Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. This week on Techish, Michael and Abadesi dive into the latest round of tech layoffs, questioning why job cuts continue despite record profits. They chat about how AI is changing roles, the value of networking, and staying financially ready in shaky times. Plus, tips on job hunting, social media’s influence on spending, and a reminder to take charge of your career. Chapters 00:24 Microsoft Cuts 9,000 Jobs: What’s Really Going On?09:39 Layoff Prep + Recovery 10120:43 The Overemployed Engineer: Soham Parekh
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content. This week on Techish, hosts Michael and Abadesi chat about the solo “vibe coder” who sold to Wix for $80M, the Social Network sequel, the Microsoft–OpenAI drama, and why working a “low-status” job might help you be a better person. 00:28 Six-Month Vibe Coder Gets $80M 09:00 The Social Network Is Getting a Sequel 17:59 Microsoft vs. OpenAI Feud Heats Up 32:14 ‘Fascism Starts From the Standing Desk’ [Patreon-Only] Take TripleTen’s career quiz to get a free personalized career consultation! Listen To
Microsoft has announced its plans to train one million people in digital skills through an Artificial Intelligence skilling initiative in South Africa. The initiative will give South Africans insight into the strategic aspects of AI whilst empowering leaders with the necessary tools and knowledge required to navigate the advancing AI landscape. “Harnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic vision, but a tangible reality for organisations seeking to achieve exponential growth and optimisation,” Lillian Barnard, President for Microsoft Africa, said in a press release. What
This year, we’ve witnessed the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college admissions with mounting conservative pressure against DEI initiatives across industries—from retail and banking to venture capital and nonprofits. Amid these challenges, the stories that resonated most with you this year were those of resistance and resilience: stories about Black women securing capital, launching funds, and building unicorn companies. You loved the stories about employees holding their employers to account—in words and deeds—and the investors, influencers, and innovators raising the bar in their respective
Here are five Black innovators we think are set to make significant moves in 2025. From health tech and biodesign to venture capital and the creator economy, these individuals are at the forefront of progress. They’re reshaping industries, launching transformative products, and empowering communities worldwide. Here’s a closer look at their work and why you should keep them on your radar. Amanda Spann – Empowering Non-Technical Founders Amanda Spann is a marketing consultant and app entrepreneur dedicated to empowering the Black tech community. Her most recent initiative, The App Accelerator,
Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ), a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans, has teamed up with Microsoft to provide tech skills training to over 5,000 veterans preparing to transition into civilian careers. The training program, launching in December 2024, is part of Microsoft’s Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities initiative. It will help veterans build skills in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, coding, artificial intelligence (AI), and game development. Addressing the Skills Gap for Veterans in Tech Microsoft’s collaboration with BVSJ addresses a key gap for
AI-enhanced search engines from Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity have been surfacing debunked and racist research claiming genetic superiority of white people over other racial groups, according to Wired. This trend, revealed through investigative work by Hope Not Hate, a UK-based anti-racism organization, has added to concerns about racial bias and radicalization in AI-powered search. AI Search Results Show Discredited Research Patrik Hermansson, a researcher with anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, was investigating the resurgence of scientific racism when he found that AI-driven search engines often promote discredited “race science.” When
Microsoft is struggling to retain its diverse workforce, with increasing numbers of women, Black, and Latine employees departing the company. According to Microsoft’s latest diversity and inclusion report, female employees accounted for 32.7% of all exits globally in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, up from 31% the previous year. In the US, Black and Latine employees also saw significant increases in departures, with Black employees making up 10% of exits (up from 8.7%) and Latinx employees comprising 9.8% of exits (up from 8%). Poaching and Business Shifts Cited
Pamela Maynard, the newly appointed Chief AI Transformation Officer at Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions, has been named the 2024 Black British Business Person of the Year. Maynard received the award at the 11th annual Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards), which celebrates the achievements of Black professionals and entrepreneurs across the UK. Pamela Maynard Pamela Maynard, formerly CEO of Avanade, a Microsoft-Accenture joint venture, led the company to significant growth and secured its 18th Microsoft Partner of the Year title. During her acceptance speech, Maynard emphasized the ongoing work to break down
Brand new Techish! This week, hosts Michael and Abadesi dive into: • Microsoft lays off a DEI team (00:00:20)• AI bias in performance reviews (00:08:16)• The myth of meritocracy (00:12:31)• The UK has a new government (00:15:00)• Make politics attractive again (00:19:12) Listen on Spotify or Apple podcast also. Watch On YouTube Extra Reading & Resources • Microsoft Faces Backlash After DEI Team Layoffs [POCIT]• We asked ChatGPT to write performance reviews and they are wildly sexist (and racist) [Fast Company]• Black Man Who Got A Job Interview After Using A Fake Name On Resume Files Lawsuit [POCIT]
