September 1, 2025 • 46 mins
When less than 3% of the tech workforce looks like us, every Black woman in technology is both a pioneer and a revolution. Though Silicon Valley wasn't built with us in mind, we're transforming it through sheer brilliance, determination, and a perspective that cannot be replicated.
This episode celebrates the Black women changing the face of technology—from coding to user experience design, from data science to startup leadership. We spotlight trailblazers like Kimberly Bryant of Black Girls Code who created vital pipelines for our future innovators, and Dr. Timnit Gebru whose ethical stand against AI bias shook an industry giant. These women exemplify why many of us are creating our own spaces rather than trying to fit where we were never meant to belong.
The journey into tech often begins with self-teaching, boot camps, or career transitions—all while juggling full-time jobs and family responsibilities. Yet what sets Black women apart isn't just our resilience but our approach: we create products with overlooked communities in mind, designing for financial literacy, health equity, and social justice. This human-centered approach makes our contributions not just valuable but essential to an industry that desperately needs our perspective.
Finding community is crucial for thriving in tech spaces. Whether through mentorship relationships with other Black women, tech collectives on platforms like Meetup and LinkedIn, or conferences like Afrotech and the Black Women in Data Summit, these connections provide the support needed to navigate challenges unique to our experience. When we show up for each other, the momentum only grows stronger.
Ready to disrupt the tech landscape? Remember that your voice, your ideas, and your innovations belong in this industry. Share your tech journey with us on Instagram @TheMelaninUnicornPodcast—we're here to celebrate and support your path forward. Because when Black women lead in tech, we don't just code—we transform.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
hey, hey, hey, tribe, and welcome back to the melanin
unicorn podcast.
You know the podcast where Iamplify the stories, the voices
and the power of black womenthat are redefining every
industry that they findthemselves in, one innovation at
(00:35):
a time.
I'm your host, kerry, andtoday's episode is dedicated to
the dreamers, the coders and thetech bosses, and our episode
title is Black Women in Tech.
From Silicon Valley to startups, from data science to design
(00:57):
thinking, are making the mostundeniable moves in a field that
wasn't built with us or for us.
And yet here we are disrupting,innovating and leading.
Check that.
(01:19):
Now let's start the show.
You know, tech is a field thathas never been welcoming to us,
(01:53):
and the fact that Black womenmake up less than 3% of the tech
workforce in the US.
Do get in.
We change the game, but it isnot without its challenges.
(02:13):
Right, we do change the gameand let's be even more clear and
transparent.
More clear and transparentanything that Black women put
their hands to turns intosomething incredibly brilliant,
(02:35):
and that is a fact.
That is a fact.
So you know, for Black GirlsCode, it was created by a fellow
queen named Kimberly Bryant,and she her thought process was
creating that pipeline for thenext generation of coders.
(03:00):
Now I won't get into what wentdown.
Unfortunately, it up on HarrietTubman's internet.
Okay, because we're justtalking about our fellow
(03:34):
sisters' brilliance andforesight in creating Black
Girls Code.
And then you have Dr TemnickGebru, and please forgive me if
I have butchered your name.
She is a pioneer researcher inAI ethics and the thing with
(04:03):
this queen, our fellow queen, isthat she had the courage to
challenge the biggest players inthe industry on bias and
accountability when they wantedher to roll over and not tell
the truth.
(04:24):
She would not.
She would not.
She spoke about again thedangers of AI.
And don't get me wrong, thereare some positive things about
(04:45):
AI, right, but Dr Gibru, whounderstands the AI ethics, put
out that warning because, yousee, google wanted her to
(05:08):
retract what she said.
They wanted her to act like shedidn't see any of the
challenges that was going on.
Her group that was in Googleworking on the AI.
(05:34):
She saw the different thingsthat were not correct and so,
because she refused to retractand because of the team that she
worked with would not retractas well, google fired her.
Google fired her and thoselying buzzards said she resigned
(06:04):
, which she did not, and I dobelieve that she sued them and I
am almost certain that she wonher lawsuit, her case against
them, but I'm not 100% sure, butnevertheless, but nevertheless,
(06:25):
she told them exactly what theydid not want to hear.
And again, I talk about themediocrity, the fragility with
white men, and the CEO of Googleis Indian, and so I don't need
to even go into that, becauseyou already know what I did not
(06:50):
say, you already know what it is, you already know what the
answer is, and so I say all thatto say this is why we, as Black
women, are doing our own thing,why we.
(07:13):
This is why we are creating ourown things, and the proof is in
the pudding, because, if youlook at the many, many Black
startups, black owned startupsand black owned companies that
are being created and rolled out, they are headed by black women
(07:40):
.
They are headed by Black womenbecause we understand that we
are not trying to fit in to aculture that is so beneath us.
(08:02):
So beneath us, their intellectis not on par with ours.
So, of course, we outpace, weoutdo, we are creative, we are
(08:24):
doing all of the things.
So, of course, when we go intotheir spaces, they want to
(08:50):
suppress and quiet our voicesand they want to steal from us.
But I say this, and I'm goingto end this section of our
talking point Stop trying to fitin into a place that you were
never supposed to fit in, to.
Stop trying to put a circleinto a square Just stop.
(09:13):
You are uniquely created, youare uniquely gifted, and so it
is time for you especially mysisters in tech it is time for
(09:33):
you to step out and do your ownthing.
And what is that beinginnovators?
For many black women wanting toenter into tech, it always
(10:11):
begins with a thought, then itturns into a belief, then we
have to have the faith that wecan indeed do it, and then it
(10:34):
becomes a resilience for us.
So maybe you're thinking aboutswitching careers, or you've
(10:57):
been self-teaching yourselfthrough YouTube or Coursera or
Coursera, coursera, or you havedecided to enroll in a boot camp
.
Maybe many of you are alreadyworking a full-time job and you
have families.
You may be married or not havechildren, so we are working
(11:22):
twice as hard, and let usunderstand this that it is not
easy and it often goes withoutrecognition, but I'm here to
tell you and encourage you tostill do it If this is what you
(11:50):
want to do, if this is yourheart's desire.
Now, for many, many people, formany women Black women sometimes
it's a financial thing.
So you look at the cost of bootcamps and you're just like,
(12:27):
okay, learn coding.
Or they go into the Courseracourse, they look up the courses
through that platform and,again, there is nothing wrong
with doing that, because onething about us Black women when
(12:55):
we want to do something, nothingwill stop us.
But what I do want to cautionyou with, because this is
sometimes we, as Black women, weget caught up in this.
(13:15):
We do all of this research,research, research, looking,
looking, writing stuff down, butwe don't make a move to
(13:38):
actually begin to learn.
So what I have done is that Iwill look up something that I'm
interested in doing and I willnot spend a lot of time going
through all of the research andreading up on everything,
because what it does is itcauses us to procrastinate, and
(14:05):
procrastination, believe it ornot, is fear.
So if you want to get into tech,do it, just do it and I take
myself as an example, right.
You know, wanting to transitioninto the user experience design
(14:31):
space was not an easy thing,right.
I did manage to find a bootcamp that was not pricey at all
and it could have just beenbecause it was during COVID the
(14:51):
course, and the boot camp wasokay.
Honestly, it wasn't thegreatest, but I took what I
learned from them and from there, and then I looked up other
things because I knew that therewas just there was still just
(15:13):
like a gap, because what peopledon't realize is that these boot
camps, a lot of these bootcamps, depending on what it is.
So let me just say that it ismore of a foundational principle
than anything else.
So, when you need to do likereal world stuff, a lot of times
(15:40):
the bootcamp does not prepareyou for that.
but there are organizations outthere who are looking for
people to help them in thosedifferent areas, whether it's UX
or whether it's coding and no,it's often not paid work, but
(16:09):
what it is, is something thatyou can add into your portfolio
piece, because a lot of times.
You know people create theirportfolios, but it's just full
of make-believe projects.
But when you're applying forjobs, depending on okay, you
(16:34):
know the person that's lookingat your portfolio they want to
make sure that these arereal-world projects and how you
were able to solve whatever theproblem was the client had.
So that's just.
I just want to put that outthere, okay, and I'm also
(17:01):
learning how to code websites,but using platforms, you know,
like Squarespace and Spotify.
Right, because you can changethe codes in platforms like that
, you can easily go into theback end and change the code of
(17:28):
those websites.
And you know what?
My story isn't a solo story.
I'm not an anomaly are manyblack women who are learning
these things, and you know techis what they want to get into.
(17:55):
Tech is their jam, okay, so Ijust want to let you know that
you have the vision.
I know you do, but we also knowthat that isn't enough.
(18:21):
We need the access, we needmentorship and we need equity,
and so that is my homework foryou to begin to look for those
things you can get on groupslike Meetup, right?
(18:46):
Well, you go to the platformMeetup, I'm sorry.
So you go to the platformMeetup and wherever you live.
You can type in your city andyour state and then you look for
groups that are catering andare made specifically for Black
(19:10):
women looking to get into techOkay, and sometimes you may not
find a solo Black women group onthe platform meetup, right.
Sometimes it just may be Blackpeople in tech.
That is still a group that youcan join and so you get in and
(19:35):
you see if, yeah, this is what Iwas looking for.
Looking for like access,looking to learn, do they have
workshops?
Right?
Looking for mentorships andgetting equity.
Now let me just say a littlething on mentorship, okay,
(19:58):
because I've seen some crazystuff with people wanting a
mentor and I've also seen, like,mentors be put off about how
they are approached.
So, again, do your research.
(20:20):
If you are looking for, if youhave your eyes on a specific
person that you would like toreceive mentorship from, please
do your research and don'tpounce on these women, these
(20:50):
women, because you, you, youlike, throw, you throw people
off and you scare them, right.
So there are plenty of blackwomen who do want to mentor.
They want to mentor other blackwomen, but there's also a
correct way to reach out tosomeone reach out to your fellow
(21:19):
sister about mentorship.
So just be smart about that,okay, be smart, be discerning,
because you don't want to scareoff a person that you are
looking at to be a mentor foryou.
(21:55):
We, as Black women, we bringmore than just our enormous
(22:15):
talent, community building andcreativity in ways that shape
more inclusive and innovativeproducts.
We are the ones that aredesigning the apps that serve
(22:37):
our overlooked communities, ouroverlooked communities.
We are building the platformsfor financial literacy, health,
equity and social justice,because we code with culture in
(22:59):
mind, and that's not just tech.
Right, that is transformation.
When Black women lead, performbetter, and why is that?
(23:21):
Because we have totalunderstanding of what is going
on, what the problem is and howto solve it.
(23:56):
We make products that are morehuman centered.
That is our gift.
That is our gift.
And the problem is with thesecompanies that oftentimes Black
women are trying to get into.
They don't understand any ofthat.
They don't understand it andthey don't know it.
So, when Black women go intothese all-white spaces and they
(24:28):
are using their voices to saythis is not it, this is not
going to work, you know, whenthey're trying to develop
products and things like that,they are met with hostility
because they think they know andthey do not know.
They don't know because they'reon the outside.
(24:52):
We know because we're on theinside, and so I know that at
(25:21):
one time there was a big, bigpush.
You many, many of our peoplegot in there and then they
realized that this was not whatthey thought it was, because you
have to understand that thosebig tech companies do not have
(25:47):
people that work there, thatknow what they're doing.
Many of them are in thosecompanies and in those positions
because of who they know, notwhat they know.
It is because of who they know,and this is why we are all
(26:13):
witnessing in real time thetotal collapse of these tech
giants, because it is nepotism.
So when you are trying to getinto these companies and I'm
(26:35):
talking about my black sisterswhen you're trying to get into
these companies, this is whatyou're up against.
You are not up against andworking with or for people who
know what they're doing, becausethey do not, because they do
(27:03):
not.
And so oftentimes, if you seethe stories, if you read the
stories, you see how our sistershave been burnt out, because
this is what they are faced withday in and day out and why we
(27:26):
see our sisters collectivelyresigning in mass.
Now, I also know the currenttime and this demonic
administration have beentargeting black women as well.
(27:47):
Right, but I also know that Godcreated a plan.
He has already created a plan.
A plan, he has already createda plan and that is why so many
(28:09):
of our fellow sisters areflourishing.
Yes, it's scary when you aresuddenly laid off again due to
this demonic administration, butI am telling you what I know,
and I can only tell you becauseI have experienced things and
(28:32):
God has always made a way for me.
He always had the next thingwaiting for me, just like he has
the next thing waiting for me,just like he has the next thing
waiting for you.
And so when you say, oh, I wantto get into tech, that is the
(28:55):
Lord leading you into tech,because he has great plans for
you in that arena, has greatplans for you in that arena.
That's why we know all of thethings, because God has
implanted and poured into us thethings that nobody else outside
(29:21):
of our culture knows.
That's why the attacks thatmany of you who are in tech
right now have experienced orare experiencing because they
know that you know or areexperiencing, because they know
(29:47):
that you know.
So God has, wherever you areright now and I'm talking about
my sisters who are already inthose spaces and places Just
know this it is all preparation.
Understand that it is allpreparation because God is doing
(30:21):
and setting up things just forus to go into and to dominate.
So be of good cheer and be ofgood courage, have faith and
believe, because God is leadingyou.
And again, for my sisters whowant to get into tech, and you
have that thought that you feellike, oh, it just came out of
(30:43):
nowhere.
No, no, no, no, no, that wasGod planting the seed into your
soil.
So get ready and let me tellyou something God will lead you
into how and who to learn with.
(31:04):
So do not worry, and because Iwant you to remember this, we
are all made for this becauseGod has given us the blueprint
(31:25):
to do it.
So let's talk about movingforward and where do you want to
(31:58):
go from here?
Okay, so we touched onmentorship a little earlier, and
so mentorship really doesmatter, and I know, and I know
Black women have said that theyhave been mentored by, you know,
(32:21):
white men, and they've beenmentored by white women and they
said that they have greatmentorship relationships with
them.
And I'm not taking anythingaway from you, you know, because
they have been serving thatmentorship role and purpose in
(32:45):
your life.
So, you know, I'm not, you know, talking about that.
I'm talking about mentorshipwhere Black women are helping
other Black women grow in thetech spaces, because it's not
(33:06):
just oh, you know, it's so niceto have a Black woman mentor me.
No, it's necessary.
It is necessary, you know you,you want to know that, whomever
(33:29):
you're sitting across from, wholooks like you, whether to grow
in tech.
(33:56):
And also, our next thing is howrepresentation fuels aspiration,
because, remember, it can neveronly just be about you.
You have to look at thegeneration that is going to be
(34:21):
coming after you.
Okay, when we do things, itshould never be that okay, it's
just me, it's for me and no oneelse.
No, no, when you are doingthese things, you must always
(34:54):
look and remember the generationthat is coming up after you.
Our little black girls see techfounders that look like them.
It opens up new worlds for themand then they see that they can
(35:21):
do anything.
They see that they can doanything and that they are not
just limited to doing the thingsthat they see in their families
or in their environments.
(35:48):
The need for safe spaces is keyand a necessity, and it is the
lifeblood tech collectives,whether you join groups on
Meetup or LinkedIn or Slackgroups.
We need the community to thrive, because we are not an island
(36:18):
all by ourselves.
We need the community to grow,to learn, to create, to build
for the next generation that iscoming up after us.
Again, it's never about justyou.
(36:43):
And now we have these BlackTech conferences right that are
just springing up everywhere,and I love to see it.
(37:06):
So let me tell you, let me giveyou a few, that I found that's
happening this year.
So you have Afrotech, whichwill be happening in Houston,
texas, from October 27th throughthe 31st.
You have the BFUTR Global TechSummit, which is held in Toronto
(37:35):
, canada, on November 6ththrough the 7th.
November 6th through the 7th.
You have BattyCon, which isAugust 7th through the 9th, but
at the time I couldn't find thelocation.
They just had to be announced.
(37:58):
Then you have Black Is TechWeek, that is, august 11th
through the 16th, held indowntown Houston, texas.
Then you have the Black DataProcessing Associates Conference
, august 13th through the 17th,held at the Westin Peachtree
(38:21):
Plaza in Atlanta, georgia.
Then you have Black Women inData Summit, september 12th
through the 14th, held at the LaMeridian Atlanta Perimeter in
(38:41):
Atlanta, georgia.
And then you have GovTechCon2025, held September 11th
through the 13th at the GaylordNational Resort and Convention
Center in Forest Heights,maryland.
These were just a few that Ifound In Forest Heights,
(39:05):
maryland.
These were just a few that Ifound, and so my thing to you is
we need to keep showing up, weneed to keep speaking up and we
(39:31):
need to keep lifting each otherup, because those conferences
that I just talked about isimportant, because our black
tech conferences are only goingto get bigger and bigger and
bigger, and it's going to bespread out, and so when we are
(39:52):
showing up for these conferences, then you'll have people in
other states, other countries,and it's just going to keep
going, and so that's what we'redoing, right.
We are spreading out and themomentum is only going to keep
(40:15):
growing.
(40:38):
To my fellow sisters that are intech whether you are a coder, a
strategist, a designer, afounder, a mentor I want to say
thank you and I am so gratefulfor you, am so grateful for you.
(41:32):
You are not way and you feellike there are sisters who are
looking to enter into tech andsisters who are already in tech,
please share this episode withthem.
You can follow me on Instagramat the Melanin Unicorn Podcast.
(42:03):
I would love to hear from you,whether it be a DM, if you feel
so inclined, or in the comments,where you are going into tech.
Or you are already in tech,into tech, or you are already in
(42:24):
tech.
Drop it in the comments.
Let us cheer you on.
And if you have resources forthose who are looking to get
into tech, please share withyour sisters.
With your sisters.
Please remember to rate, reviewand subscribe, because this
(42:56):
podcast will help our othersisters find us.
I also wanted to bring up apodcast that I have followed for
many years.
It wasn't by a woman, it was bya brother.
His name is Maurice Cherry.
I'm pretty sure many of youhave heard of him.
(43:19):
His podcast is called RevisionPath is called Revision Path and
after many years ofspotlighting Black men and Black
women in all types of designfields tech, animators, data
(43:40):
scientists he ended the podcastlast year, march 11, 2024.
He said his goodbye, he signedoff.
Go back, look him up on Spotify, apple Podcasts or whatever
(44:05):
podcast platform that youcurrently stream from I'm pretty
sure he's on the other ones.
(44:35):
Don't quote me, though.
Such an incredible podcast,because it really opened up my
eyes, and so many otherencouraging and just an
innovative podcast.
So, if you get the chance, itis called the Revision Path and
(44:59):
it is by Maurice Cherry, and itis by Maurice Cherry.
I want you to know that you arenot here by accident and that
you belong in tech, no matterwhat anybody says.
(45:20):
No matter what anybody says, nomatter what anybody thinks.
If you want to be in tech, I'mtelling you you belong there.
Now I want you to have the mostincredible, amazing and
(45:47):
innovative day, because that isthe day that you deserve.
I love you and, until our nextepisode, take care of yourselves
.
Bye.
hey, hey, hey, tribe, and welcome back to the melanin
unicorn podcast.
You know the podcast where Iamplify the stories, the voices
and the power of black womenthat are redefining every
industry that they findthemselves in, one innovation at
(00:35):
a time.
I'm your host, kerry, andtoday's episode is dedicated to
the dreamers, the coders and thetech bosses, and our episode
title is Black Women in Tech.
From Silicon Valley to startups, from data science to design
(00:57):
thinking, are making the mostundeniable moves in a field that
wasn't built with us or for us.
And yet here we are disrupting,innovating and leading.
Check that.
(01:19):
Now let's start the show.
You know, tech is a field thathas never been welcoming to us,
(01:53):
and the fact that Black womenmake up less than 3% of the tech
workforce in the US.
Do get in.
We change the game, but it isnot without its challenges.
(02:13):
Right, we do change the gameand let's be even more clear and
transparent.
More clear and transparentanything that Black women put
their hands to turns intosomething incredibly brilliant,
(02:35):
and that is a fact.
That is a fact.
So you know, for Black GirlsCode, it was created by a fellow
queen named Kimberly Bryant,and she her thought process was
creating that pipeline for thenext generation of coders.
(03:00):
Now I won't get into what wentdown.
Unfortunately, it up on HarrietTubman's internet.
Okay, because we're justtalking about our fellow
(03:34):
sisters' brilliance andforesight in creating Black
Girls Code.
And then you have Dr TemnickGebru, and please forgive me if
I have butchered your name.
She is a pioneer researcher inAI ethics and the thing with
(04:03):
this queen, our fellow queen, isthat she had the courage to
challenge the biggest players inthe industry on bias and
accountability when they wantedher to roll over and not tell
the truth.
(04:24):
She would not.
She would not.
She spoke about again thedangers of AI.
And don't get me wrong, thereare some positive things about
(04:45):
AI, right, but Dr Gibru, whounderstands the AI ethics, put
out that warning because, yousee, google wanted her to
(05:08):
retract what she said.
They wanted her to act like shedidn't see any of the
challenges that was going on.
Her group that was in Googleworking on the AI.
(05:34):
She saw the different thingsthat were not correct and so,
because she refused to retractand because of the team that she
worked with would not retractas well, google fired her.
Google fired her and thoselying buzzards said she resigned
(06:04):
, which she did not, and I dobelieve that she sued them and I
am almost certain that she wonher lawsuit, her case against
them, but I'm not 100% sure, butnevertheless, but nevertheless,
(06:25):
she told them exactly what theydid not want to hear.
And again, I talk about themediocrity, the fragility with
white men, and the CEO of Googleis Indian, and so I don't need
to even go into that, becauseyou already know what I did not
(06:50):
say, you already know what it is, you already know what the
answer is, and so I say all thatto say this is why we, as Black
women, are doing our own thing,why we.
(07:13):
This is why we are creating ourown things, and the proof is in
the pudding, because, if youlook at the many, many Black
startups, black owned startupsand black owned companies that
are being created and rolled out, they are headed by black women
(07:40):
.
They are headed by Black womenbecause we understand that we
are not trying to fit in to aculture that is so beneath us.
(08:02):
So beneath us, their intellectis not on par with ours.
So, of course, we outpace, weoutdo, we are creative, we are
(08:24):
doing all of the things.
So, of course, when we go intotheir spaces, they want to
(08:50):
suppress and quiet our voicesand they want to steal from us.
But I say this, and I'm goingto end this section of our
talking point Stop trying to fitin into a place that you were
never supposed to fit in, to.
Stop trying to put a circleinto a square Just stop.
(09:13):
You are uniquely created, youare uniquely gifted, and so it
is time for you especially mysisters in tech it is time for
(09:33):
you to step out and do your ownthing.
And what is that beinginnovators?
For many black women wanting toenter into tech, it always
(10:11):
begins with a thought, then itturns into a belief, then we
have to have the faith that wecan indeed do it, and then it
(10:34):
becomes a resilience for us.
So maybe you're thinking aboutswitching careers, or you've
(10:57):
been self-teaching yourselfthrough YouTube or Coursera or
Coursera, coursera, or you havedecided to enroll in a boot camp
.
Maybe many of you are alreadyworking a full-time job and you
have families.
You may be married or not havechildren, so we are working
(11:22):
twice as hard, and let usunderstand this that it is not
easy and it often goes withoutrecognition, but I'm here to
tell you and encourage you tostill do it If this is what you
(11:50):
want to do, if this is yourheart's desire.
Now, for many, many people, formany women Black women sometimes
it's a financial thing.
So you look at the cost of bootcamps and you're just like,
(12:27):
okay, learn coding.
Or they go into the Courseracourse, they look up the courses
through that platform and,again, there is nothing wrong
with doing that, because onething about us Black women when
(12:55):
we want to do something, nothingwill stop us.
But what I do want to cautionyou with, because this is
sometimes we, as Black women, weget caught up in this.
(13:15):
We do all of this research,research, research, looking,
looking, writing stuff down, butwe don't make a move to
(13:38):
actually begin to learn.
So what I have done is that Iwill look up something that I'm
interested in doing and I willnot spend a lot of time going
through all of the research andreading up on everything,
because what it does is itcauses us to procrastinate, and
(14:05):
procrastination, believe it ornot, is fear.
So if you want to get into tech,do it, just do it and I take
myself as an example, right.
You know, wanting to transitioninto the user experience design
(14:31):
space was not an easy thing,right.
I did manage to find a bootcamp that was not pricey at all
and it could have just beenbecause it was during COVID the
(14:51):
course, and the boot camp wasokay.
Honestly, it wasn't thegreatest, but I took what I
learned from them and from there, and then I looked up other
things because I knew that therewas just there was still just
(15:13):
like a gap, because what peopledon't realize is that these boot
camps, a lot of these bootcamps, depending on what it is.
So let me just say that it ismore of a foundational principle
than anything else.
So, when you need to do likereal world stuff, a lot of times
(15:40):
the bootcamp does not prepareyou for that.
but there are organizations outthere who are looking for
people to help them in thosedifferent areas, whether it's UX
or whether it's coding and no,it's often not paid work, but
(16:09):
what it is, is something thatyou can add into your portfolio
piece, because a lot of times.
You know people create theirportfolios, but it's just full
of make-believe projects.
But when you're applying forjobs, depending on okay, you
(16:34):
know the person that's lookingat your portfolio they want to
make sure that these arereal-world projects and how you
were able to solve whatever theproblem was the client had.
So that's just.
I just want to put that outthere, okay, and I'm also
(17:01):
learning how to code websites,but using platforms, you know,
like Squarespace and Spotify.
Right, because you can changethe codes in platforms like that
, you can easily go into theback end and change the code of
(17:28):
those websites.
And you know what?
My story isn't a solo story.
I'm not an anomaly are manyblack women who are learning
these things, and you know techis what they want to get into.
(17:55):
Tech is their jam, okay, so Ijust want to let you know that
you have the vision.
I know you do, but we also knowthat that isn't enough.
(18:21):
We need the access, we needmentorship and we need equity,
and so that is my homework foryou to begin to look for those
things you can get on groupslike Meetup, right?
(18:46):
Well, you go to the platformMeetup, I'm sorry.
So you go to the platformMeetup and wherever you live.
You can type in your city andyour state and then you look for
groups that are catering andare made specifically for Black
(19:10):
women looking to get into techOkay, and sometimes you may not
find a solo Black women group onthe platform meetup, right.
Sometimes it just may be Blackpeople in tech.
That is still a group that youcan join and so you get in and
(19:35):
you see if, yeah, this is what Iwas looking for.
Looking for like access,looking to learn, do they have
workshops?
Right?
Looking for mentorships andgetting equity.
Now let me just say a littlething on mentorship, okay,
(19:58):
because I've seen some crazystuff with people wanting a
mentor and I've also seen, like,mentors be put off about how
they are approached.
So, again, do your research.
(20:20):
If you are looking for, if youhave your eyes on a specific
person that you would like toreceive mentorship from, please
do your research and don'tpounce on these women, these
(20:50):
women, because you, you, youlike, throw, you throw people
off and you scare them, right.
So there are plenty of blackwomen who do want to mentor.
They want to mentor other blackwomen, but there's also a
correct way to reach out tosomeone reach out to your fellow
(21:19):
sister about mentorship.
So just be smart about that,okay, be smart, be discerning,
because you don't want to scareoff a person that you are
looking at to be a mentor foryou.
(21:55):
We, as Black women, we bringmore than just our enormous
(22:15):
talent, community building andcreativity in ways that shape
more inclusive and innovativeproducts.
We are the ones that aredesigning the apps that serve
(22:37):
our overlooked communities, ouroverlooked communities.
We are building the platformsfor financial literacy, health,
equity and social justice,because we code with culture in
(22:59):
mind, and that's not just tech.
Right, that is transformation.
When Black women lead, performbetter, and why is that?
(23:21):
Because we have totalunderstanding of what is going
on, what the problem is and howto solve it.
(23:56):
We make products that are morehuman centered.
That is our gift.
That is our gift.
And the problem is with thesecompanies that oftentimes Black
women are trying to get into.
They don't understand any ofthat.
They don't understand it andthey don't know it.
So, when Black women go intothese all-white spaces and they
(24:28):
are using their voices to saythis is not it, this is not
going to work, you know, whenthey're trying to develop
products and things like that,they are met with hostility
because they think they know andthey do not know.
They don't know because they'reon the outside.
(24:52):
We know because we're on theinside, and so I know that at
(25:21):
one time there was a big, bigpush.
You many, many of our peoplegot in there and then they
realized that this was not whatthey thought it was, because you
have to understand that thosebig tech companies do not have
(25:47):
people that work there, thatknow what they're doing.
Many of them are in thosecompanies and in those positions
because of who they know, notwhat they know.
It is because of who they know,and this is why we are all
(26:13):
witnessing in real time thetotal collapse of these tech
giants, because it is nepotism.
So when you are trying to getinto these companies and I'm
(26:35):
talking about my black sisterswhen you're trying to get into
these companies, this is whatyou're up against.
You are not up against andworking with or for people who
know what they're doing, becausethey do not, because they do
(27:03):
not.
And so oftentimes, if you seethe stories, if you read the
stories, you see how our sistershave been burnt out, because
this is what they are faced withday in and day out and why we
(27:26):
see our sisters collectivelyresigning in mass.
Now, I also know the currenttime and this demonic
administration have beentargeting black women as well.
(27:47):
Right, but I also know that Godcreated a plan.
He has already created a plan.
A plan, he has already createda plan and that is why so many
(28:09):
of our fellow sisters areflourishing.
Yes, it's scary when you aresuddenly laid off again due to
this demonic administration, butI am telling you what I know,
and I can only tell you becauseI have experienced things and
(28:32):
God has always made a way for me.
He always had the next thingwaiting for me, just like he has
the next thing waiting for me,just like he has the next thing
waiting for you.
And so when you say, oh, I wantto get into tech, that is the
(28:55):
Lord leading you into tech,because he has great plans for
you in that arena, has greatplans for you in that arena.
That's why we know all of thethings, because God has
implanted and poured into us thethings that nobody else outside
(29:21):
of our culture knows.
That's why the attacks thatmany of you who are in tech
right now have experienced orare experiencing because they
know that you know or areexperiencing, because they know
(29:47):
that you know.
So God has, wherever you areright now and I'm talking about
my sisters who are already inthose spaces and places Just
know this it is all preparation.
Understand that it is allpreparation because God is doing
(30:21):
and setting up things just forus to go into and to dominate.
So be of good cheer and be ofgood courage, have faith and
believe, because God is leadingyou.
And again, for my sisters whowant to get into tech, and you
have that thought that you feellike, oh, it just came out of
(30:43):
nowhere.
No, no, no, no, no, that wasGod planting the seed into your
soil.
So get ready and let me tellyou something God will lead you
into how and who to learn with.
(31:04):
So do not worry, and because Iwant you to remember this, we
are all made for this becauseGod has given us the blueprint
(31:25):
to do it.
So let's talk about movingforward and where do you want to
(31:58):
go from here?
Okay, so we touched onmentorship a little earlier, and
so mentorship really doesmatter, and I know, and I know
Black women have said that theyhave been mentored by, you know,
(32:21):
white men, and they've beenmentored by white women and they
said that they have greatmentorship relationships with
them.
And I'm not taking anythingaway from you, you know, because
they have been serving thatmentorship role and purpose in
(32:45):
your life.
So, you know, I'm not, you know, talking about that.
I'm talking about mentorshipwhere Black women are helping
other Black women grow in thetech spaces, because it's not
(33:06):
just oh, you know, it's so niceto have a Black woman mentor me.
No, it's necessary.
It is necessary, you know you,you want to know that, whomever
(33:29):
you're sitting across from, wholooks like you, whether to grow
in tech.
(33:56):
And also, our next thing is howrepresentation fuels aspiration,
because, remember, it can neveronly just be about you.
You have to look at thegeneration that is going to be
(34:21):
coming after you.
Okay, when we do things, itshould never be that okay, it's
just me, it's for me and no oneelse.
No, no, when you are doingthese things, you must always
(34:54):
look and remember the generationthat is coming up after you.
Our little black girls see techfounders that look like them.
It opens up new worlds for themand then they see that they can
(35:21):
do anything.
They see that they can doanything and that they are not
just limited to doing the thingsthat they see in their families
or in their environments.
(35:48):
The need for safe spaces is keyand a necessity, and it is the
lifeblood tech collectives,whether you join groups on
Meetup or LinkedIn or Slackgroups.
We need the community to thrive, because we are not an island
(36:18):
all by ourselves.
We need the community to grow,to learn, to create, to build
for the next generation that iscoming up after us.
Again, it's never about justyou.
(36:43):
And now we have these BlackTech conferences right that are
just springing up everywhere,and I love to see it.
(37:06):
So let me tell you, let me giveyou a few, that I found that's
happening this year.
So you have Afrotech, whichwill be happening in Houston,
texas, from October 27th throughthe 31st.
You have the BFUTR Global TechSummit, which is held in Toronto
(37:35):
, canada, on November 6ththrough the 7th.
November 6th through the 7th.
You have BattyCon, which isAugust 7th through the 9th, but
at the time I couldn't find thelocation.
They just had to be announced.
(37:58):
Then you have Black Is TechWeek, that is, august 11th
through the 16th, held indowntown Houston, texas.
Then you have the Black DataProcessing Associates Conference
, august 13th through the 17th,held at the Westin Peachtree
(38:21):
Plaza in Atlanta, georgia.
Then you have Black Women inData Summit, september 12th
through the 14th, held at the LaMeridian Atlanta Perimeter in
(38:41):
Atlanta, georgia.
And then you have GovTechCon2025, held September 11th
through the 13th at the GaylordNational Resort and Convention
Center in Forest Heights,maryland.
These were just a few that Ifound In Forest Heights,
(39:05):
maryland.
These were just a few that Ifound, and so my thing to you is
we need to keep showing up, weneed to keep speaking up and we
(39:31):
need to keep lifting each otherup, because those conferences
that I just talked about isimportant, because our black
tech conferences are only goingto get bigger and bigger and
bigger, and it's going to bespread out, and so when we are
(39:52):
showing up for these conferences, then you'll have people in
other states, other countries,and it's just going to keep
going, and so that's what we'redoing, right.
We are spreading out and themomentum is only going to keep
(40:15):
growing.
(40:38):
To my fellow sisters that are intech whether you are a coder, a
strategist, a designer, afounder, a mentor I want to say
thank you and I am so gratefulfor you, am so grateful for you.
(41:32):
You are not way and you feellike there are sisters who are
looking to enter into tech andsisters who are already in tech,
please share this episode withthem.
You can follow me on Instagramat the Melanin Unicorn Podcast.
(42:03):
I would love to hear from you,whether it be a DM, if you feel
so inclined, or in the comments,where you are going into tech.
Or you are already in tech,into tech, or you are already in
(42:24):
tech.
Drop it in the comments.
Let us cheer you on.
And if you have resources forthose who are looking to get
into tech, please share withyour sisters.
With your sisters.
Please remember to rate, reviewand subscribe, because this
(42:56):
podcast will help our othersisters find us.
I also wanted to bring up apodcast that I have followed for
many years.
It wasn't by a woman, it was bya brother.
His name is Maurice Cherry.
I'm pretty sure many of youhave heard of him.
(43:19):
His podcast is called RevisionPath is called Revision Path and
after many years ofspotlighting Black men and Black
women in all types of designfields tech, animators, data
(43:40):
scientists he ended the podcastlast year, march 11, 2024.
He said his goodbye, he signedoff.
Go back, look him up on Spotify, apple Podcasts or whatever
(44:05):
podcast platform that youcurrently stream from I'm pretty
sure he's on the other ones.
(44:35):
Don't quote me, though.
Such an incredible podcast,because it really opened up my
eyes, and so many otherencouraging and just an
innovative podcast.
So, if you get the chance, itis called the Revision Path and
(44:59):
it is by Maurice Cherry, and itis by Maurice Cherry.
I want you to know that you arenot here by accident and that
you belong in tech, no matterwhat anybody says.
(45:20):
No matter what anybody says, nomatter what anybody thinks.
If you want to be in tech, I'mtelling you you belong there.
Now I want you to have the mostincredible, amazing and
(45:47):
innovative day, because that isthe day that you deserve.
I love you and, until our nextepisode, take care of yourselves
.
Bye.
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