Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Magg Joseph, QA Engineer Lead at SevenRooms 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 born in Canada and spent a little bit of my childhood in Montreal before spending my formative years in the suburbs of New York. As a child, I was bubbly, curious, and very inquisitive. I always wanted to know how things were constructed and why people did things the way they did. Both of my parents immigrated from Haiti and had different jobs while we were growing up. My father retired as an NY State Therapy Aide, and my mother retired as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), who worked for a county medical facility.

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

I attended Manhattan College. Initially, I wanted to major in Computer Engineering, but during my sophomore year, I realized that the academic track wasn’t a good fit for me. With the help of one of my professors, I changed my major to Computer Science. I graduated with Honors and received a Bachelor's Degree. After graduation, I started as a QA Intern for a startup company in Connecticut before being offered a full-time Software Quality Assurance Automation Engineer position.

What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

I like to say that working in the tech industry was a lovely accident. As a kid, I always thought I would be a social worker, counselor, or therapist, until I realized that field wasn't something I was destined for. However, I always liked putting things together, whether it was building furniture or knowing the intricacies of how electronics worked. By the time I was in high school, I did some research on jobs and industries that best fit those interests, and being an engineer was one of the top results. So, I set out to be an engineer.

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

I’ve always worked in Quality Assurance (QA). I started my career as a QA Intern before moving on to a Software QA Automation Engineer, QA Engineer, Senior QA Engineer, and then ultimately to my current role as a QA Engineer Lead at SevenRooms. I aspire to be a Manager or Director of QA in the future.

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as QA Engineer Lead at SevenRooms?

As a QA Engineer Lead at SevenRooms, my high-level responsibilities revolve around developing a QA roadmap and driving process efficiencies. I play a key role in developing automation scripts to decipher root causes, while supporting all stages of the Software Development Life-Cycle (SDLC). I am also responsible for conducting weekly sync meetings to align and collaborate with other QA Engineers. I am always researching new ways that we can contribute to our framework and make better improvements as a team. 

During my time at SevenRooms as QA Engineer Lead, I have created the QA Engineer onboarding process. This ensures that all new members understand our processes and tools, so they can be successful during their first 90 days and beyond. It’s also my responsibility to bring concerns from the team to leadership in hopes that they can provide solutions and action items for us to deliver.

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 attribute my success to my parents. They taught me to be a hard worker and constantly drilled into me that I should always provide for myself. I want to be in higher positions within QA so that future generations can see someone who looks like them, talks like them, and has a similar background in those roles. Throughout my career, I did not see versions of myself represented in the field, which made figuring out my path more difficult. Because of that, I continue to push forward on my goals. 

I’ve experienced different obstacles throughout my professional life including navigating ambiguity throughout projects, not receiving proper recognition for hard work, or having my insights disregarded. Despite these challenges, I’ve continued to persevere and work hard to get to where I am today.

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

SevenRooms provides Employee Resource Groups (ERG), which are employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace. I am a co-lead of Black Voices, our ERG for Black professionals. Our goal is to create a space for our Black employees to share thoughts, opinions, grievances, and whatever feels comfortable to them while having fun together. Our hope is that these conversations can spark change and create an environment where Black employees feel empowered to be their authentic selves. 

Last year, I attended AFROTECH, the largest Black Tech Conference, thanks to one of my other co-leads. It was an experience I did not know I needed! Being in a place where the majority of professionals were people of color filled the little immigrant girl inside me with so much excitement and joy. By the end of the conference, I knew that the career path I want is attainable.

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

I would tell other Black professionals to join a field that you are passionate about and determine  how you can bring your flavor to it, making it better for the next person. If you're adamant about a feeling you have or an idea, do not hesitate to voice your opinion. Don’t silence yourself because you are worried about others silencing you. Share your thoughts and be confident. You never know when the right person is listening.

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?

Companies, especially startups, should actively seek diversity at all levels. You can’t wait for someone to point out that there’s little to no diversity within your company - diversity doesn’t exist by accident. Organizations must be intentional about creating employee communities that are as diverse as the cities they exist in, like New York City. 

Companies should also create opportunities to encourage diversity, such as developing internships specifically for women in STEM or providing opportunities for HBCU students. In order to accomplish these goals, businesses must speak to different communities to better understand and recognize which opportunities are missing. You very well could be the company that changes the game. I strongly believe that when a company prioritizes DEI, its employees are more inclined to participate in and support its initiatives.

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Shannon Holmes, VP of Account Management & Customer Success at Acquia shares his story.

Where did you go to college? What did you study?

I graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., with a BA in Economics. 

What did you do after graduating? What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

After graduating I worked for a consulting firm that focused on driving innovation within non-profit organizations. From a young age I was always into all things computer and tech related, so when the opportunity came up to join an IT consulting firm as an entry-level developer, I jumped at the opportunity. I spent a whole weekend trying to learn as much as possible to pass the interview and luckily it worked. 

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

I’ve worn many hats in the tech industry. I started as a front-end developer, but was always better suited in more customer-facing roles, as they allowed me to solve problems while building relationships. I spent many years in both pre- and post-sales roles helping customers to create, scale and optimize solutions that matter and drive value. 

Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as VP of Account Management & Customer Success at Acquia?

My job is to inspire and lead a team of account managers to cultivate meaningful long-term partnerships with our customers here in EMEA. I want to deliver exceptional value and support to our customers, ensuring their goals are achieved and their expectations surpassed. 

What has contributed to your success thus far?

My mindset has always been to seek out new challenges and experiences. If it looked challenging or hard, I always said yes, even when everyone else said no. This not only brought me exposure, it also made me comfortable in challenging situations, and forced me to learn how to adapt quickly to change. Even now I’m always looking for new challenges, new skills to learn and new experiences. 

Was raising your hand for stretch opportunities instinctual or taught?

I learned that from my Mom. She would tell me that where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity. 

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

My Mom always told me, “Your work ethic and drive will always speak louder than your race.” Although that statement got me to where I am today, in today’s world, having a diverse perspective, voice and experience is a major asset to an organization. As a colleague on my team said to their peers, “Never think you shouldn’t be there if no one else looks or acts like you—there is positivity in diversity.” 

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?

Having a diverse set of ideas, experiences, background and perspectives is required to create a winning team. Companies should proactively seek to diversify their teams by working with and supporting organizations like Black Girls Code, women in tech meetups or events that bring minority communities together. Have a presence in these spaces—and show that you value and support diversity, not in spite of who they are, but because of who they are, and the different points of view they can bring to the table.

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Dheeman Abshir, Customer Support Specialist at NuvoAir shares her story.

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

I had the wonderful opportunity to grow up in two diverse and vibrant cities. I spent most of my childhood in the scenic south of Stockholm, Sweden, where I embraced the outdoors and enjoyed the safety of my neighborhood. Exploring the local parks and playgrounds was a daily adventure. Additionally, my love for books led me to spend countless hours in the local library.

When I turned 11, my family relocated to London, which marked a significant shift in my upbringing. Living in a bustling, multicultural metropolis like London exposed me to a fast-paced and diverse environment. I quickly adapted to the vibrant energy of the city, honing my street smarts and embracing the multicultural tapestry that surrounded me.

Both my parents are remarkable individuals who hail from Somalia. They were young refugees when they came to Europe, seeking a better life. 

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Vivian Carter, Instructional Designer 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 grew up in two small towns in northern Florida. Both were in rural settings—the type where you’re almost guaranteed to run into someone you know when you leave your house. As a child, I was very quiet and reserved. I loved to read and excelling in school was always easy for me. 

My mother worked as a housekeeper and eventually owned her own cleaning company. My father was a construction worker at Disney World for several years. He later helped my mother with her cleaning business. Both of them worked hard, physical jobs and would never have dreamed the opportunity to have a career like mine would be available for their children. 

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

I went to a local community college that offered bachelor’s degrees. I graduated with a degree in supervision and management. Immediately after graduating, I continued to work at Nordstrom before deciding to move on to another company to further my career. 

Later down the road, I wanted to try something new and I moved to China to become an English teacher. Living in China for 2.5 years was an amazing experience that helped me grow so much as a person. I completed a master’s degree in instructional design while working in China and transitioned to my current career soon afterwards.

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

Acquia is my first job in tech. Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked in industries such as retail, hospitality, real estate, and international education. In each industry and at each job, I’ve adopted useful habits and processes that helped me improve in the future. 

While attending college for my undergraduate degree, I worked at Nordstrom and was promoted to two different people-leadership positions. This was one of my first forays into creating corporate training because there was always a unique method we used that needed to be documented and taught to new employees. 

A few years later, I worked as an English teacher in China. I moved there 5 months before the pandemic began and left in 2022. I developed curricula for 3 different grade levels, taught classes, managed projects, analyzed learner data, and many other ad-hoc responsibilities (like most teachers). 

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

I am responsible for managing the curriculum and associated learning projects for Acquia DAM, a digital asset management system. My work enables customers and employees to competently use the software we create. I build courses, administer a learning management system, develop 

certification exams, and simplify technical documentation. I also work on special initiatives to help raise the bar within our team such as team training, content accessibility audits, and customer education data dashboards. 

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 attribute my success to being flexible, persistent, open-minded, and working systematically. I’m a huge proponent of documenting everything I can about my work and experiences. It helps in so many ways:

• The act of writing things down makes processes or ideas more memorable.
• It facilitates reflection and the identification of ways to improve processes.
• If you ever need to teach your process to someone else, it’s readily available. 

As a Black professional, especially as one with locs, I’ve had to overcome obstacles related to negative assumptions about my qualifications, abilities, and professional integrity. Sometimes it is subtle and sometimes it is loud. Either way, it’s a recurring issue that’s important to work towards fixing. 

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

Acquia has a very extensive DEI library of courses on its internal learning management system. It covers a variety of topics from responding to microaggressions to recognizing and overcoming biases to building an inclusive workspace. 

There’s also a DEI roadmap which delves deeper into multiple subjects throughout the year. The meetings help people learn about DEI and provide an opportunity for people to connect. Additionally, Acquia has employee resource groups (ERGs) and Slack special interest groups. 

I am the employee leader for an ERG for Black Acquia employees. Some of our goals include supporting our members in their career goals, educating employees about discrimination, bias, and racism, and providing a space to share lived experiences. 

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

I would treat it like joining any other industry or job. Make sure the position and company aligns with what you want to do in the future. Figure out your ultimate (or even medium-term) career goals, break that down into actionable steps, and consistently work at it. Become proficient at using as much software as possible that will be relevant to your future career. 

Networking is always extremely helpful when attempting to get a new job, especially in a new industry. We have the ability to be more connected than ever due to companies like LinkedIn, Fishbowl, Blind, Reddit, and more. Use in-person and online networking to your advantage to get job referrals and insider information about companies. 

Don’t lose hope if networking is not your thing. I got my current job from an Indeed application and I didn’t know a single soul here. If cold applying is your strategy, then you definitely need to find ways to stand out or apply to specific jobs with less competition.

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? 

Ideally the DEI commitment is discussed at the executive level, planned and executed like any other business initiative, and regularly mentioned in company-wide meetings. I believe every employee has the ability to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive workplace, and they absolutely should do their part! 

However, the difference of potential change when comparing a person in an entry-level position to someone in the C-Suite is large. Senior leadership sets the tone for how the entire organization behaves and what projects are prioritized, so they are instrumental in creating lasting change. 

Current and potential employees also want to see diverse faces in all levels of seniority in the organization. They may feel like DEI statements are empty promises when diversity is only seen in entry level positions.

Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Simon Howlett, Support Engineer at Acquia 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 Brampton, Ontario, Canada, we moved around a few times to nicer neighbourhoods. From what I remember, I believe I had a happy childhood. I loved to play soccer and was quite energetic. I was always relatively quiet, probably because I was deaf in one ear when I first learned to speak, so my speech was impaired, and it took me a while to pronounce words correctly when I was a teenager. Despite getting along with most groups of people in high school, I spent most of my freetime on the web playing MMORPGs, creating online English communities in foreign games, chatting and participating in projects on forums and IRC, and surfing every edge of the web. 

One of the funniest memories of my childhood involving tech was when my parents had just banned me from the computer because I wasn't concentrating enough on school or going out enough. The very next day we had a parent-teacher conference and my computer science teacher was so excited to tell my parents how great my skills were in class that he pleaded with them to let me continue whatever I was doing on the computer at home. My mother worked on and off as an estate agent when I was growing up, and my father was a boring mill operator. I'm not saying his job was boring, that's the actual title of his work: he bored holes.

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

I originally went to business school, I didn't know whether to specialize in accounting, marketing or finance as I enjoyed them all, but it didn't matter because I had a tragic life-changing event that caused me to drop out and move to Florida. I suffered from psychosis and paranoia during this time. I would go into detail, but I wrote a book you can find on Amazon called GPF: One Decision at a Time, which explains this period of my life. After I got my sanity back and returned to Canada from the States, I went to an IT school for Computer Networking and Security. I was instantly hired as a Data Analyst after graduation.  

What inspired you to get into the tech industry?

I actually tried to avoid the tech industry. I spent a lot of time on IRC as a kid while the computer industry was booming and growing, and a lot of the programmers I spoke to were worn out and tired. Seeing and hearing this all the time made me promise myself that I would never become a programmer and that I would keep that side of my life as a hobby. Instead, I pursued a career in an industry that would push me out of my comfort zone and help me grow as a person. I only went into tech because it was something I was naturally good at after completely losing my identity, so it was the easiest way to get my life back on track. I still kept my promise that I would never become a programmer for profit; I did scripting instead.

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

I started as a data analyst in the electricity/utilities industry. In my position I saw a lot of potential for saving time in processes across all departments of the company, so I created a number of scripts to automate daily tasks and made a proposal for a new automation department. So I became an Automation Engineer and worked with each department to optimize their daily workflows, personally creating tools to keep costs down while improving production. 

I had a lot of fun and a lot of free time while testing scripts or processes, so I started a hobby that I could do at the same time while sitting at my desk—a fidget toy called Begleri. Within a few months, when I was quite good at it, the spinner craze had just hit the world. With the reports about the health benefits of fidget toys and gadgets, a bunch of companies were looking to cash in on the wave, and one of them saw my skills online and picked me up as an ambassador. So I started traveling around Canada and the States in my spare time, filming commercials and doing big events like VidCon or the New York Toy Fair. This really improved my people skills and I was even offered jobs in marketing, but I loved IT too much to leave. 

Back at home, in my company, senior people were leaving for a bigger company and they convinced me to go with them. I became an International IT Consultant for the new company, and my job was to set up customer databases and to present and train customers on site. That's what I did until the pandemic, when international jobs were no longer in high demand. I was also in bad health due to a disease called cholinergic urticaria, which causes an allergic response to heat. This led to my next career move, which was sharing the treatment for the condition through streams that eventually attracted 20,000-30,000 people.  This work as a community leader and positivity coach allowed me to pursue my dream of moving to Europe and then the UK, where I now work as a Support Engineer. 

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

As a Support Engineer, I interact with customers on a daily basis over the phone or through a ticketing system to help troubleshoot, inform or resolve technical issues. Much of the work involves solving real-time problems across a wide range of technical areas. We work with teams in each part of the world and other internal teams in other departments to meet customer needs. Good knowledge of Drupal, web development, cloud systems, Linux, etc. is required as this is a digital experience platform company.

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 believe my success is down to my flexibility and willingness to learn and change. I'm never afraid to put myself in situations that are out of my comfort zone, like taking part in this series. I really don't like to talk about myself or show pictures of myself and I know that surprises a lot of people. However, if they understand my strength to stay curious and open to new opportunities as they present themselves, they can understand the duality. That's where I find my success. As a Black professional, it's really about giving people the benefit of the doubt. I truly believe in my heart that all people are good at their core and make choices that they feel are good. 

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

Acquia has an amazing employee resource group called AABLE (Acquia Alliance of Black Leaders for Excellence), which provides a space for networking and community within Acquia, among other amazing things like bringing in speakers and programs to educate and help all Acquias have a more diverse opinion about people of color. We also have a dedicated Acquia Academia portal with lots of resources and videos on diversity, equity and inclusion.

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

Focus on your well-being above profit. Have it be a priority to put yourself in a good space, with good people. 

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?

I believe in affirmative action. I believe that we’d have a lot more Black executives in large corporations if all candidates were given equal opportunities, but unconscious bias is a real thing. So we need to put procedures in place that remove or reduce unconscious bias. I believe in the good of all, so if everyone has an equal opportunity to present themselves, the best candidates are more likely to be chosen. We live in a representative democracy, so it is important that all walks of life have representation in most aspects of our daily lives, including organizations. Diversity brings many benefits, most importantly the ability to find new and potentially better ways of doing things that can only be thought up by a team with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Innovation is at the core of the tech industry, affirmative action supports diversity that drives innovation.

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.