Our Black in Tech series features the career path & advice from Black professionals in the tech industry. In this Q&A, Jessie Eteng, Product Marketing Manager at SmartBear 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 Lagos, Nigeria and migrated to the States with my mom and brother on September 11, 2001, just two months ahead of my sixth birthday. We all know that day to be the most catastrophic and life-changing event to happen in modern-day American history. My family and I were on our way to begin a new life in Massachusetts. With Logan Airport closed, we had a layover that would last for more than a week in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Upon arriving in Massachusetts, my mom, brother, and I would live in a shared room in my aunt’s house until my dad would join us a year later. Being in a new country with a heavy accent would prove to be a hard adjustment for me. I was severely bullied because of my accent by students and even teachers. However, this made me fall in love with reading books, writing, playing the violin, and watching TV. I was a pretty nerdy kid with a huge doll collection!
When we were in Nigeria, my dad was a lawyer and my mom was a high school teacher. When we moved to the U.S., they had to hustle to make sure there was always more than enough food for their three young kids. My parents did a lot of odd jobs all while simultaneously getting an education. I believe between my mom and dad, they have 10 degrees. I remember at one time, my dad had three jobs. Now, 22 years later, my mother is a DNP specializing in adult psychiatry and my dad is a psychiatric nurse.
Where did you go to college? What did you study and what did you do after graduating?
I went to Worcester State University for my undergraduate degree. Go Lancers! I wanted to be in healthcare like my parents, so I originally went for nursing. Turns out, I hated nursing, so I decided to try public health. In my last year of undergrad, I started my own online business selling hair products and tools. By the time I graduated, I had a job as a program manager at a home for adult women with traumatic brain injuries and a lucrative side business. I did both for three years before realizing I wanted more but didn’t know what. I knew I liked marketing because that was the majority of what I did for my business.
Being the nerd I am, I decided to get two master’s degrees: an MBA in International Business and a master's degree in International Marketing which would ultimately land me in the tech industry, a complete 180 from what I thought I wanted to do at 18!
What inspired you to get into the tech industry?
I have always thought technology was cool as it rules my personal life. I consider myself an Apple junkie. However, my brother was the one who I would say inspired me to get into tech. He’s a developer, and I always thought it was cool that he got to be on the back end of delivering software that people use on a regular basis.
What has your career path looked like in tech and the various positions you’ve held before joining SmartBear?
Prior to SmartBear, I worked as a Product Marketing Specialist at a small company that created biometric software. Think facial and fingerprint recognition. Before that, I worked in marketing at a medical device company that makes wireless insulin pumps.
Can you share the high-level responsibilities of your current position as Product Marketing Manager at SmartBear?
We would have to be here all day! Essentially, my current position allows me to drive go-to-market initiatives for ReadyAPI, the world’s best and most comprehensive API testing tool, in my humble opinion (shameless plug!). No two days are similar in my role, and I wear a bunch of hats – from editor in chief, sales enablement officiant, product knowledge guru, to project manager. I do everything to make sure the ReadyAPI business stays afloat. Also shout-out to the API team at SmartBear. They are the best people to work with!
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?
The support from my family has contributed to the success I’ve experienced so far. From my parents, to siblings, cousins, and aunts and uncles – they never fail to pour life into me when I feel drained and support me in any way they can. I love them so much!
Secondly, I think watching my parents hustle so hard to get to where they are now has been a huge contributing factor. Imagine coming to a new country in your early 30s with nothing but $200, two small kids, and some bold dreams? That’s crazy. If the roles were reversed, I am not sure I would survive. So, failure has never been an option for me. A lot of sacrifices were made to make sure I had the option to choose what I wanted to do in life, so I have tried my best to make the most out of every opportunity.
In my career, I have been very fortunate to meet some of the best people. I wouldn’t say racism doesn’t exist in the workplace, but I know God has shielded me from people showing me their worst. With that being said, an obstacle I have had to overcome was feeling unqualified. I have been the only black female in the room my whole life – from first grade till now. It’s so interesting how the lack of diversity can make one feel like they are less qualified even though you have the same education and work experience. I have had to practice a lot of positive self-talk honestly, and somedays I still feel unqualified. Rest assured, my ideas are always backed by data and worth trying.
What types of programs and initiatives does SmartBear have that support diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Currently, SmartBear has a DEI program that aims to provide a safe working environment for people identifying in minority groups. The program provides resources and attempts to honor people from various cultures. What I like most about the program is that your voice can be heard, so I am looking forward to seeing what else the program can offer. I’ve worked at different companies where diversity was not a priority, so walking into the office and seeing people who look like me is extremely refreshing.
What advice would you give to other Black professionals who are interested in joining the tech industry?
Just do it! The individuals in tech aren’t better than you, and there are various non-technical roles in the industry that so many people may not know about if that’s your preference. I would do the research and find out which roles best suit your background and go from there. There are a lot of free resources online about getting started, and I recommend utilizing every one of them.
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?
Who are you when nobody is watching? Super cliché but usually the best people are the best even when the Zoom camera is turned off.
Companies looking to make lasting change in diversity need to be honest about their intentions. Is this sincere or to check a box? Data shows that corporations that identify as more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors, 70% more likely to capture new markets, and 87% better at making decisions. This is powerful, and since revenue is a main driver in business decisions, companies should be genuine about diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Companies should have honest conversations about bias and how bias effects hiring decisions. The talent is there. Companies just aren’t finding it because maybe they avoid going to career fairs at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) or decline to interview an individual because of their name. At the end of the day, companies can only do so much. It’s up to individuals to make the change in their personal lives so that it can be reflected in their professional lives as well.
