In this episode of Glowing in Tech, hosts Amber and Jessie interview Candida Bradley, a Career and Well-Being Coach at Makers. Candida shares her journey, starting with a design degree in university and becoming a book artist. She then became a carer for her grandfather and later opened a craft shop in London. However, running a business on her own proved to be tough. The hosts discuss the importance of career and well-being coaching and how it can help individuals navigate their professional and personal lives.

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:00:23] Finding your career path. 

[00:07:19] Dealing with burnout. 

[00:07:50] Mental and physical wellbeing. 

[00:11:35] Self-compassion in learning. 

[00:14:56] Nurturing curiosity in tech. 

[00:19:18] Soft skills in technical roles. 

[00:22:26] Standing out in job applications.

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Cybersecurity expert Stephanie Itimi shares her biggest career challenge as a woman in tech. She describes how microaggressions from her manager undermined her confidence and how she used peer reviews to advocate for her work. She emphasises the importance of having a support network and self-awareness to combat imposter syndrome.

In this episode, we highlight the significance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. They argue that creating a fair and equitable workplace requires a focus on inclusion, not just diversity. We suggest that companies need to shift their perspective on diversity and inclusion from being a fancy word to an essential everyday practice. We also discuss the issue of tokenization and the importance of incorporating inclusive practices, psychological safety, and retaining diverse talent. We emphasize the need for companies to understand their culture and work towards accommodating and thriving with diverse talent. Overall, the episode emphasizes the need for companies to prioritize diversity and inclusion to create a fair and equitable workplace for everyone.

We discuss the importance of company culture, especially when a company is scaling. They note that many companies prioritize profits and growth without considering the impact on their culture. This can lead to a lack of understanding and clarity around the company culture. We suggest that this is where the risk lies, as a company's culture can become diluted or lost as it grows. They also highlight the role of mid-managers in cultivating and maintaining a company's culture and suggest that a culture audit can be useful in identifying areas for improvement. Overall, we emphasize the need for companies to prioritize their culture and actively work to maintain it as they scale.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 Introduction

[00:00:37] Microaggressions in the workplace. 

[00:03:29] Surviving in tech. 

[00:06:37] Self-confidence in the workplace. 

[00:09:47] Importance of psychological safety. 

[00:13:36] Diversity and Inclusion in Tech. 

[00:16:08] Workplace equity and inclusion. 

[00:19:45] Diversity and inclusion in companies. 

[00:22:26] Company Culture at Scale. 

[00:25:50] D&I work should never be free.

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In this episode of Glowing in Tech, Stephanie Itimi, founder of Seidea and cybersecurity expert, talks with Amber and Jessie about her background in cyber intelligence and her work helping minority women break into cybersecurity careers. She provides insights into the different aspects of cybersecurity, including protecting critical data and systems and physical and technical security. Additionally, she discusses her current research on cybersecurity and physical security for domestic workers in Nigeria and the importance of addressing unfair data collection and surveillance practices.

The episode highlights the importance of involving everyone in a company in security to improve overall security. This can be achieved through brainstorming sessions and encouraging team members to share their thoughts on the security policy and framework. By involving everyone, it becomes everyone's responsibility to prioritize security, not just the security team's. The episode acknowledges that not everyone is naturally security aware, but involving everyone in security culture and awareness can make them more security conscious. It is also important to stay informed about the latest threats and tactics by keeping up with information security magazines, cybersecurity ventures, and ICO reports.

The episode addresses the issue of a lack of talent in cybersecurity but also emphasizes that talent can be developed through skills training, partnerships, and work experience. Stephanie aims to bridge the gap between those who are new to the industry and those who are already in the industry, and to help them thrive and break barriers to get into CISO or CSO positions. Steph runs a successful business that focuses on getting marginalized women into cybersecurity and encouraging them to level up in their careers. The episode stresses that cybersecurity is an open industry for anyone, and it is important to understand the ecosystem and the acronyms. The lack of diversity in the industry is also discussed, with only 20% of the sector being women worldwide, and 80% being men. Steph believes that it is important for women of color and marginalized people to be more involved in cybersecurity to protect the most vulnerable online.

The episode emphasizes that building a secure web application is a complex task that requires constant updating to stay ahead of attackers. The threat landscape is constantly changing, and attackers are always finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. Therefore, developers must stay updated on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities through various resources such as conferences, networking, research, and open source. Additionally, the speaker stresses the importance of involving everyone in the organization in security culture and awareness, not just the security team. Building a secure web application requires a collective effort from everyone involved in the development process.

[00:00:00]Introduction - Who is Stephanie Itimi?

[00:01:06] Smart cities and domestic workers

[00:03:41] Business Continuity in Cyber Security

[00:06:49] Cybersecurity certification overview

[00:10:03] Cybersecurity as an open industry

[00:13:01] Business side of cybersecurity

[00:16:57] Learning about new cyber attacks

[00:19:24] Importance of Security Culture

00:23:59] Remote working security risks

[00:26:18] Cybersecurity psychology

[00:29:46] Uber's Two Factor Authentication Attack.

00:32:37] Cybersecurity and Diversity.

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Simo shares the career challenges he has faced as a software engineer at Google and Memrise.

We cover: The Politics of Tech: Engineering Perspectives, The Tricky Balance of Engineering and Product Management, When Leadership Deprioritizes Your Work, The Struggle of Feeling Like a Tool in Tech, Agency and Input in Engineering: Finding the Balance, The Importance of Understanding Customer Problems in Tech, Engineering Preferences: Clear Definitions or Input on Building?

She discusses the difficulties of decision-making within a company and how it can affect an engineer's work. Simo explains the feeling of uncertainty when priorities change and decisions are made without a clear understanding of the reasoning behind them. Finally, he introduces the "tech tea" segment where he will be discussing a controversial topic in the tech industry.

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:00:46] Decision making in tech. 

[00:04:45] Growth and onboarding strategy. 

[00:08:31] User experience for engineers. 

[00:12:08] Overhyped tech culture. 

[00:15:06] Passion for company mission. 

[00:18:12] Workplace dynamics. 

[00:22:31] Fun virtual meeting features.

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In this episode of the Glowing in Tech podcast, we speak to Simo Tchokni, a Software Engineering Coach at Makers who has been working in software for around ten years.

We speak about how she transitioned from being a senior software engineer at a product-based company to becoming a technical coach for a bootcamp, software engineering fundamentals, and discuss the challenges of translating non-technical requirements into technical implementations.

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In this episode of Glowing in Tech, hosts Amber and Jessie interview Eneni Abban aka The Techover, a robotics engineer and creative technologist who also runs a company that hosts anime events. 

They discuss how women are underrepresented in hardware engineering, Eneni's innovative project of combining wearable technology with nail art, and the power of community. 

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In this episode of Glowing in Tech, hosts Amber and Jessie interview Eneni Abban aka The Techover, a robotics engineer and creative technologist who also runs a company that hosts anime events. Eneni shares that her interest in robotics began at a young age when she would take electronics apart to see how they worked. Despite studying post-graduate data science, Eneni continues to pursue her passion for robotics. The hosts discuss her unique skill set and how she manages to juggle various projects.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:49] Black Doll sparks curiosity. 

[00:05:59] Choosing a university and major. 

[00:08:31] Being a minority in engineering. 

[00:10:18] Stereotypes in Engineering. 

[00:13:41] Women in engineering awards. 

[00:15:37] Women in engineering advocacy. 

[00:21:25] Struggling in an internship. 

[00:25:00] Building a community through Instagram. 

[00:27:45] Unrealistic beauty standards on social media. 

[00:29:07] Lack of support and isolation. 

[00:32:21] Management in tech industry.

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On this episode of Glowing in Tech, we welcomed back Keseana Robinson, a SalesForce solutions

engineer. She started at SalesForce in September 2020 as part of their apprenticeship program. Her

role includes working closely with clients to develop tailored solutions and showcasing the

capabilities of the company’s cloud product portfolio. She has particular focus as a Boldforce

Philanthropic Lead, working with not-for-profits across the region.

Keseana shares her top tips in demoing and how she has been able to keep her cool and maintain

her composure in demos and bouncing back when things go wrong. Taking yourself out of your

comfort zone is Keseana’s number one priority in tech as well as thriving in a good work

environment with a collaborative, supportive workplace.

Glowing in Tech is sponsored by Makers, creating a new generation of tech talent who are skilled

and ready for the changing world of work.

HIGHLIGHTS

Tips for making sure a demo runs smoothly (00:00:55)

Breathe, step back, and go again (00:03:45)

Take advantage of a collaborative work environment (00:05:05)

A smile makes all the difference (00:06:20)

Those days where “nothings works” (00:07:09)

You can fail and be vulnerable (00:08:40)

50% of Gen Z expects a promotion every 18 months (00:09:23)

No more burnout, play the long game (00:11:13)

Setting realistic expectations (00:12:24)

Context and competing with yourself (00:14:20)

“We’re not all starting from the same place” (00:16:48)

Constant learning and self-development (00:18:00)

The Hosts

Jessie Auguste:  LinkedIn | Twitter

Amber Shand:  LinkedIn | Twitter  

The Guest

Keseana Robinson: LinkedIn 

COMPANIES

Glowing in Tech (link) (00:00:26)

Makers [Link]

SalesForce (link) (00:00:43)

CybSafe (link) 

USEFUL LINKS

Subscribe and join our community (link)

Follow our LinkedIn page (link)

In this episode, Keseana, Jessie and Amber discuss the importance of focusing on personal growth and small wins rather than solely on promotions and external gratification. They also touch on the concept of title inflation and the need to set realistic expectations in the tech industry. Keseana recommends resources such as LinkedIn, YouTube, and organizations like [Generation.org](http://generation.org/) and Ada College for young people looking to upskill and succeed in their careers.

Keseana Robinson, a Solutions Engineer at Salesforce, discusses the importance of taking a step back, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and being in a good work environment to succeed. 

In the career challenge section, she shares her ultimate guide on how to do great demos in the workplace and spills her tech tea on the problem of instant gratification in society and the importance of focusing on personal growth and recognising small wins in your career. 

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Keseana shares her experience juggling her role as a Salesforce solution engineer with her degree apprenticeship. She initially struggled with balancing her workload and maintaining her work-life balance, but she learned to work smarter, not harder. She advises that it's important to communicate with your cohort and manager about any challenges you may face and to recognize that the outcome of the process is not always as important as the process itself.

In this episode, Keseana discusses the challenges of being a solutions engineer, including the need to engage with clients, present demos, and maintain composure when things go wrong. She also emphasizes the importance of seeking out mentorship and finding the right fit for your career path. Keseana recommends researching the role and seeking out opportunities to present and engage with clients to determine if it's the right fit for you.

Keseana also highlights the importance of soft skills in the tech industry, particularly when it comes to peer programming and working with others. She emphasizes the need to listen to other people and collaborate with them in order to succeed.

Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into the world of solution engineering and the challenges and rewards that come with it. It also emphasizes the importance of finding the right balance between work and life and the value of soft skills in the tech industry.

View our resources, show notes and more on our website: glowingintech.com

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Renee Hunt discusses the importance of tech in business leadership and the need for more opportunities for tech professionals to move into leadership roles. She also emphasizes the value of a broad skill set and the need for patience and grace in learning. Hunt also shares her plans to start a podcast and write a book.

The podcast also includes community comments on previous episodes, including discussions on unconscious bias and the power of introverted communication. Throughout the conversation, Hunt talks about the importance of a diverse workforce and how having people with different backgrounds and skills brings a unique perspective to problem-solving in the tech industry. She also shares her experience of being a woman of color in the tech industry and how she faced challenges due to unconscious bias. Hunt advises early career devs to be the best engineers they can be and acquire a wide range of skills, making them more employable and valuable in the industry.

She encourages tech professionals to consider leadership roles and move beyond their technical expertise to develop other skills necessary for leadership. Towards the end of the podcast, Hunt discusses her plans to start a podcast and write a book, and how she wants to use these platforms to share her experiences and insights with others in the tech industry. The podcast episode also includes community comments on previous episodes, including discussions on unconscious bias and the power of introverted communication.

Renee has over 30 years of experience in technology, starting her career in the US Army Signal Corp, then moving into the private sector after getting her MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Compare the Market, the UK’s leading Price Comparison company. 

View our resources, show notes and more on our website: glowingintech.com

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