This article is sponsored by TripleTen. For many, the path to a successful tech career is anything but linear. Colburn Sanders, now a Senior Software Engineer at New Balance, knows this all too well. From film student to software engineer Before becoming a software engineer, Sanders studied film, balancing creativity with the struggle for financial stability. That all changed when a programming elective shifted his focus. While Sanders had been fascinated by computers since childhood, “from the early days of AOL dial-up to tinkering with Myspace and experimenting with HTML
FanDuel is hiring on POCIT Meet Akilah Hugine-Elmore, a sports enthusiast who found her dream job by merging her love for sports with her expertise in UX research. A former basketball and softball player and avid sports watcher, Akilah is now the UX Research Director at FanDuel, America’s #1 Sportsbook. In this interview, she tells POCIT how she turned her passions into a fulfilling career. Introduce yourself and what you do at FanDuel. My name is Akilah. I’ve worked at FanDuel since August 2021 and am on the UX research team.
Intuit is hiring on POCIT. Petagae Butcher is a versatile force in the tech world, currently working as a Staff Technical Program Manager at Intuit. Her introduction to technology started with a love of Super Nintendo in the 90s. She later graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Management Information Systems, initially majoring in Computer Programming, finding her niche bridging the technology and business worlds. Over her 18-year career, she’s garnered a wealth of experience, from software consulting to her current role at Intuit. Born on
Pearson is hiring on pocitjobs.com Tanya Ivey joined Pearson fresh out of college 24 years ago, and she could never have foreseen the twists and turns her career would take. Over the years, she’s witnessed the tech industry transform, pivot, and evolve, while she learned to do the same. Now a senior systems analyst, Ivey is an integral part of Pearson’s Digital and Technology group for global science. She spoke with POCIT about her remarkable career journey as a woman of color in tech. She shares her tips for forging
Cisco is hiring on pocitjobs.com Meet Naomi Colon – a woman who embodies the definition of a modern-day superhero. Juggling the demands of motherhood, community service, and a thriving career as a project specialist at Cisco, it’s no surprise that Naomi’s story has caught the attention of many. POCIT sat down with Naomi to find out more about how she does it. Tell me about your career trajectory and your journey to Cisco. I started my career in healthcare right out of high school, and pretty much stuck around until
Intuit is hiring on POCIT. Matthew “Matt” Castilla is a senior software quality assurance (QA) engineer at Intuit Mailchimp. Although he has had an unconventional entrance into the world of tech, Matt has carved his unique path to success. In this interview, Matt tells us how he went from an accomplished musician to a thriving career in tech. Tell me about your career trajectory and your journey to Mailchimp. I grew up in a musical household—both of my parents were musicians. They were also professors at historically Black colleges and
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” But can technology and digital education really champion the change women and girls need? In today’s digital age, technology is a powerful tool in empowering women, especially women of color, to access resources and create their own platforms to share their stories and experiences, as well as educate others. We have seen a rise in Black women tech influencers such as Maya Bello, the software engineer who uses TikTok to teach coding, and Hosanna