In the fall of 2020, I reached an almost five-year milestone by publishing my app, The Green Book Project, to the Apple App Store. The Green Book Project is a mobile app that helps folks from marginalized communities find inclusive businesses and avoid discrimination. It allows users to utilize a platform of crowdsourced reviews to identify safe locations, as well as places to steer clear from. Getting this app published was one of the proudest moments of my life. However, creating a mobile app is a massive undertaking that involves hours
Elise Smith is leading the way in developing more conscious leaders in the workplace. She is the co-founder of Praxis Labs, a company that has created a virtual-reality-based platform that allows users to take on identities of different racial and gender backgrounds. Their mission, to help employees and leaders to change their perspectives over time by virtually stepping into the shoes of others. Elise joins the small list of Black women in the U.S to have raised more than $1 million for a venture-backed business. We had the pleasure of
You’ve likely noticed by now that the world has finally decided to amplify a long, on-going conversation about racism — at least for the moment. In the US, underpinning the headlines about policing and excessive use of force on Black and Brown bodies is the conversation about how systemic power disparities affect the Black community. As a Black, gay man from the South, I live this conversation. As a Black designer, I see my lived experience reflected in the perpetuation and preservation of white supremacy across the design field, both
It’s New Year’s Eve 2020, and I’m sure we are all thinking the same thing: “Thank you; next”. Seriously, what a year; but, onwards and upwards. On a personal note, 2020 has been a uniquely challenging, yet incredibly meaningful year for my career — launching Google’s first Accelerator programs for both women founders and Black founders. Running a program for Black entrepreneurs as a member of the Black community myself, I was more in a rhythm than I’ve ever felt professionally. It was comfortable, natural, and authentic to be able to support black entrepreneurship — not to
In the tech industry, less than 5% of the workforce is African-American, and we know the tech sector has a long way to go in fixing diversity issues. The following list is a short intro to just some of the Black product designers who are flourishing in Silicon Valley, the corporate world, and beyond. They are creating incredible experiences, and invaluable products, and are supporting the next generation of designers. Mariam Braimah Mariam is a product designer at Netflix. She is also the founder of Kimoyo Fellowship, a design program teaching the
No, I didn’t join an ashram in India. When I was 17, the thought of postponing college for a gap year never crossed my mind. While it may have sounded nice to spend a year traveling, volunteering, and doing other activities to further “personal growth” — for financial and cultural reasons, it was neither a consideration nor a real option. And so, I went to college. After college, I started working a full-time job and did so for the next several years. In that time, I worked many a late-night;
Techish is back with a brand new episode! Abadesi and Michael discuss the challenges of starting companies with our friends. (13:00) They also break down: Zoom causing an increase in plastic surgery, and a look into the future of our online identities (0.30) Africa’s new basketball league, J.Cole playing for team Rwanda (10:05) Allowing apps to track you online: yes or no? (20:08) Elon Musk’s performance on SNL (29:00) Sponsors Flatiron Health is hiring! Check out their open positions Moveable Ink is hiring on pocitjobs.com Extras Techish on PatreonAdvertise with TechishPlease rate and review the Techish podcast
Greenhouse is hiring! Check out their roles here Wayne Titus has had an unconventional path into his current career. He began his professional journey as a comparative literature student at Yale University, with a burning desire to help people. He now finds himself doing just that, but in the most unexpected field: Tech. Today, Titus works as the Manager of the Enterprise Practice at Greenhouse Software. He has built a team that works to ensure the company’s onboarding clients get the best possible experience. He uses his unique perspective and
As a Black designer working in predominately white spaces, I have to think about how I show up in my professional environment. I make sure my tone is friendly. Non-threatening. I edit my speech so that others won’t doubt my intelligence. I am mindful of my brightly colored locs and try to dress in a way that signals I am a professional. I didn’t realize it for a long time, but I designed a different version of my Blackness: a created version to fit into white society. To some extent,
Techish is back with a brand new episode! Abadesi and Michael discuss how some founders take existing ideas/concepts from underrepresented founders/communities [see the fury over the ‘Bodega’ back in 2017] – who are without the comparable resources needed to execute. (24:00) They also break down: The fallout from Basecamp continues (1:00) Bill and Melinda Gates divorce (12:10) Elon Musk and Dogecoin (16:05) Black Panther 2 and celebrity holograms (20:00) Sponsors Flatiron is hiring! Check out their roles Moveable Ink is hiring on pocitjobs.com Extras Techish on PatreonAdvertise with TechishPlease rate and review the Techish podcast Subscribe To
