Tech Unlocked

"My difference are my superpowers" -Angie Jones

Angie Jones is a Java Champion and Senior Developer Advocate who specializes in test automation strategies and techniques. She shares her wealth of knowledge by speaking and teaching at software conferences all over the world, writing tutorials and technical articles on angiejones.tech, and leading the online learning platform, Test Automation University.

As a Master Inventor, Angie is known for her innovative and out-of-the-box thinking style which has resulted in more than 25 patented inventions in the US and China. In her spare time, Angie volunteers with Black Girls Code to teach coding workshops to young girls in an effort to attract more women and minorities to tech.

In this episode, I chat with Angie Jones who is a Senior Developer Advocate specialized in test automation strategies & techniques about how she discovered her niche in tech. Angie shares how she got her patents, teaches us her secret to fighting imposters syndrome, and shows us how having a personal brand can help you level up in your career.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• What is test automation?
• The skillsets needed to become an effective test automation engineer
• One simple exercise you can do to combat imposter syndrome
• The # 1 type of testing everyone should know about
• Misconceptions about being a test automation engineer
• The importance of speaking up and sharing your ideas
• How developing your personal brand can level up your career
• 3 major keys for getting into tech as a developer

Connect with Angie :

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/angieluvboo?sub_confirmation=1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiejones

Website: https://angiejones.tech/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techgirl1908

Free Courses: https://testautomationu.applitools.com/instructors/angie_jones.html

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpod/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlocked to ask questions and share your thoughts. Have a tech-related question? Shoot us an email [email protected]

You've got questions, we've got answers. For the last episode of season one, we wanted to hear from you. Big thanks to my amazing producer Isaac MacJones for being the host for this episode and thanks to everyone who sent their questions in. We grouped the questions into three categories.

1. Grace's Journey

What got you interested in tech?

What do you wish you knew before deciding you wanted a career in tech?

Why did you choose to work at Microsoft?

Is it possible to work in tech as a software engineer without a college degree?

2. Tech

What industry within tech, do you see growing the most in the next 10 years?

What do I do if I don't know where I fit in within the tech industry?

3. Podcasting

What made you decide to start a podcast

How do you find guests for the show?

What tools do you use to record the podcast?

What's the hardest part about podcasting?

Connect with Isaac:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: prodbyzod

Twitter: imacjones77

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast this season! So honored to have shared this season one with you all. Season two will be out in a few months.

If you enjoyed listening to this podcast please leave a rating and a review on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions or share feedback. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

"When thinking of where you want to go next in your career, look at what you're good at, what you're passionate about and where you're needed. When you triangulate those three things it can lead you into really good directions that will be for fulfilling in your life."

-Rebekah Bastian

In this week's episode, I get to chat with Rebekah Bastian as she is transitioning out from her corporate role at Zillow as Vice President of Community & Culture for the past 15 years into being the CEO of her newly launched company OwnTrail. Rebekah didn't set out to start her own company when she wrote her first book which launched a few weeks ago. However, after talking to hundreds of women and hearing their stories she discovered there was a problem with the current mentoring model and decided she wanted to solve it in a scalable manner.

Rebekah Bastian is a writer, artist, tech executive, mentor, wife, mother and aerial acrobat. She has held leadership roles including vice president of product and vice president of community and culture at Zillow, and CEO & Co-founder of OwnTrail. Rebekah is the author of Blaze Your Own Trail, is a contributor to Forbes and is a frequent speaker on social impact, career navigation, and corporate diversity.

Episode Topics:

• How to blaze your own trail
• Why Rebekah decided to write her first book at the age of 41
• Tips for being productive and finding time to do what you truly love
• How having a side hustle can help you grow your career
• The importance of having mentors and sponsors

Connect with Rebekah :

Website: https://owntrail.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekahbastian/

https://twitter.com/rebekah_bastian

https://www.instagram.com/rebekah.bastian/

OwnTrail Social:

https://www.facebook.com/BlazeYourOwnTrail/

https://twitter.com/OwnTrail

https://www.instagram.com/owntrail/

Buy her book and leave a review on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Blaze-Your-Own-Trail-Interactive-ebook/dp/B07Y422NWF

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

In this week's episode, we switch things up by looking back at a few episodes to hear from previous guests about their top tips for getting into the tech industry. Here are the top recurring tips that came through in each episode on how to break into tech:

3 top tips:

1. Join a community: Things are going to get hard. Make sure you have a group of people who can encourage you all throughout your career journey.
2. Continuous learning: Keep learning and improving your skills.
3. Networking: Your network is your net-worth. Try to meet and connect with people who are doing the job or are in the career you aspire to have.

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

"Understand that what is meant for you is for you but it might take some time. That's why being patient is important"

From New York Fashion Week to International CES, April Speight has seen the latest and greatest that two polarizing industries have to offer! April started her career as a menswear stylist and visual merchandiser for brands such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. In 2013, she chose to pivot from a career in fashion to a new career in technology. Her first true introduction to the tech world was an intern and later a Business Application Specialist with Consumer Technology Association - producers of the world's largest consumer technology trade show, International CES. Since her days of attending International CES, April harnessed a deeper connection to the tech world by developing a passion for AI Assistants and more recently Spatial Computing. Today, she is a Cloud Advocate at Microsoft working alongside peers in Spatial Computing.

Aware of the complexities which come with pivoting careers, April began to help those on the journey to a career in tech by creating Computer Club - a platform which contains articles on career transition and tutorial content for those interested in getting started with programming. In July 2020, her first children's Python programming book Bite-Size Python: An Introduction to Python Programming will be available in stores and online. Whenever she's not creating content, you can find her roaming Rodeo Dr. and shopping in Beverly Hills.

In this week's episode, I chat with April about her career transition from luxury fashion as a menswear stylist and visual merchandiser to now working at Microsoft as a Cloud Advocate focused on Spatial Computing.

Episode Topics:

• What exactly is the role of a Cloud Advocate
• How to transfer non-tech skills from past work experience into a tech role.
• Why it is important for professionals to have an online presences in today's digital age.
• The importance of being prepared for opportunities
• 3 Tips for being productive and organized
• The future of Cloud Advocacy and spatial computing

Connect with April :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilspeight/

Website: https://www.joincomputerclub.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vogueandcode

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/vogueandcode

Github: https://github.com/aprilspeight

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

"Be curious and open to being a student all over again. I'm a firm believer that being a life long learner will take you further than you could ever imagine. "

-Jasmine Farrar

As an experienced human resource professional and diversity advocate, Jasmine has spent the bulk of her career dedicated to creating workspaces that empower employees to bring their best selves to work and building capability in senior leaders to effectively grow and develop talent. Jasmine has had the pleasure of working at several Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Nestlé, Target, Amazon and, most recently, Netflix. Her passion for leadership development, employee engagement, and retention, as well as diversity and inclusion, has allowed her to serve in various capacities spearheading initiatives such as historically black college and university recruiting programs, leadership development workshops, and career mobility courses aimed at helping young professionals navigate the technology industry. Jasmine has a long-term goal of launching her own boutique consulting firm to address the racial and economic disparities that contribute to homogenous employee populations in corporate America.

In today's episode, I chat with Jasmine Farrar who is currently an HR business partner at Netflix. She shares some insights about her current role and how she is empowering leaders within her organization to be more inclusive.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The role of an HR Business Partner in tech
• The importance of representation and retention in tech
• Challenges black women face in tech and how to overcome them
• How to know when it's time to move on to a new job
• 3 keys for getting to tech
• Why you should get a career coach
• The future of HR

Jasmine's Top 3 tips for people who want to start a career in Tech?

1) Just do it. Whatever you think you can do, your mindset is invaluable in being able to make strides towards accomplishing that goal. Don't be misled by what other accolades, experiences or ivy league degrees that others have.

2) Learn what you bring to the table and build upon that. Be curious and open to being a student all over again. I'm a firm believer that being a life long learner will take you further than you could ever imagine. Technology is constantly evolving and it's important not only recognize that but stay up to date on the industry trends or role specific trends that you're interested in.

3) Lastly, expand your network. The tech industry is much smaller than people think and I've really embraced getting to know individuals outside of my close circle which has been helpful for my professional growth.

Connect with Jasmine :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-f-76950333/

Interview feature: https://www.xonecole.com/ask-for-mental-health-day-off-work/?rebelltitem=7#rebelltitem7

Netflix Hiring: jobs.netflix.com

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

"Your humanity is something that no piece of technology can ever replace." -Shona Bang

Shona is a Product Marketing Manager at Microsoft who leads the global Humans of IT Community where thousands of technologists around the world get to connect, learn from one another and develop the art of being amazing #HumansofIT. Whether it's through sharpening their professional skills, finding tech mentors or gaining inspiration through the plethora of Tech for Good stories on the platform, Shona fosters a community that helps people be their best selves and learn to harness their tech superpowers for good. Having lived in three countries and spending the last seven years in various roles across Microsoft including crisis management, public relations, marketing, enterprise sales, and technical account management, Shona is a seasoned professional who is focused on helping make the tech industry a kinder, more inclusive place for all.

In this week's episode, I chat with the amazing Shona Bang about the incredible work she does with the #HumansofIT community and why she is passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The Microsoft Humans of IT Community is a global platform where technologists who are passionate about leveraging their tech superpowers for good can come together to share ideas, be mentored and develop ways to solve some of our world's most pressing issues.

Episode Topics:

• How to deal with imposter syndrome in tech
• Why you don't have to be an expert to share your own lived experience
• Why self-care is important for your career growth
• The value of your humanity in a tech-driven era
• 3 tips for getting into tech
• Why it's critical to have a community in order to grow in your career in tech
• Why representation matters beyond D&I

Connect with Shona :

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonadelie/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shonadelie?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Join Humans of IT:

Microsoft Humans of IT Community: https://aka.ms/HumansofIT

Community Mentors App: https://aka.ms/communitymentors

Microsoft Ignite The Tour Dates: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ignite-the-tour/

Twitter (Microsoft Tech Community): @MSTCommunity

Microsoft AI Business School: https://aischool.microsoft.com/en-us/home

Project Tokyo: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/project-tokyo/

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

LinkedIn: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

"Whatever you do in life, whether, it's your full time role or side hustle there has to be passion there for it to not completely feel like work"

Guest Bio + Episode Topics

Ribicca is a digital designer based in Seattle Washington. She was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and moved to the US in her early teens. She graduated from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington with BA in Information Systems and Marketing. Upon graduation, she fulfilled her dreams of working in the fashion industry by working in the buying offices of a fortune 500 retailer. After spending a few years in her dream job she successfully transitioned her career into the tech industry. Aside from her full-time role, she runs a lifestyle blog called Amro Menor where she shares fashion and travel tips.

In today's episode, I chat with Ribicca about how she transitioned into the tech industry with a non-traditional background. She recently made a career shift from working in the fashion industry to working in tech as a Digital Designer by self-educating herself through design-related online courses and practicing the skills she learned on her passion project - which is her travel blog.

Key topics from this episode:

• How to transition into the tech industry with no prior tech-related experience
• Using your passion project to land a job in tech
• Importance of storytelling when interviewing
• Tips on learning new skills while working a full-time job
• The future of Digital Design

Connect with Ribicca :

LinkedIn

Website

Instagram

Design Online Course

Connect with Grace:

Twitter

LinkedIn

Follow the podcast:

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected]

"At Legalpad, We don't think borders should be the limitation for opportunity around the world"-Sara Itucas

Sara Itucas is a mission-driven entrepreneur, who is dedicated to offering people access to the same kind of opportunities that immigration offered her. Sara's passion for immigration stems from the value she places on her own immigration story: Sara immigrated to the United States from the Philippines at age 5, and she then grew up in Hawaii and Palo Alto.

Sara has dedicated her career to creating technology solutions around work visas. Sara's vision includes a future where, in addition to facilitating corporate visas, her software products enable global mobility for a wide spectrum of people, including the most underprivileged.

In today's episode, I have a very candid and informative chat with Sara who would describe herself as a non-technical tech founder, about how she used her personal life experience as an immigrant and woman of color coupled with her passion for helping people to create her dream career as a COO & Co-founder of Legalpad. Her company's mission is to connect global talent with opportunity. Simply put, Legalpad makes it easier for startups to grow by using technology to take care of work visas for startups.

We cover a lot in this episode, including:

• The difference between Seed-stage vs Series A funding
• The inspiration & motivation behind launching LegalPad
• How to educate yourself about the immigration & work visas process
• Challenges Women of Color face in the startup world.
• The importance of networking and building a supportive community in your career
• The importance of self-care and having a life outside of work
• The future of Legal technology

Connect with Sara & Legalpad:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-itucas-407a0632

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18453986/admin/

Legalpad marketing site: https://legalpad.io/

Legalpad Twitter: https://twitter.com/legalpadio

Legalpad Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalpad.io/

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

Linkedin: Tech Unlocked

Thank you so much for listening to this podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes & Spotify. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast to ask questions. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected] :)

When Norah graduated from college with Computer Science degree from King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, women were not welcome to apply for engineering jobs. Those jobs were limited to men and foreigners at that time in Saudi Arabia. Norah searched for a tech job for over a year but then decided to take a job outside of the tech industry. The job she got had nothing to do with her degree. However, she was grateful for that first job because it taught her many soft skills she now uses as a Senior PM at Microsoft.

Here are some topics we discussed in this episode:

• Candid facts about the struggles of being an international student and how to overcome them.
• How to learning and growing from failure.
• The importance of networking, asking for internal referrals and having an elevator pitch when looking for a job.
• Recognizing that your years in college accomplishing your Masters or Ph.D. counts as work experience.
• The gap between western and non-western world in terms of technology development.

Connect with Norah:

Personal: https://norahak.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norahak

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norah-abokhodair/

Connect with Grace:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones/

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpodcast/

Linkedin: Tech Unlocked

If you like this episode, please leave a rating and review on iTunes & Spotify. Use the hashtag #Techunlockedpodcast. Have a tech-related question? Shoot me an email [email protected] :)