Automation Workz, a Detroit-based cybersecurity and tech re-skilling firm seeking to create a real-life ‘Wakanda,’ has secured ByBlack certification. Developed by the US Black Chambers, Inc. and presented by American Express, ByBlack is an extensive national Black business directory and the only national certification exclusively for Black-owned businesses. The certification provides Black entrepreneurs with advanced ways to reach their target client base and access valuable business tools. Creating a real-life Wakanda Automation Workz, founded by urban economist Ida Byrd-Hill, is a cybersecurity reskilling firm and creator of the first tech grit assessment to
Originally published on Medium by Glenesha Grant as part of her “5 Coffees, 5 Days w/ Black Product Managers” series. Our second feature is with Quadri Oshibotu, Senior Product Manager @ Alcumus — North America and Founder of Product Hall. Quadri is an experienced Product Manager with multiple years of experience building world-class products. He is passionate about building products that have a positive impact on people’s lives and helping people grow through teaching, training, and mentorship. I started by asking questions to learn more about Quadri’s story and his journey into
Ubisoft is hiring on pocitjobs.com Currently a Creative Director at Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest gaming developers, Richard Arroyo has spent almost a quarter of a century sharpening his professional tool kit. His experience ranges from computer animation design to business strategy and on-set direction, yet the US-born Montrealer insists he’s “still not done learning.” In this interview, Richard sheds light on his decades-long career, the ethos that got him where he is now, and advice he would give those looking to follow in his footsteps. What did your
Originally published on Medium by Glenesha Grant as part of her “5 Coffees, 5 Days w/ Black Product Managers” series. Our first feature is with Monica Ugwi, a Product Director @ Shopify. Monica is a product leader with over a decade of experience building meaningful products for millions of users. She has deep technical expertise and leads with empathy for users and her teams. She is obsessed with using technology to make lives better. Monica has built products at Shopify, Google, Facebook, as well as in startup settings. She holds a degree
Intuit is hiring on pocitjobs.com As VP, Chief of AI & Data Operations, Sharon Hutchins leads business operations and program management for Intuit’s AI+Data organization. The company, which specializes in financial software, was recently in the spotlight after announcing an important goal: to increase female representation in the company’s technology roles from 30% to 37% by 2024. It’s a mission that Sharon 100% backs as she believes there’s room for everyone at the top. Before landing her senior leadership position, Sharon’s journey has been one of taking risks and not allowing
A new report by DEI consulting firm Grads of Life revealed that Black and Latino employees are less likely to reach significant career milestones despite undergoing the same training as their white peers. The survey included almost 2,000 workers from Year Up’s workforce development program, which saw many Black and Latino employees admit to not reaching significant career milestones such as promotions and salary increases. Only 36% of the people surveyed admitted to receiving a promotion in 2021, while 23% reported receiving a raise in their salary. Due to the lack of
With constant news of layoffs, hiring freezes, and restructures, we know it’s a hard time for many in the tech industry – especially people of color. When underperforming, companies retreat to what they know and who they know. They default to what is familiar, and, all too often, this means older, white men. We saw this at the peak of the pandemic, and it seems we are seeing it now. POCIT was launched to platform the stories of people of color in tech but also to create new ones. Our recruitment platform has
Women of color are skilled, ambitious, and talented yet they continue to be underrepresented in senior positions in the workplace. In a recent study involving more than 300 companies and 40,000 employees, LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company have shed light on some of the experiences of women in the ‘post’-pandemic workplace. Here’s what we learned about the experiences of women of color in the workplace; the challenges they face and how they are taking their careers into their own hands. The Pipeline Problem Women of color are still hugely underrepresented in
Lenovo has partnered with multi-award-winning actor, producer, recording artist, label president, and entrepreneur Queen Latifah to support small businesses. Launched last year, the tech giant’s Evolve Small program provides North American small businesses with financial aid, tech resources, community support, and business mentorship. “I understand the hardships small businesses face and how much more challenging those hardships can be for businesses owned by women and minorities,” Queen Latifah explained. “Knowing how the support I received back when I got started helped me get to where I am today – I’m excited to
Vice President Harris has announced several new initiatives to expand opportunities for underserved and disadvantaged entrepreneurs, including people of color. The announcement came as Harris joined Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at the 2022 Freedman’s Bank Forum. What was announced? VP Harris’ latest efforts include: Government contractsA memorandum to government agencies setting individualized goals for an unprecedented 12% of 2023 federal procurement dollars to be directed towards Small, Disadvantaged Businesses. New lendersA proposed expansion of the Small Business Administration lender base by lifting the moratorium on new Small Business Lending Companies (SBLCs),
