at and is passionate about enhancing user experiences. Known for dynamic conference sessions, she has spoken at prestigious events and founded the Mentor Me Collective to address education & wealth gaps in tech. Through her leadership, Chanel has facilitated over 400+ BIPOC individuals in securing 6-figure tech careers, totaling $30M+ in compensation. As the previous President of the Blacks in Technology, NYC Chapter, she served & dedicated her expertise to uplift various tech communities, aiming to amplify black representation. Her mission is to cultivate community, develop black talent, and increase awareness in the tech industry. Today, Chanel will share her journey from Chemist to Software Engineer, keys to building successful mentorship programs, and advice for creating a more diverse and inclusive tech industry. 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 CHANEL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/powerc1/ MentorMeCollective: https://www.mentormecollective.org/ RESOURCES Adobe Creative Types - https://mycreativetype.com/about/ Character Strengths Survey - https://www.viacharacter.org/account/register 16 Personalities - https://www.16personalities.com/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - STEM to Tech 15:15 - Bringing Others Into Tech 27:00 - Finding Success 32:15 - Top 3 Skills 38:15 - Starting All Over Again 49:32 - Working at Apple 51:52 - Job Application Tips 56:49 - Working in Non-diverse Spaces 1:00:10 - Big Tech vs Startups 1:01:25 - Encouraging Others 1:04:00 - One Piece of Advice 1:06:28 - Final Words 1:07:50 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Patricia Dada. Patricia initially worked as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Consultant before making an unexpected career transition into the fertility tech industry as a Project Manager. Noticing disparities in crucial reproductive healthcare services for the Black community, Patricia founded the Black Fertility Journal Inc. (BFJ), a startup committed to providing tailored fertility education, resources, and services. Patricia holds a Master's Degree in Social Justice and Community Engagement and plans to pursue a PhD as she continues her work in the fertility tech industry. Today, Patricia will share her journey pivoting from DE&I consulting into fertility tech, as well as her mission and motivations behind founding BFJ. Get ready for an insightful discussion on blending social justice advocacy with technology to address healthcare inequities. 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 PATRICIA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadada CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:39 - Why FertilityTech? 9:15 - Racial Issues in Corporations 26:55 - What is FertilityTech? 29:30 - Tech in Healthcare 31:20 - Skillhat 34:55 - Building Domain Knowledge 36:40 - Building Impactful Relationships 40:28 - Chasing the Vision 45:05 - Interviews and Negotiation 48:37 - Tech Jobs for Introverts 54:30 - Day at the Job 1:01:15 - Final Words 1:02:40 - Conclusion

On this #WorkingInTech episode, we'll talk with Denise Sagoes, a Learning Content Strategist at Google Fiber. Denise has a background in teaching and now empowers users through well-written content. At Google Fiber, Denise manages a team that produces helpful emails, articles, and newsletters for training programs. She ensures the learning materials are easy to understand for customers and employees. Denise also advocates for diversity as a leader of the Women's and Black Employee groups. Her passion project teaches leadership and professional development to children early on. Today, Denise discusses her path into tech education, creating engaging learning content, and supporting underrepresented groups. 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 DENISE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-sagoes/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - “How I Got Into Tech” 3:15 - Teaching Career 5:18 - Passion vs Work 16:20 - Building a Solid Foundation 18:33 - Building a Network 27:45 - Starting All Over Again 31:43 - Growth Potential in LND 36:00 - Communication 36:59 - Tools Used in LND 45:02 - Courses on Technical Writing 50:10 - Joining the ERG 52:00 - Resources 1:00:05 - Final Words 1:00:45 - Conclusion

On this episode of the #WorkinginTech livestream, we're joined by Tarena Lofton, a skilled content and social media specialist who has forged an exceptional career path through the art of storytelling. With a background in journalism and public relations, Tarena's expertise lies in translating complex concepts into easily digestible content tailored for specific audiences. Her journey has provided her with invaluable wisdom for professionals looking to understand their value in the workplace and align their careers with their unique skillsets. Throughout her career, Tarena has demonstrated her prowess by successfully coordinating and managing various content projects for upper management, generating significant brand growth and recognition for several brands and clients. As a content manager, she takes the lead in creating daily healthcare and health policy stories, strategically promoting that content across social platforms. During the conversation, Tarena shares her inspiring journey, highlighting how she leveraged her natural storytelling abilities to build a thriving career in content and social media management. She offers insights into effectively communicating intricate messages to diverse audiences and explores the transferable skills that have driven her success. With a goal to lead creative and innovative projects that resonate with a growing audience, Tarena exemplifies the power of authentic communication and strategic content creation. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives from her unique career path and approach to impactful storytelling in the digital age. 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 TARENA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarena-lofton-mpa/ CHAPTERS 0:35 - Intro 1:02 - Why Tech? 2:47 - Internship 4:40 - Stumbling Onto a Path 7:50 - Working in the U.S House of Representatives 10:36 - Moving to the Private Sector 11:58 - Power of Storytelling 15:40 - Using Transferable Skills 20:35 - Networking 22:05 - Starting Out New 24:45 - The Death of Digital Marketing? 27:15 - Growing a Brand 34:27 - Making Boring Content Fun 37:08 - Importance of Mentors 40:11 - Most Challenging Skill to Learn 44:00 - Typical Day 46:31 - Skills and Experiences from College 54:00 - Courses & Certifications 55:00 - “What I would do different” 59:35 - Final Words 1:00:15 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Abiola, an experienced product manager with over 5 years of driving product strategies aligned with company objectives. At MLSE, Abiola leads key initiatives to enhance user engagement and boost retail sales. His prior roles at Publicis Sapient and Buzzbite highlight his ability to manage and enhance digital products. Today, Abiola will share insights into crafting winning product strategies, aligning cross-functional teams, and leveraging data to drive engagement and growth. 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 ABIOLA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiola-oyedepo-049bb0204/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Why Tech? 2:44 - Getting Into Tech 5:51 - Beating Impostor Syndrome 9:00 - Building The Skills 10:28 - Toronto Raptors and MLSE 19:40 - The Job of A Product Manager 23:37 - Certifications 31:19 - Networking 39:18 - Building Relationships with Stakeholders 43:36 - Salary Progression 45:40 - Tools to Learn 50:35 - Process Mapping 51:15 - Best Industries for PMs 54:40 - Azure? 55:30 - Skills For Aspiring PMs 56:43 - Perfecting Product Mapping 58:05 - Making Your Mark In The 1st 90 Days 59:08 - Final Words 1:00:15 - Using Feedback in Product Management 1:00:57 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with John C. Hulede. John got his start in sales after graduating with a degree in Marketing and being a 4-year Division 1 collegiate golfer. After a few years in sales, he went on to get a Master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland, which helps him understand the needs and challenges of his customers and provide them with effective solutions. John also founded the Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship (HCGS) in March 2022 to serve as a mentor, award financial aid to current and future minority collegiate golfers, and help students navigate their careers post-undergrad. In just 3 years, HCGS has awarded 14 scholarships and over $32,000. Today, John will share insights on leveraging his unique background to thrive in sales, and how he's making an impact through the Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship. 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 JOHN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jchmps/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Why Tech? 5:43 - Interviews 7:22 - Importance of the First Role 9:00 - Golfing in College 13:27 - Sports and Sales 15:48 - Networking 17:29 - Must-have Skills in Tech Sales 20:00 - EdTech Experience 23:40 - Working in Media 27:30 - A Full Sales Cycle 30:00 - Salary Progression 35:10 - Building Discipline 37:05 - Starting All Over Again 40:55 - Self Improvement 43:02 - John's Scholarship Program 45:18 - Getting Motivation 47:15 - Importance of Tech Conferences 51:30 - Most Rewarding Part of His Job 53:40 - Doing Good 56:15 - Approaching Mentors and Building Support Systems 1:00:01 - Final Words 1:00:35 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Kelsey Hightower. Kelsey is a celebrated software engineer, developer advocate, and speaker known for his work with Kubernetes, open-source software, and cloud computing. Kelsey dropped out of college and taught himself the skills required to start his career as an independent contractor for BellSouth, before becoming involved in the open-source world, working at New Relic, CoreOS, Puppet Labs, and most recently at Google. Kelsey has become one of the most well-known speakers on Kubernetes, and has also spoken on other topics, including serverless computing. He has co-founded the Kubernetes-focused conference KubeCon and co-wrote the book "Kubernetes Up and Running." Kelsey will share his remarkable career journey and insights on the power of open-source software and cloud computing. Get ready for an insightful discussion! 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 KELSEY Twitter: https://x.com/kelseyhightower CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - Why Tech? 4:21 - Finding Resources in the 90's 7:38 - Job Search Strategy 11:16 - Experience as an Entrepreneur 16:14 - Landing the First Role 19:41 - Settling Down 24:04 - Working in a Team 28:46 - The Power of Networking 35:37 - Moving into Kubernetes 40:48 - Certifications & Learning 43:27 - Starting Out New 46:00 - Building Communication Skills 49:37 - What Is Kubernetes? 55:32 - Render(ATL) Keynote Prep 58:50 - Retirement 1:14:52 - Avoiding Burnout 1:19:26 - Final Words 1:20:28 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Shadai Reid. With a background steeped in customer service, Shadai made a bold leap into the world of technology as a Business Analyst. Her journey was defined by rapid upskilling and transformative growth, culminating in a remarkable achievement: tripling her salary in less than a year. Today, Shadai stands as a seasoned tech consultant, leveraging her expertise to navigate the intricate landscape of technology consulting with finesse. Drawing from her own experiences and insights gained along the way, Shadai has authored an empowering eBook tailored for those seeking to make a similar transition into the tech consultancy realm, particularly within the dynamic US market. Join us as Shadai shares invaluable knowledge and strategies to pave the way for success in this exhilarating field. 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 SHADAI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadai-reid/ Shadai's E-book: https://shadaireid.gumroad.com/l/hhjvv CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Why Tech? 4:40 - Business Analysis vs Project Management 6:04 - Biggest Surprise 8:30 - Communicating With Stakeholders 10:09 - Landing the First Role 13:08 - Theory vs Practice 16:43 - 3xing Her Salary 21:25 - Academic Background 22:18 - Working Across Industries 24:40 - Negotiating Pay 26:27 - Certifications 28:25 - Contracting vs. Full-time 32:49 - Learning Salesforce 35:27 - Picking a Career Path 38:10 - Handling Change 42:45 - Networking 50:14 - Skills 52:52 - Salary Progression 54:46 - SHADAI’S E-BOOK 56:34 - Best Part of the Job 59:18 - Final Words 1:01:45 - Conclusion

On this episode of #WorkinginTech, we're chatting with Diamond Rae, a dynamic professional celebrated for her exceptional interpersonal skills and remarkable career transition from aviation to tech. With over a decade of experience as a Flight Attendant at Delta Air Lines, Diamond honed her ability to deliver outstanding customer service and thrive in high-pressure situations. Leveraging her warm demeanor and adaptability, Diamond seamlessly transitioned into the role of DEI Recruiting Events Program Manager at HP, Inc. In this position, her knack for collaboration and meticulous event planning shines as she orchestrates successful initiatives, fostering inclusive environments, and driving organizational growth. With a marketing degree from Clark Atlanta University and an MBA from Walden University, Diamond combines her diverse skill set with a genuine passion for creating meaningful experiences and building strong relationships across industries. Today, Diamond will share her inspiring journey from the skies to the tech world, offering insights on navigating career transitions, leveraging transferable skills, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Get ready for an engaging discussion filled with valuable lessons and strategies for professional growth and success. 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 DIAMOND LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diamondrae/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Why Tech? 5:43 - Challenges 8:08 - Networking 13:45 - The Recruitment and DEI Ecosystem 18:10 - Getting into DEI Recruitment 23:10 - Top 3 Skills 27:30 - Finding Balance 30:45 - Mistakes Newbies Make 32:05 - Making Your Resume Speak 33:33 - Regrets and Mistakes 37:44 - Building Workplace Relationships 41:28 - Lessons Learned & Favourite Role 44:28 - Salary Progression 46:58 - Responsibilities of the Role 50:00 - Working with Multiple Stakeholders 51:20 - Misconceptions 56:00 - DEI and Getting Black People in Tech 1:03:50 - Final Words 1:04:28 - Conclusion