Here's your look at the latest hires and promotions across the tech community at Vestmark and NetSPI.

Did I miss your new employees? Send me an email with their name and details about their new role. I'll add them to next week's edition of Talent on the Move. 

Vestmark

Tatyana Ryabchenko

 

VP, Director of Investment Products at Vestmark

Previously, Executive Director at Eaton Vance

Vestmark is hiring!

NetSPI

John Spiliotis

 

Appointed to Director Board of Directors at NetSPI

 

Scott Lundgren

 

Appointed to Board Member at NetSPI

 

 

RapDev

Elyse Neumeier

 

Poeple at RapDev
 

Previously, Chief People Officer at Cometeer

 

 

 

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Jason Weeks, Sr Software Engineer at Spoiler Alert shares his story.

What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

As an African-American software engineer in tech, I find the ability to create innovative and transformative products incredibly inspiring. My passion for technology started when I saw how transformative it can be in solving real-world problems. I believe that technology can be used to bridge the gap between social and economic disparities, and that's why I got into the tech industry, and specifically my current company, Spoiler Alert. Software engineering allows me to be creative, solve complex problems, and make a positive impact on society. I believe that with the right application, technology can make a significant difference in our world, and I'm proud to be a part of this industry that is changing the world for the better.

What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Spoiler Alert? 

I've had an incredible journey in the tech industry, and every position I've held has led me to where I am today. I started my career as a Developer in Residence, where I taught fluency in various programming languages to students who had the desire to turn their ideas into actual web applications. This experience made me realize how much I loved teaching, and I decided to pursue it further.

I then served as an Instructional Associate.  I learned how to motivate students to persevere through the challenges of creating web applications, which would eventually lead them to success.

After leaving General Assembly, I joined the Innovation Accelerator team as a Software Engineer, where I developed various in-house applications based on company patents, working with a small remote team. I then moved on to Invicro, where I assessed, improved, and maintained code in a bio-technology environment.

All these positions have led me to my current role at Spoiler Alert as a Senior Software Engineer. Here, I have collaborated on data modeling and system architecture, designed, written, and tested our platform, contributed to the design and implementation of UI/UX, incorporated third-party APIs, and helped lead key features through the development process. I've used various technologies, including JavaScript, TypeScript, React, GraphQL, Node, Express, MongoDB, Mocha, Chai, Kubernetes, and Google Cloud Platform.

Every position I have held has been instrumental in helping me learn and grow, and I am proud to have come this far.

What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional? 

I think my success can be attributed to my passion for technology and my willingness to continuously learn and improve. As a diverse professional, I've faced obstacles such as bias and stereotypes, but I've been able to overcome them by staying focused on my goals and building a strong support network.

What types of programs and initiatives does Spoiler Alert have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Spoiler Alert has several programs and initiatives that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. One of these is the company's commitment to building a diverse and inclusive team. Spoiler Alert strives to hire individuals from a range of backgrounds and experiences, and has created an inclusive work environment where all employees can feel valued and supported.

In addition to its hiring practices, Spoiler Alert also offers a variety of employee benefits that promote diversity and inclusion. For example, the company offers flexible work arrangements and paid parental leave, which can help support a more diverse range of employees.

Furthermore, Spoiler Alert has implemented programs that support diversity and inclusion beyond its own workforce. The company partners with local organizations that serve communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the food industry, and provides them with access to its surplus food donation platform. This helps to reduce food waste while also increasing access to healthy food in underserved communities.

Overall, Spoiler Alert's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in its hiring practices, employee benefits, and community partnerships. By prioritizing these values, the company is not only creating a more inclusive workplace, but also making a positive impact in the broader community.

What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry? 

My advice to other diverse professionals interested in joining the tech industry is to never give up on your goals, stay true to your values, and build a strong support network. It's also important to continuously learn and improve, as the tech industry is constantly evolving.

While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?

To make a lasting change, companies and employees can take action by investing in diversity and inclusion initiatives, creating inclusive workplaces, and actively seeking out diverse talent. It's also important to hold individuals and organizations accountable for their actions and to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Kimberly Gordon-Brown, Associate General Counsel at Acquia shares her story.

Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? What did your parents do for work? 

I was raised in Boston and I am the child of two immigrant parents. Both of my parents moved to the US from Jamaica when they were in their twenties. My father was a computer engineer and my mother was a high-level medical records manager at a major Boston hospital.

As a kid I spent all my time dancing. I love(d) every type of dance, but I was most in love with ballet, so I was always on a stage or traveling for competitions. 

Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating? 

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Simmons University in Boston. I then got my MBA from Suffolk University before receiving my JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.  After graduating law school and passing the Bar Exam, I moved back to Boston and began working as an associate attorney, then moved to the US Attorney’s Office in Boston.    

What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

I stumbled my way into the tech industry. My interest in tech began while I was working at the US Attorney’s Office, but I didn’t work directly in tech until I worked at a major bank. I was pulled into the legal tech department, working with all of the bank’s tech vendors, and realized that I really enjoyed the niche.

What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Acquia? 

I have worked at a large, federally regulated bank and at a midsized tech company. In both roles, I worked as an attorney handling tech agreements for my business counterparts. In my current role at Acquia, my responsibilities cover a much larger breadth of the legal side of a tech company, including commercial, privacy, governance, IP and much more.  

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position at Acquia?

As Associate General Counsel at Acquia, I administer the legal affairs of the company by providing legal advice and balanced business solutions that minimize liability exposure, implement appropriate policies, practices, and procedures, and establish trusted partnerships with business counterparts in furtherance of the company’s vital few objectives.

What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional? 

A driving force in my success has been that I decided very early on that giving up on goals that I set for myself was not an option, as well as being diligent in creating and growing relationships along the way. An obstacle, or at least a blatant perceived obstacle, is that more often than not I am the only Black female in a role or company. As a Black woman, it is harder to see yourself in a place where there have never been any who look like you, or are seen as the anomaly. On the other side of that, being that anomaly has provided me with the opportunity to stand out, show my worth and value, and show the importance of a voice such as mine.

What types of programs and initiatives does Acquia have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Acquia has programs and plans in place that practice diverse hiring, support STEM education for underrepresented groups, and expand employee education and access to resources. I am the leader of Acquia’s Black Employee Resource Group, AABLE (Acquia Alliance of Black Leaders in Excellence). AABLE is a leading voice within Acquia, partnering with Acquia leadership and other internal groups to support Black employees at all levels, and enabling innovative ideas and opportunities to develop and grow to increase Acquia’s diversity outlook. Acquia is also able to lean on direction from Vista Equity Partners and the robust DEI initiatives provided there.

What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry? 

I would say to learn the nuances and niche knowledge that is necessary within the tech industry, because it gives you a good background before you even begin. It is often a Google search away to find what is required and preferred for roles you are interested in. 

While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?

It is important to make real, tangible, and quantifiable efforts in not only diversity hiring but also diversity talent retainment. It is great when more tech companies implement diversity hiring, but retaining those employees is just as important and usually falls to the wayside, bringing us back to square one. Thus, it is important to have an inclusive culture giving a voice to all employees and provide training and resources where necessary.

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Anthony Spaulding, Sr. Server Database Service Engineer at Duck Creek Technology shares his story.

Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? What did your parents do for work? 

I grew up in Chicago, IL, mainly on the west side of the city. Growing up, I loved playing sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoyed watching the college and professional levels. Some of my favorite college teams were the Illinois Fighting Illini, Oklahoma Sooners, UNLV Running Rebels, Michigan Wolverines, and Ohio State Buckeyes. On the professional level, I followed the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bulls, and Bears. 

My dad worked at Sears for about 40 years until they closed. My mother worked as a nurse in various nursing homes. Without knowing it at the time, I guess I was destined to work in tech. I used to have visions and dreams about working with computers.

Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating? 

I received a bachelor’s degree at DeVry Institute (University now) in Computer Information Systems.

What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

I was inspired by my mom to go to college and I was the first out of all of my siblings to go. Although I didn’t know much about computers at the time or even have a computer at home, I always had an unshakeable vision or dream about working with them.

What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Duck Creek Technology? 

I started off as a Programmer/Programmer Analyst (known as a Developer now) submitting my query codes to Database Admins. Then I became a Jr Database Admin/ Database Admin back in 2010 and kept doing some developer work in other positions I held until about 2017. Since then I have been totally focused on Database Administration work.

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as Sr. Server Database Service Engineer at Duck Creek Technology? 

Some of my responsibilities include training fellow associates, migrating data from one environment to another, backing up and restoring databases, providing database maintenance, and troubleshooting database-related issues.

What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional? 

There are times in my professional career path where I felt like I was overlooked for a job and/or promotion due to my ethnicity, but I have turned those obstacles into opportunities, which has contributed to me continually growing and excelling in life.

What types of programs and initiatives does Duck Creek Technology have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?

BRG (Black Resource Group), WRG (Women Resource Group), VOLAR (Latino Resource Group, VERG (Veterans Employee Resource Group), and Emerging Leaders. I am involved with and try to support each one of these resource groups as much as possible. 

What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry? 

If you are interested in joining the tech industry and you feel like this is your career path, don’t be afraid to join this industry, even if you don’t see as many Black professionals in the same field. When I joined Duck Creek, I think I was the only Black professional in the Illinois office but now there are more Black professionals in that office and at least 5 more working with me on the same team.

While general awareness to increase diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference? 

Continue to push the initiative for inclusion and diversity. Don’t let it be a one or two-year project that dwindles down to no initiative at all. I think that the more we get to know one another and start to understand one another across various backgrounds and life experiences, the fewer misunderstandings we have, and we can all change for the better. 

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Violette Similien Volodkevich, Software Engineer at Liberty Mutual shares her story.

Violette is a 2020 alum of Hack.Diversity which is transforming the economy by breaking down barriers for Black and Latine/x professionals in tech. Hack.Diversity partners with the fastest-growing technology teams to identify, develop, and place talent into internship-to-retention opportunities and to help evolve organizational practices to support the retention and promotion of that talent. Click here to learn more about Hack.Diversity.

Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? What did your parents do for work?

I grew up in a small mountain village in Southwestern, Haiti, outside of a small town called Beaumont. We didn’t have electricity, running water, or roads. I had no access to technology, TV, or internet and did not use a computer until I was 15. Despite my lack of exposure to technology, I always had big dreams, a vivid imagination, and an overall curiosity about the rest of the world. Like many residents of our village, my parents were both farmers who fed us by growing plants, raising animals, and selling products at local markets in nearby towns and villages. After my father died when I was 10, my mother became what we call in Haitian Creole a Madan Sara, which refers to women who sold goods at the market full-time.

Can you talk about your experience as a Fellow at Hack.Diversity?

I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel when I joined Hack.Diversity as a Fellow in 2020. My experience was very rewarding – I was part of a highly motivated and talented community of diverse individuals all working towards the common goal of breaking down barriers for Black and Latinx professionals in tech. The Fellowship was extremely well-organized and provided an incredible amount of support, especially from their Mentors. Throughout my time at Hack.Diversity, I gained confidence, worked on interesting projects, and collaborated with a team of professionals, which really introduced me to the world of corporate technology. In addition to the technical upskilling and support, Hack.Diversity provided a fantastic platform for networking and community building, inspiring me to pursue my goals and become a software engineer.

How did Hack.Diversity help you navigate obstacles you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional.

The first thing I gained when I joined Hack.Diversity was my voice. I was afraid to talk in public because of my thick Haitian accent, but I was able to overcome that and explore my communication skills as an extrovert. Hack.Diversity also provided me with essential resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities that enabled me to move forward in my career. It was very helpful to be able to tap into their network in order to meet other Black professionals in the tech industry. Their mentorship program was also invaluable, helping me to access extra guidance and career advice from seasoned industry members. Furthermore, their online resources contained reviews, reports, and testimonials from Black professionals that gave me practical advice and insight into the challenges I might face in the industry.

What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Liberty Mutual?

I've been working for more than 10 years and have held a variety of different positions. My first job was working in customer service at a small Internet Cafe in Haiti. I lost my job after the earthquake in Haiti and went to work as a driver for the Red Cross. Afterward, I went to work as an executive assistant for the Haitian government. From there, I moved to the United States in 2013 where I worked in customer service and medical billing.  While working, I went to school for computer science and graduated with an associate's degree from Quincy College and bachelor’s degree from Boston University. During my last semester at Boston University, I started my tech journey as a Hack.Diversity Fellow and got an internship at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Since joining Liberty Mutual two and a half years ago, I have worked on three teams within the Technology organization as a Software Engineer.

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as a Software Engineer at Liberty Mutual?

I am currently part of a Developer team within the Data and Analytics department, building technologies to support the Data Science team. Our focus is to develop tools such as User Interface, Command Line Interface, S3 bucket, EC2s as well as help users get access to GPUs and containerized computing. I am currently working on a project to reduce usage costs for department users in our systems.

What does your professional future look like?

Liberty Mutual provides employees with a broad range of learning opportunities to help identify growth and job opportunities, as well as further develop skills. Over the past three years, I’ve had an opportunity to further my development, taking courses on product ownership and studying for Agile certifications.  I am also part of The Partnership Program, which focuses on career growth and leadership capabilities for people of color.

Through these experiences, I have learned that I enjoy working, collaborating, communicating and helping people grow, and my long-term goal is to work in an IT management position where I can help shape the next generation of tech talent.

What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry?

• Network and Join POC led tech organizations!

Before Hack.Diversity, I thought my dream of working within the tech industry was never going to happen. I applied for several internships and never got a call back. After joining Hack.Diversity, I started to believe in myself and gained more confidence, connected with other professionals with the same background, and networked with industry professionals. Networking helped me get to where I am today.

• Don’t sell yourself short, believe in the beauty of your dreams 

I never thought a little Black girl from Haiti like me could be where I am today. And I’m just getting started. Fight back against imposter syndrome and don’t listen to any voices telling you you don’t belong, including your own. I remember when I told a family member that I was switching my major to computer science, they said, “This is not a job for a Black immigrant” and suggested that I go into other fields that had more Black immigrants.I did not let that hinder me and continued to work even harder in school in order to ensure I could get a job in the tech field.

• The journey doesn’t end with getting a job, it is only beginning 

It is important to continuously improve your skills. Technology is evolving every day, and there are numerous fields within tech that require different types of skills. It is important to keep an innovative mind and be willing to grow and evolve.

While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken. Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?

It is important for companies to make their recruitment process more inclusive by working with tech organizations that support individuals from all backgrounds. Additionally, I think it is just as important to make sure that employees from marginalized communities have access to adequate professional development. 

For instance, Liberty Mutual has seven employee resource groups (ERGs) that bring employees from different backgrounds together, uplift their voices and help with professional development. I am part of the DEI group for Corporate Technology, where we meet twice a month to discuss various topics such as race, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and supporting people with disabilities in corporate settings. We explore and exchange ideas on how we can make everyone feel welcome in our tech organization, which has over 5,000 employees. Our group has employees from different backgrounds, and various positions. Being part of that group gives me a sense of belonging within the company, makes me feel as though I have a voice and I can be myself without being judged. 

Don’t just hire marginalized individuals but help them grow professionally. My hope is to see more Black people in management and executive positions in the tech industry. 

Lastly, it is important to make the hiring process more inclusive by not only looking for individuals with a four-year degree or come from a prestigious school, but also look to those who come from code schools, bootcamps and apprenticeship programs.

Before I became a software engineer, I was a single mom with no tech experience and it took a company being inclusive and taking a chance on me to get where I am today. More people need to be given that chance and having employees from all backgrounds will make these companies stronger.

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Zoey Cigar-Hodge, Customer Success Enablement Lead at Mimecast shares her story.

 Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? What did your parents do for work? 

I grew up the youngest of my parents' three children in Los Angeles, California. As a child, I was someone who was very quiet but once you got to know me you knew that I was also very outspoken, bold, and opinionated. In middle and high school I was very social and a part of a lot of different clubs like the Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club, step team, Junior Statesmen of America (JSA), journalism, and most formidable Minds Matter of Los Angeles. My parents were working class people, and they raised me very humbly in Compton, South Central Los Angeles. My mom and dad were separated, however, my mom was an educator and childcare worker while my dad worked in telecommunications and he also has his own business where he installs security cameras. 

Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating? 

I graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in American Studies. I originally wanted to study public health given the high school I graduated from was a magnet school focused on medicine and science. I had a few work study jobs and experiences in public health that made me realize public health is not what I thought it was. After graduating college, I moved to NYC... worked odd jobs and hustled to survive in the city until one day I got a reply for a temporary receptionist role I applied for and that landed me a permanent role on the sales team of one of the fastest growing startups at the time and that is how I got my start in tech. 

What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

I wasn't traditionally inspired to get into tech, to be honest, I just stumbled into it. I thought of tech as just being software engineers however, it is so much more than that. I honestly feel this has also contributed to my success in the tech industry because I am not your traditional tech employee thus I am more creative in my approach to the work I do. 

What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Mimecast? 

My career path in tech has been non-traditional. I started off my career in a sales role and was so good at that role as a loan officer that when the opportunity presented itself as the company was growing I applied to be a sales trainer. It was a lateral move for me that opened up opportunities to learn new skills and understand the foundations of enablement and corporate training. After my role as a trainer I was a Sales Enablement Manager at another startup and I was able to update their playbooks and this opportunity with Mimecast came about through a recruiter that came across my profile on LinkedIn who told me about the role, and it was the perfect fit given my prior experiences. 

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as a Customer Success Enablement Lead at Mimecast?

As the Customer Success (CS) Enabler I ensure the CS department is equipped with the tools they need in their role. On any given day I manage and build their learning management system courses and reference guides, organize change management, communicate product updates, and messaging from marketing to our customers to CS of our new products. We also host an annual Enablement event for our Go-To Market teams called Amplify which is our quarterly event focused on a hot topic like new company messaging, or the value we provide our customers. In my role, I also generate reporting to create measurements and data processes to demonstrate impact and adoption of programming. 

What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional? 

From a very young age, I have always been intentional about my success and have always looked for opportunities and programs that I can be a part of to get to the next level. In high school, I was part of a program called Minds Matter of Los Angeles which connects driven and determined students from low income families with mentors and college preparation resources to succeed in college and beyond. Outside of the work I was doing in my day to day at school and extracurricular activities, this program really helped me to be competitive in the college admissions process through providing college prep and exposure to college environments and attending summer college programs at Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University. After graduating college though, I was unafraid and moved to NYC to pursue my dreams and live life on my own terms and I was willing to learn and most importantly adapt. One of the most important lessons I learned early on was to adapt and hustle, to think critically, and figure out how to get things done and through this, I have constantly learned and gained new skills along the way. 

What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry? 

Be intentional and take the time to understand your value in relation to the company and role you are applying for 9 times out of 10 you are qualified and beyond talented however, you may not fully understand your skillset and how that will positively impact the team and company you are looking to join. The last piece of advice I would give is to join professional networks in relation for the role you are looking for and listen to podcasts and attend any relevant conferences they may have as these are often opportunities to learn market news and trends so you know what new skills and tools you need to learn.  

While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?

For companies, it is nice to have employee resource groups (ERGs) but also ensure they have a budget to host engaging programs that provide a true network and resources employees can use. Also ensure there are professional development resources that have the potential to prepare your workforce for their next role, or continuously develop in their current role. 

For employees, if your company has a referral program, extend referrals outside of your immediate network to diverse candidates looking for an opportunity in tech. Whenever you have the opportunity, pay it forward through serving as a mentor, being a champion for diversity in tech, and an ambassador to your company. 

Here's your look at the latest hires and promotions across the tech community at EngageSmart.

Did I miss your new employees? Send me an email with their name and details about their new role. I'll add them to next week's edition of Talent on the Move. 

EngageSmart

Mark Daoust

 

Chief Customer Officer at EngageSmart

Previously, President and Chief Operating Officer at Quandary Consulting Group

EngageSmart is hiring!

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Leemar Scott, Software Engineer II at Bullhorn shares his story.

 Where did you grow up and what were you like as a child? 

I grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri as a regular inner-city child. I played sports, explored the neighborhood, and played with friends. My mother and large extended family has always been a huge influence in my upbringing. My mother has 13 siblings, and as a result, I have over 50 cousins. She worked in pre-kindergarten childcare while earning minimum wage for most of my childhood. Being a part of a large family helped shape our values, which are rooted in togetherness and community. My mother always emphasized the importance of giving back and putting others before myself. The expectation was to be there to support others and the community around me. The sense of belonging and community are aspects of my upbringing that I have carried with me throughout my life.

 Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating? 

After high school, I decided to join the Marine Corps. I was motivated to join because it provided camaraderie and belonging and helped me to connect with others driven by the same purpose and passion. My platoon was extremely structured and regimented – I found it important that we all held each other accountable while looking out for one another. Unfortunately, in 2015 an injury caused me to leave the Marines and ultimately forced me into early retirement. Retiring from the Marines allowed me to focus on spending quality time with my family. However, I still needed to discover the next move in my career. After leaving the Marines, I attended Webster University, where I initially majored in secondary education but ultimately decided to pursue a degree in Computer Science.

What inspired you to get into the tech industry? 

I love gaming, and sure enough, it piqued my interest in tech. While playing Madden throughout the years, I consistently identified technical glitches that needed to be fixed, and I wanted to be the one to fix them and improve the gaming experience. Since that moment, tech has been on my mind, but I never fully considered it as a career. My wife’s friend, who left healthcare to join the tech industry, started at Bullhorn and loved it. I was immediately drawn to learning more about the company when she described their mission, culture, and her experience at Bullhorn.

What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining Bullhorn? 

In 2017, I was furthering my education when I decided to start my journey into tech with Bullhorn as a Tier 1 Support Analyst. After a short time in a support role, I was promoted to a Product Consultant position, where I was responsible for servicing customers in the APAC region.  During this period in my career, I was still discovering what paths I wanted to explore within tech. Bullhorn’s Beacon Program allowed me to explore different areas by giving me the ability to try out new roles, such as Relationship Management and Database Administration.  Working in engineering was something I didn’t consider because of the “foreign language” component; however, one of my mentors at Bullhorn inspired me to take the leap and change my college major to Computer Science. Once I graduated in 2020, I applied to a Software Engineer position at Bullhorn and landed the role I am in now.

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as Software Engineer II at Bullhorn?

As a Software Engineer II at Bullhorn, one of my key responsibilities is being able to collaborate with other developers to ensure we create readable and reliable code. Knowledge sharing is a large part of the role, which is why I love that frequent collaboration is a priority and expectation. My manager reassures the team that "You don’t have to know everything to be a great developer.” This is a constant reminder that my role requires continuous learning, and we can be better as a team by openly communicating and collaborating, with the impact of helping others further develop their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Our team dynamic and culture builds great developers who work together to build great products.

What has attributed to your success thus far and what types of obstacles have you had to overcome along the way as a Black professional? 

Bullhorn was my first professional employment opportunity outside of the Marine Corps. Since joining, I have only experienced support and encouragement. If there were any obstacles, it was only my self-doubt that made me question if I could be successful in a new and challenging role, especially before seeing Black representation firsthand. I had always felt like if I decided to work in tech, I would be pretending to be capable of success; however, each leader at Bullhorn has overwhelmingly supported my career growth. You are set up for success by putting in the effort to learn and taking on opportunities to know you are capable. This has been amazing because I have been able to see the greatness in what I can accomplish that I didn’t necessarily see before – I am able to be my best self.

What types of programs and initiatives does Bullhorn have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Bullhorn has employee resource groups that support and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before joining Bullhorn and learning more about our ERGs, I didn’t necessarily understand their purpose. As a Black professional, I always put myself in a “one-size-fits-all” box; however, through my participation in BLK@Bullhorn and Allies, I have learned that I can be a variety of things. I am not defined by my skin color, sexual identity, gender, or religion.

The differences we learn about when we join these groups and hear from others’ experiences help you realize your own individuality and the intersectionality of so many aspects within diversity. ERGs truly help to drive human connection and help allow you to be an individual. You do not need to fit a box to be accepted. Our culture is rooted in celebrating and honoring our differences; through our ERGs, all employees have been given the chance to help and encourage one another to come to work authentically as themselves.

What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry? 

Getting into the tech industry is no longer “out of reach” with the vast availability of coding bootcamps and other non-traditional routes. If you have the slightest interest in exploring this field, I recommend diving right into it. If you want to make a pivot in your career, remember, anything you want is obtainable. It is important that you don’t set limitations on yourself.

Tech used to be a white, male-dominated, closed industry. The days of “traditional schooling” are gone. There are so many self-taught developers – seek them out. Look for mentors that you connect with and search for representation, as I found with my mentor. This relationship was life-changing in terms of my career trajectory and what I thought was even possible for me as a Black professional.

Whatever you are trying to do, find someone that’s had successes and learned from past failures. Go for it – if you are ready to get your hands dirty and make sacrifices, you will go far. The opportunity is waiting for you to take it – there are organizations set up to help you start your journey.

While general awareness of the problem of diversity in the tech industry is a step forward, to make a lasting change, real actions need to be taken.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions on what companies or employees can do to step up and make a difference?

Technology is such a big part of our daily lives; however, we typically don’t see the people who are building and growing the industry. As a community, it is our responsibility to educate the next generation in the workforce. Having more accessible educational programs that introduce careers in technology would be a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t stop there. Building diverse programs that emphasize the importance of mentorship and representation would ensure that career exploration and development are accessible to everyone, no matter your race, religion, gender, disability, or anything that expresses you as an individual.