Humanizing Tech

Alexis Williams (she/her) is currently a student at NYU, majoring in integrated digital media with a concentration in computer science and web development. Today on Humanizing Tech, Anusha and Ochuko share insights around Alexis’s rising career in tech, her experiences and how they relate, and how she uses digital content to inspire other young women in computer science. Alexis is known for her action-oriented solutions and multidisciplinary perspective, which she makes accessible through social media, her podcast, and her website. In this episode, our hosts reflect about how important it is for tech environments to hold the space for young women and BIPOC coders to thrive and encourage listeners to bring your individuality to the table, no matter what your differences are. 

Find Alexis on TikTok @ lelegenevieve. Listen and support her podcast, Clueless with Alexis. Take action on her website and resources, www.pb-resources.com/.

Rihana Mungin (she/her) is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate Research Assistant and the Board Treasurer for PDXWIT. She joins us on the podcast to share about her experience in academia as a Black woman and what it's like to learn through the eyes of astronauts. We discuss learning from failure, how arts and drama can build confidence in any career path, and how finding the right team bolsters a sense of belonging. Listen to find out what can happen when you find a welcoming, supportive community and some fun facts about sending weave to space and getting slimed by Nickelodeon.  

Find Rihana on LinkedIn.

Technical Storyteller and Digital Anthropologist, Grace Andrews, joins us on the podcast to impart wisdom from her education, cultural and family upbringing, and passion for storytelling. In the episode, Grace shares how she brings the power of storytelling to her work as a product marketer, content creator, and speaking coach. We discuss picking your own title, the evolution of a storyteller, and authenticity in storytelling.

Find Grace on instagram @grace_ewuraesi, her website asprinklingofgrace.com, or email her at [email protected].

As a Chetco and Tututni member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, Erin Grace brings her love of language to learning and documenting inclusive spaces for Native Americans in tech. We learn more about her expertise as a technical writer through read the friendly manual, the questions she has to face when considering a facial tattoo, challenges to BIPOC and blood quantum.

If you want to learn more about the Dee-ni project or learn more about the tech natives affinity group at PDXWIT, don’t hesitate to reach Erin at [email protected]. 

Ellen Ochoa pushes the boundaries in her field as the first Hispanic female astronaut and director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. She shares her story through presentations and is a leader in STEM education and advocacy. In this episode, we discuss how Ellen’s story inspires us to reach for the stars and help the next generation grow to their fullest potential.

Kimberly Embry, program manager and entrepreneur, inspires us to apply for jobs we can grow into, recognize that every skill you gain helps shape your story, and how to get unstuck when you're not feeling fulfilled.

Learn more about her path from nursing to tech through coding bootcamp, how her Filipino culture influenced her, and how she's successfully found ways to weave creativity throughout her life. Then check out her amazing jewelry at https://kasa-kasama.com/!

Rachel Parrott, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at New Relic shares actionable programs any organization can take to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Join us in learning the difference between an ally and an accomplice, finding career growth through employee resource groups, the neuroscience of why we should treat each other well, and many other tips.

Get inspired to make a difference with Ochuko Akpovbovbo, a talented student and entrepreneur, who joins us to share her passion for tech, startups, and making capital accessible for women of color. She shows us the power of being involved in the community through her work with Girls Inc., the Portland Incubator Project (PIE), and PDXWIT.

Ochuko reminds us about the importance of staying connected through community building, being willing to talk about hard things while maintaining respect for one another, how race informed her experience since coming to North America, and what ideal representation looks like.

Wonder what the current COVID-19 situation means for PDXWIT, an organization where coming together in person feels foundational? Join Kimberly and Dawn as they interview Hazel Valdez and Elizabeth Stock, PDXWIT's Operations Manager and Executive Director, to explore what changes the community can expect, both short and long term. And how we can still enjoy what we love about this community in new formats as we navigate this new normal, apart together.

Continuing our WIT(H) series (women in technology history), hosts Dawn Mott and Kimberly Embry celebrate Women's History Month. We highlight the stories of these women in technology: Everlyn Boyd Granville, who increased access to information and promoted education, Joan Ball, who revolutionized computer dating despite hardship, the innovative mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani, and Donna Hammond, a Portland native and electrician who work has made trades a safe place for women and diverse workers.

Do you have a mentor or someone you want us to highlight? We want to hear from you! Share your thought or feedback at [email protected] or tag us on your favorite social media platform #pdxwitpodcast.