Minority Tech Council Interest Meeting
The PFC Black Chamber and the Minority Tech Foundation are reaching out to companies in DC, MD and VA who are in the technology, engineering and media arts space to join us for an interest group meeting.
The PFC Black Chamber and the Minority Tech Foundation are reaching out to companies in DC, MD and VA who are in the technology, engineering and media arts space to join us for an interest group meeting.
What personal characteristics do you think are important for a successful career in tech?
In my field, one should be curious, math-inclined, and resilient. To start, curiosity supports the evaluation process. In Data Science, stopping at the first solution will, in slightly exaggerated terms, always lead to a poor result. On the other hand, curious individuals naturally explore multiple solutions to reach a well-informed answer. Next, while one does not need to be the greatest mathematician, one should be comfortable with math. Daily, I use mathematics and statistics to create and iterate models; moreover, strong mathematical knowledge reveals solutions that can simplify a project’s complexity (i.e. representing a paragraph with vectors to utilize simpler models). Lastly, while resiliency helps in industry, there is a greater importance in academia. There will be hard classes, every semester may not be straight A’s, and sometimes, one may question the value of their effort. These experiences are normal. If one pushes themselves and their knowledge, they will have a very successful career in Data Science.
At what age or stage did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
As a first-generation university student, I discovered my interest in technology a tad later than most. Early in my career at George Mason University, I studied Painting and Philosophy. Around the age of 21, I decided to reignite an older interest in Aerospace Engineering. The program required the Intro to CS course (CS112). Generally, engineering students expressed their disdain for the class, citing its high failure rate for those who never programmed before. With this information, I avoided the class for as long as possible, which ended up being only a year. In the first week, I instantly fell in love with algorithms. I spent all my free time completing problems and then refactoring their solutions. Consequently, I was able to TA the course, and some others, until I graduated. Even though I was able to attend lectures for CS and focus on computational mechanics in my major, I wish I took the class earlier. I would have switched my major to CS on the first day.
What do you think is the biggest misconception younger people have about pursuing a career in tech?
The tech subfields are very diverse. Just because you do not like programming, does not mean you will not like machine learning (and the many permutations of this within tech).
BONUS for Data Science
You do not, and I repeat, YOU DO NOT ALWAYS NEED A NEURAL NETWORK! 🙂
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
I use the same set of algorithms, metrics, and statistical methods for every project; however, each data set is different. For example, you can take a single dataset and modify some fields to obtain dramatically different results. By using this knowledge, one can discover the algorithms that excel in the context. Furthermore, this information, aggregated with previous models’ performances, highlights future modifications to the model. This process of listening to the data and responding to its concerns is one of my favorite tasks. Another honorable mention is using 10 minutes of a meeting to emphasize the distinction between accuracy, precision, and recall.
What tech blogs or resources do you follow regularly?
I am not very big into blogs/resources based on technology. I do browser/datascience on Reddit and I am a huge fan of 3Blue1Brown on YouTube!
What motivates/inspires you to do what you do every day?
After studying AI for a few years, I got involved with anthropocentric applications (how can AI improve humanity). Within the field of AI, the limitations of deep learning are an established quantity. For example, we know models are excellent at solving specific problems; however, these models fail to generalize to other forms of learning. In essence, models lack a fundamental piece of intelligence, and that information will merge AI with fields like Cognitive Science. With this information, we can identify intelligence and the evolution of intelligence. In other words, contributing to the understanding of humanity inspires my work. Quantum computing applications to AI seems like the subsequent step in this story. Given these points, I plan to obtain my Ph.D. and study generalizability of Quantum AI models.
What personal characteristics do you think are important for a successful career in tech?
Coachability, humility, and drive are by far the most important characteristics to be successful.
At what age or stage did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
I have been in the tech space for a decade because I knew it was important and wasn’t going anywhere soon. It really came apparent to me in the last two years how amazing and important this space is.
What do you think is the biggest misconception younger people have about pursuing a career in tech?
Well there are a lot of misconceptions I would say rather than looking for the coolest logo to put on your resume focus on culture and the ability to have a mentor at your organizations. The goal should be learning and progressing yourself to get to that next stage. The technology is always going to change what’s most important is the people you work with and the problems you solve.
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
It is always changing. You wake up on Monday and by Friday the world is a completely different place.
What tech blogs or resources do you follow regularly?
I use google alerts to provide me news on things like DevOps, Open Source software etc. Krebs on Security is also a good one. For podcasts I like The Cyberwire, The Tim Ferris Show, and Darknet Diaries.
What motivates/ inspires you to do what you do every day?
My team… building a high growth software company is amazing and helping the younger generation and my company grow to be the best in the industry is what drives me. Technically we help secure the world’s most critical software infrastructure from open source software vulnerabilities which has an incredible impact.
What personal characteristics do you think are important to have for a successful career in tech?
Hunger, Determination, Confidence, and Hard-Working attitude.
At what age or stage did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
When I was 8 years old, I received my very first computer. This was when I first started learning how to code. I was truly fascinated and knew then itself that I wanted to build and create using technology.
What do you think is the biggest misconception younger people have about pursuing a career in tech?
The biggest misconception younger people have about pursuing a career in tech is that everyone thinks that a career in tech means they have to code. There are many career paths in tech that do not require you to code, yet still be technical.
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
The most exciting thing about a career in tech is that I am able to be agile and always learn something new every day.
What tech blogs or resources do you follow regularly?
I follow AWS latest news and I use Flipboard to read the latest tech news.
What motivates/ inspires you to do what you do every day?
I love Cloud Computing. Especially, Amazon Web Services. I believe that the future is Cloud Computing. What motivates me and inspires me to do what I do every day is my dream for the world to be limitless – I aspire to change from server to serverless for good! And I want my career to be limitless!
What personal characteristics are important for a successful career in tech
Curiosity, an enthusiasm to learn, and a team spirt. Tech is very much a people business!
When did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
I was curious in high school but intimidated to go “all in,” believing it might be too difficult. So, I majored in accounting but minored in IT in college. That was the best decision I ever made. It allowed me to learn with a modest commitment. As my confidence grew, so did my enthusiasm to learn. My interest in a career didn’t blossom until after I graduated from college.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about careers in tech?
A career in tech does not have to be an explicit decision. We are all living in a world of tech, starting with the daily use of your smartphone: the apps you use to look up directions, connect with your friends, shop, and stay in touch with the world around you. Every career out there operates on a foundation of technology.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue a career in tech?
When I was in elementary school, I discovered my interest in technology. Oftentimes, I would play computer games with the boys in my class. I believe having this initial interest in technology has definitely fueled my interest in technology and cybersecurity.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about careers in tech?
The biggest misconception I believe that young girls have about pursuing a career in tech is, it is not a field for women. While it is true that the tech industry is predominantly male workers, more and more women are beginning to pursue careers in the industry. In fact, the tech field is made up of a diverse group of individuals with different sets of skills and specialties.
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
What I find most exciting about a career in tech is being able to be creative and innovative. A career in tech allows me to be at the forefront of new inventions, and have exciting opportunities to learn more about artificial intelligence and machine learning. A career in tech means that I am employable and will always be able to learn a new skill. I also enjoy attending tech conferences and learning more about Cloud Computing.
What motivates or inspires you every day?
Knowing that I can be creative and continually learn and develop new skills that are marketable to an employer. Being a woman in tech means that I must prove to male counterparts that I, too, can be successful and get the job done just as proficiently as they can. It is a challenge that I meet and succeed with my knowledge of technology and creative ideas.
What personal characteristics do you think are important to have for a successful career in tech?
To be successful in technology you do not necessarily need to have a degree in Engineering, Biology, or Mathematics – you do, however, need to have a curious mind, a desire to solve problems and create efficiencies, and the ability to ask the right questions.
When did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
I do not think there was a point in time where I purposefully pursued a career or opportunity in tech. I am fortunate to work for a great company that allowed me to take opportunities that developed my interests and skills, specifically in coding and analytics, that eventually led to a technical role. I love problem solving, working in a team environment, and am very detail oriented, so the more I recognized that my strengths would provide an advantage in a more technical capacity, the more I wanted to pursue those opportunities.
What motivates / inspires you to do what you do every day?
Working in a team environment doing work that truly matters and has a direct impact on the people of my company is both motivating and fulfilling. You spend a lot of your life at work, so it is important that you actually enjoy what you do – and I genuinely think my job is cool.
What personal characteristics do you think are important for a successful career in tech?
I believe that curiosity, initiative, and communication skills are essential for having a successful career in the IT industry.
Technology is an ever-changing field and curiosity about the ins and outs of existing technologies and a desire to learn new and evolving technologies is critical to staying competitive. Initiative (combined with curiosity) is key to seeking out solutions to issues, understanding root problems, and taking on things outside of your comfort zone. Communication skills are crucial to being able to surface your ideas effectively to be able to enact change within an organization. The most successful IT professionals have great communication skills that enable them to distill the most complex problems and solutions into an easily digestible language and give them context within the business view.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about careers in tech?
The biggest misconception people often have is that you will be stuck in front of a computer all day in isolation.
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
There are a lot of exciting aspects to careers in tech. In my role, I support mission critical IT systems for a government Department of Defense mission. I lead a team that ensures the safety, security, and availability of data for the military health system which in turn supports veterans, active duty service members, and beneficiaries. What I love most is how I can directly see how my work makes an impact to improve their lives.
What characteristics are important for a career in tech?
Patience, collaboration, and knowledge.
Don’t be an employee, be “the” employee. Honesty, loyalty, stubbornness, hungriness, goals, dedication and most importantly commitment should be your brand. We need you, need your skillsets, uniqueness, care, aggressiveness and intellect.
When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in tech?
When I was 11 years old, I started playing with computers. I started doing programming through games for kids. It was just a hobby at the time. I started working in IT when I was studying in Jordan. Then I moved to the United States and worked in multiple positions all surrounding IT.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about careers in tech?
One big misconception is that careers in tech are too difficult. They aren’t too difficult. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who think cybersecurity is very difficult, but it’s not. It’s like reading a new book for the first time. When you read it for the third time, it makes sense and you get it. Then you’ll excel at it.
What’s exciting about a career in tech?
There’s always something new in tech. You will never stop learning. There are always jobs available and tech careers pay a lot.
What personal characteristics do you think are important to have for a successful career in tech?
A career in tech requires a strong desire to learn… This also requires patience and perseverance. Sticking with tough concepts and really comprehending them is vital. And finally, I think empathy is a defining mark for those in tech. Many of the technologies we build or work on are user-focused, so keeping others in mind and understanding their pain points will propel you forward in your career.
When did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
I discovered my passion for technology in middle school, when I had setup a web hosting company. Fast-forward a few years and I had graduated to designing and developing websites.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about careers in tech?
Sometimes there’s too strong of an emphasis on learning hard skills, like programming or data analytics. Hard skills are essential, but they shouldn’t be developed to the detriment of soft skills. These are the interpersonal skills critical in developing relationships with other people. A huge part of a tech career is pitching ideas and sharing your vision. Without soft skills, you lose the ability to build coalitions needed for day-to-day projects, long-term strategies, and career goals.
What tech blogs or resources do you follow regularly?
There are tons of free resources available in tech. I follow several niche blogs catering to front-end development, like CSS Tricks, as well as design, such as Smashing Magazine, and general technology, like TechCrunch. I’ve also found Meetup.com to be helpful for those early in their career by showcasing relevant topics and connecting like-minded tech enthusiasts. The wonderful thing about tech is that nearly everyone is willing to give you a helping hand.
What inspires you to do what you do every day?
Knowing that the work my team does has an impact on thousands and thousands of people keeps me engaged.
What personal characteristics do you think are important to have for a successful career in tech?
To be successful in technology you do not necessarily need to have a degree in Engineering, Biology, or Mathematics – you do, however, need to have a curious mind, a desire to solve problems and create efficiencies, and the ability to ask the right questions. No one knows the answer to every problem, but staying motivated, innovative, and resourceful will provide you with the tools you need to succeed and develop a dynamic approach to technical problem-solving.
At what age or stage did you realize that a career in tech was something you wanted to pursue?
I do not think there was a point in time where I purposefully pursued a career or opportunity in tech. I am fortunate to work for a great company that allowed me to take opportunities that developed my interests and skills, specifically in coding and analytics, that eventually led to a technical role. I love problem solving, working in a team environment, and am very detail oriented, so the more I recognized that my strengths would provide an advantage in a more technical capacity, the more I wanted to pursue those opportunities. It was more of a progression than a strategy, but the interest was always there – my company just provided me with the tools, mentors, and roles to meet my potential and push me out of my comfort zone into tech and analytics.
What do you think is the biggest misconception younger people have about pursuing a career in tech?
I think many young people think tech is a narrower field than it is, or that you must have a background in a highly technical area to succeed – which is not the case. As technology advances in product and process, there are so many opportunities to serve in a technical capacity – you just need to be willing to explore prospects outside of your comfort zone. Anyone can learn to code, or use visualization software – and these are valuable skills in today’s market. Just because you are not an engineer, scientist or mathematician by trade does not mean tech is not an option – just be willing to learn, work hard, and stay curious.
What do you find most exciting about a career in tech?
The most exciting part about working in tech is how quickly things change and how much opportunity there is to make a difference. Whether it is the tools we use, products we develop, or work processes, there are more creative and efficient resources than ever before. Being a part of the change and helping to shape what our company might look like in 5-10 years is both motivating and fulfilling.
What tech blogs or resources do you follow regularly?
I have a great manager who pushes us to read academic studies and articles about innovative phenomena, trends, and tools in our field. This forces us to stay current on the resources or metrics used by competitors and peers, as well as drives us to constantly question why we do things the way we do to see if there is a better or more innovative solution.
What motivates / inspires you to do what you do every day?
Working in a team environment doing work that truly matters and has a direct impact on the people of my company is both motivating and fulfilling. You spend a lot of your life at work, so it is important that you enjoy what you do – and I genuinely think my job is cool. Knowing that there is so much opportunity to impact the company and grow personally is inspiring to me, and helps me to stay motivated and interested in my field. 3 years ago, I would have never thought I would be in this position, and with all the opportunity in analytics right now, I am excited to see where I will be 3 years from now.