On episode 086 of Black Tech Unplugged, Deena chats with Justin E. Samuels, the visionary entrepreneur behind Render Atlanta Conference and a senior engineer at Intuit Mailchimp. We delve into the upcoming RenderATL event, discussing conference tracks, special guests, and even sharing a discount code for listeners. Justin also shares insights on his journey in tech, balancing work, entrepreneurship, and family, highlighting his commitment to diversity and innovation in the industry. Connect with...
Apr 22, 2024•35 min
Welcome to episode 85 of the pod! This episode features Gabrielle or maybe you know her as NoWaySheCodes, a tech-savvy girlie with a passion for coding and content creation. She has a degree in Computer Science and a knack for breaking down complex tech concepts. Gabbie has navigated her way through the ever-evolving landscape of technology. On this episode we discuss: * Why having a community in tech is reaally REALLY important and how Gabbie is creating space for women in tech * We discuss tec...
Apr 13, 2024•53 min
I'm excited to announce the new season of Black Tech Unplugged is now live! On this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Lisa G, a seasoned technologist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We delved into her thriving career in tech, her journey from software engineering to product management, and her insights on the current tech landscape. Some of the key takeaways from our conversation: - Lisa shares her journey in the tech industry, from software engineer to product manag...
Mar 26, 2024•58 min
On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay sits down with the remarkable Kelli Jones, co-founder and general partner for Sixty8 Capital. They discuss Kelly's journey in tech, her work as a VC, and the importance of emotional intelligence in the industry. Plus, Deena shares some valuable resources for improving emotional intelligence. This is the last episode of the season, so catch up on all the previous episodes before the new season starts in 2024. Happy listening! Watch the ful...
Nov 16, 2023•46 min
On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay interviews Trenton Dunn, the program manager for Think Chicago at World Business Chicago. This live podcast episode was recorded at GET Exploration, an event that showcased Chicago-based tech professionals and companies. Trenton discusses his role in attracting and retaining STEM talent through events like Think Chicago Lollapalooza. He also shares insights on Chicago's tech industry. Don't miss this unique and informative conversation! C...
Oct 31, 2023•37 min
On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay interviews Vernon Richards, a UK powerhouse in the tech industry. Vernon shares his journey from testing video games to becoming a senior expert quality engineer at a health tech company. He discusses the importance of quality and testing in building better products and delivering effective services. Vernon also provides valuable advice and resources for testers or those interested in pursuing a career in testing. Tune in to gain insights...
Oct 18, 2023•46 min
In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay, chats with Ariel Lopez. Ariel is the Founder and CEO of Knac, a hiring platform that reduces bias in the application process and a known tech mover in Atlanta. On this episode we discuss Atlanta's booming tech ecosystem, the city's connection to capital, and Ariel's previous career as a career coach and tech recruiter. Also, Ariel offers valuable advice on navigating a tech career during challenging times. Tune in to hear Ariel's insight...
Oct 03, 2023•49 min
On episode 079 of Black Tech Unplugged, I chat with Shayna Atkins, founder of AtkCo and a product development expert. AtkCo is a process improvement firm that helps customers with innovative product design, management, training, and managed services. Shayna and I discuss agile and its significance in the tech industry, her work in driving innovation and workforce development, how to be seen in the workplace, and why it's important to be known in the workplace. Like what you hear? Leave a written...
Sep 12, 2023•48 min
In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay welcomes Rodney Williams, founder of Solo Funds, to discuss the peer-to-peer lending platform and its mission to provide an alternative to payday loans. Rodney shares how Solo Funds connects individuals with lenders and has redefined access to capital for over 1.5 million users. Tune in to learn more about this innovative approach to community finance. Find out more about Solo Funds: https://solofunds.com/ Get the Solo Funds App via the A...
Aug 29, 2023•39 min
On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay interviews William A. Adams, an award-winning D&I innovator, engineering trailblazer, and philanthropist. With over 35 years of experience in software engineering and as one of the first Black entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, William shares his journey and accomplishments. He discusses his role as the first technical advisor to the CTO of Microsoft and his creation of the LEAP program, which has revolutionized access to jobs and caree...
Aug 15, 2023•49 min
On a new episode of Black Tech Unplugged, Dr. Kalia Braswell joins host Deena McKay to discuss her career in the tech industry. Dr. Braswell, an accomplished technologist, educator, and researcher, shares her educational background, including her degrees in computer science, information technology, and education. Dr. KB discusses her PhD research on increasing the participation of black girls in tech. She also talks about her experiences at Apple and the importance of using technology for social...
Aug 01, 2023•51 min
In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, Deena McKay interviews senior developer advocate Nancy Gariché about application security. We discuss the different roles in the tech industry and how to build & impact community, even if you aren’t an influencer or have a brand. Nancy also shares insights about bridging the gap between security researchers, developers, and open source maintainers. You can find the full video version of the episode on YouTube (YouTube.com/blacktechunplugged) —————————...
Apr 11, 2023•41 min
In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, I interview cybersecurity professional Henri Davis, also known as HD from the YouTube channel Techtual Chatter and host of the Techtual Talk podcast. We discuss topics such as cybersecurity, finding a job in tech, navigating a layoff, and the importance of taking a placeholder role until you get to the role that you want. Henri also shares his experience in highlighting Black people in tech and helping them pivot into new technology careers. Full show not...
Mar 28, 2023•43 min
Chris Witherspoon is a multi-faceted man. He’s a son, father, entertainment reporter and Founder. On this episode of the podcast I am focused on the Founder side of Chris. This man is taking your tv and movie watching experience to another level with his app, Pop Viewers. Download PopViewers (only available for iPhone): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/popviewers-movies-tv/id1367192101 Listen as we dissect why his app Pop Viewers is a game changer and his journey as a founder. We talk about everyth...
Mar 14, 2023•46 min
As a person in tech, have you ever dreamed of having a roundtable discussion with your peers where you have an honest, candid conversation about your experiences? Well grab your tea because that is exactly what this episode is giving. On episode 072, I sit down with the creator of the drama series, Frame of Reference (a series about a young highly competitive Black CTO), the lead actor, and a real CTO to talk about life in tech, impostor syndrome in the workplace, and how being Black in work spa...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 14 min
Is founder an inclusive term? According to my guest, Marcus Jimenez, the answer is no. But to find out why you’ll have to listen to the episode. But while I’m here, let me introduce Marcus, Founder of the BreeFly App & one of the stars in Founding in Color Season 2 on Peacock. He joins be on episode 071 to talk about his career journey as an entrepreneur, his current business the BreeFly App, & why data + insights is the only way businesses can win. This episode is brought to you by Foun...
Feb 28, 2023•45 min
At some point I think we've all wondered what goes on in the mind of a recruiter? Lucky for you, Yasmine Hill allows me to live out our dreams. On this episode I talk with Yaz, a technical sourcer at Uber, about all things tech recruiting. We chat about her career journey from theater major to recruiter, what she looks for when sourcing candidates, and most importantly she shares advice on how to grab a tech recruiters attention. Don't walk, run to this new episode and bring your notebook. ALSO,...
Feb 14, 2023•48 min
I've met many people who's journey leaves me speechless, but this dude right here is literally a badass. Met Tariq King, VP of Product-Service Systems at EPAM, but more importantly a man who learned how to code at 3 years old (yup you read that right). A man who is also a thought leader, published author, and international keynote who can talk for hours about software testing, artificial intelligence, AI & more. On this episode we break down his career trajectory (this man has tried a lot of...
Feb 01, 2023•45 min
It's officially 2023 and boy have things changed! Listen to my solo episode detailing my transitions as well as providing you with advice and tips as a result of my journey. I touch on how to get a new job, interviewing, how to look good in the first 30 days of a new job, and also I give a few predictions of what I think tech will look like in 2023. Full show notes for this episode: https://blacktechunplugged.com/2023/01/17/ep-068-where-am-i-now-deena-mckay-unplugged/ Interested in receiving car...
Jan 17, 2023•26 min
It's the crossover episode you didn't know you needed yall! On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged I'm joined by the ladies of the Modern Figures Podcast (modernfigurespodcast.com) and we talk about their careers in academia. And let me tell you, they do A LOT. You think a professor is only teaching students, well that's only 20%-30%! Listen to the episode now to find out what professors do with the other 80%-70% of their time. And also listen to learn more about the modern figures podcast and ...
Jan 02, 2023•49 min
We all know and agree that getting into tech is no easy feat. Allow me to introduce you to Andre Hitchman, a UK software engineer who even after being denied a job many times and becoming highly discouraged in the process, still got into tech. And not only did he get into the industry, he's helping others into tech through his organization, Xuntos. Find out what Andre had to learn to get into tech and advice he has for you to be successful in the industry. Full show notes here: https://blacktech...
Oct 30, 2022•44 min
Ever see an ad about a product you were talking about with a friend? Keep seeing ads for a pair of shoes you looked at weeks ago? Well that's because the internet is stalking us... literally. On this episode my guest, Steven Coyle, and I discuss all things ad tech. We dive into how ad tech is affecting our daily lives (supposedly in a beneficial way) and how you can get a career in the space. Full Show Notes for This Episode | https://blacktechunplugged.com/2022/10/13/ep-065-steven-coyleunplugge...
Oct 13, 2022•58 min
Misinformation on the internet is running rampant like never before. But we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from spreading it like wildfire. Guest 064 of the podcast, Joe Miller, discusses how we can combat against misinformation in the digital age. He also discusses how we can protect ourselves online as well as how we can get involved in creating policies in tech to protect our rights. Sponsor for this episode | BPTN Check out their event, BFUTR, on October 19th-21st in Toronto | http...
Sep 29, 2022•37 min
Never in my life did I think I'd actually talk to a child protege let alone interview them. Meet Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon, protege, keynote speaker, creator of the award-winning social enterprise, Stemettes, and author. On episode 063, Anne-Marie and I discuss her journey as a child protege, why internships are important and how to get the most out of them, and most importantly her new book, She's in CTRL. Buy her book here | https://aimafidon.com/books/ Sponsor for this episode | BPTN Check out ...
Sep 08, 2022•51 min
Grace MacJones has made it her mission to demystify tech for people. And on this episode she does just that! On episode 062 of the podcast, Grace and I delve into the deep world of web3 and what that means for our future. Listen and learn about web3 resources, why decentralized social media apps could be the future, and how you can jump in at the early adopters stage. Find full show notes with linked resources from the episode: https://blacktechunplugged.com/2022/08/25/ep-062-grace-macjones-unpl...
Aug 25, 2022•53 min
This man sent out his resume 131 times before getting a job as a designer in tech. This same man is now a Director at Nava, a civ tech organization based in Washington DC. On episode 061 you get to meet Senongo Akpem. A man who took has taken is worldly experiences and creates visual magic. On this episode we discuss: - his long journey to get into tech following a stint in Japan - different designer roles you can pursue - why inclusivity in the designer space is key to producing great products ...
Aug 11, 2022•44 min
Asking questions and staying curious can be a game changer for your career. Just ask Jennifer Opal, the UK sensation that was winner of the Tech Women 100 Award, named a Rising Star in Tech, and is a keynote speaker at some of your favorite conferences. On this episode we discuss: - her role as DevOps Engineer at Dropbox - Being neurodivergent in tech and how you can support a neurodivergent team member - Her experience as being the "only one" and how that led to anxiety - Tokenism in the workpl...
Jul 29, 2022•49 min
Jermaine will get you an offer you can’t refuse. Yes, you are meeting the JobFather. On episode 059 of the podcast I talk to Jermaine Murray about his role as CEO of JupiterHR, his career coaching and tech career placement firm that’s helping increase the number of Blacks in tech. Also in this episode we discuss: - how Jermaine transitioned into tech - helpful resume tips that you can use right now - why Toronto is one of the biggest tech hub today Full show notes for this episode: https://black...
Jul 07, 2022•47 min
This episode is for my technical bros and sistas! Grab your notebook because my guest, Art Butler, is dropping a ton of technical dimes in this episode. Art talks about his current role as technical product manager and what that truly means. He also goes into his previous life as a Dev Ops Architect. He breaks down what Dev Ops is, the tools you need to know, and gives you a mini interview prep session. You are about to go out and be great after this one! Connect with Deena for Career Coaching: ...
Apr 28, 2022•48 min
After episode 053 some of yall were asking questions about scrum so I had to hit you with a new solo episode to talk about the basics of scrum. In episode 057 I talk about what is scrum, the key members of a scrum team, and the scrum ceremonies a team performs for each iteration. Full show notes for this episode: https://blacktechunplugged.com/2022/04/14/ep-057-what-is-scrum-scrum-unplugged/ Interested in receiving career coaching from Deena? Schedule an initial intake and answer a few questions...
Apr 14, 2022•20 min
