Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Jermonn Mack, Sr. Data Visualization Engineer at PatientPoint 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 southwestern Ohio in the 1980s. As I child, I was very inquisitive and enjoyed math, sports and BMX. You could also find me tinkering with electronics from time to time as well (I had real skill for taking things apart and then not being able to put them back together 😀 ).
What inspired you to get into the tech industry?
I think it was a natural progression to be involved in the tech industry. As a child I enjoyed collecting baseball cards and the statistics on the back of the cards always intrigued me. This led me to write code in BASIC to create a simplistic baseball card simulator when I was an early teen. Looking back, that moment was the real beginning of my tech journey.
What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining PatientPoint?
My career path has been varied, in the beginning of my tech career, I was writing VBA macros in MS Excel to aggregate and analyze data from internal applications. From there I was introduced to SQL/databases and from there discovery data visualization tools (Tableau, Looker, Power BI). I have held roles from Data Analyst, BI Developer, Analytics Consultant to Senior Manager of Analytics. In my career, roles and responsibilities evolved over time, but the core principles of the Analytics Development Lifecycle remain the same across industry and level of responsibility.
Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as Sr. Data Visualization Engineer at PatientPoint?
My core responsibilities at PatientPoint are to design, develop, and grow data visualization solutions. We also strive to produce an environment where data democratization is a priority. We want to empower our business to make data driven decisions.
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?
In my opinion, being inquisitive and an active listener has contributed most to my success. I typically will find success when working with people by asking the appropriate questions and then being able to relate requirements to their immediate needs. In the past at other organizations, I have certainly encountered some obstacles, but that just makes a person like me ‘double-down’ and use them as motivation for future success.
What types of programs and initiatives does PatientPoint have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?
PatientPoint offers various initiatives that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have the PatientPoint Culture Collective, and we use the IDEA framework (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability) to build a community within the organization. PatientPoint had these initiatives for years before it became politicized, and I applaud the organization for continuing to pursue and celebrate them.
What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry?
I always like to advise others to never stop learning and not fear change. Change is inevitable. The tools may change; tech may change but the ability to adapt and learn new skills will always be valuable. I try to emphasize this advice to Black data professionals, especially those that are just entering their professional journey. I want to show them that there could be some difficulties along the way, but to not let those challenges define them.
