Tech Unlocked

As an introvert, I hate to put my personal business out there on the internet but I think my past career mistakes can save your tech career which is why I am revealing some of my career regrets. In this episode, I share my biggest career regrets after 5+ years working in big tech as a Cloud Engineer. Learn from my mistakes so you can grow and thrive in your tech career.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How to become visible at your job & have high impact
• The importants of having internal informationals
• How to prep for interview while you're still employed
• What to talk about with Skip manger during your 1:1 meetings
• The most important finically decision to make early in your career
• How to overcome imposter syndrome

Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

https://www.instagram.com/gracemacjonez/

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

Enjoyed listening to this episode? Please leave a review on Apple and Spotify. Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]

In 2024, you shouldn't be paying for tech conferences especially in this crazy economy. In this solo episode, I share 5 easy ways for you to attend any tech conference for free especially if you are looking into breaking into tech as a student or working professional. I have attended over 150+ tech events/conferences for free ranging from a student to a tech professional and I will show you how you can do it too.

Key Takeaways:

• 5 ways to attend tech conferences for free
• Pros and Cons of attending tech conferences
• The best way to get a job or an interview at a tech conference
• How to prep before attending your first tech conferences

Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

https://www.instagram.com/gracemacjonez/

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

Enjoyed listening to this episode? Please leave a review on Apple and Spotify. Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]

The software engineer (SWE) to product manager (PM) pipeline is strong in 2024 but does that mean it is a sign for YOU to make that transition? If you've thought about what it takes to become a product manager then this is the perfect episode for you. In this episode I chat with Cherita Ousley who is a product manager at microsoft about what it take to sucessfully transtion from SWE to PM. She demystifies the role of a PM and gives you keys to unlock a successful career as a PM.

Cherita Ousley is a multi-faceted professional, blending her roles as a fitness coach and product manager in the tech industry. With a strong passion for promoting healthy living, she advocates for wellness through fitness, mindfulness, and spirituality. Cherita believes that a balanced lifestyle, encompassing physical health and emotional intelligence, is essential for personal fulfillment and productivity. Her approach to leadership is marked by kindness, empathy, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact and forging genuine connections.

In this episode we talked about:

• how cherita went from kinesiology to software engineering (SWE)
• if coding boot camps are still worth it in 2024?
• pros and cons of coding boot camps
• the hardest part about transitioning into tech with a non technical SWE background
• the challenges of working in tech without a CS degree
• how to know when it's time to switch from SWE to PM in your career
• what to do before switching to a PM
• the difference between the mindset of PM vs SWE
• the day to day lifestyle of a PM
• how to build your professional career & network in tech

Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Instagram: @gracemacjonez

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

Connect with Cherita:

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/cheritaousley

PM Resources:

https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-PM-Interview-Product-Technology/dp/0984782818

https://www.youtube.com/@tryexponent

Enjoyed listening to this episode? Please leave a review on iTunes and Spotify. Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]

This is part 2 of a conversation about the future of tech jobs & DEI with Brenda Darden Wilkerson the current President and CEO of AnitaB.org, a global nonprofit organization that connects, inspires, and strives for greater equality for women and non-binary technologists in business, academia, and government.

In this episode we talk about:

-How to manage your mental health & burn out working in tech

-How Brenda got her current job as a CEO of AnitaB.org

-The importance of being part of tech community

-How to position yourself for the future of tech jobs/careers

Connect with Brenda:

LinkedIn.com/in/Brenda-Darden-Wilkerson

Learn more about Grace Hopper: Grace Hopper Celebration 2024 (GHC 24) will be in Philadelphia, PA on October 8-11 (https://ghc.anitab.org/)

Connect with Grace:

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

Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

What is the future of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and tech jobs? Why are tech leaders removing their commitments to DEI?

In today's episode, Grace chats with Brenda Darden Wilkerson the President and CEO of AnitaB.org, a global nonprofit organization that connects, inspires, and strives for greater equality for women and non-binary technologists in business, academia, and government.

We talk about:

-Why we are seeing more layoffs and its impact on diverse workers

-The future of DEI in tech

-How DEI leaders can innovate in this new tech landscape

-What really happened at Grace Hopper Celebration Conference in 2023 and what to expect at this year's conference.

Connect with Brenda:

LinkedIn.com/in/Brenda-Darden-Wilkerson

Learn more about Grace Hopper: https://ghc.anitab.org/

Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Instagram: @gracemacjonez

Twitter: @gracemacjones

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

We're BACK! Did you miss us? Cause we missed you.

In this solo episoode, Grace shares her thoughts, opinions and perspective about what is currently going on in the tech indurstry with all the layoffs. She provides 3 major keys for tech workers looking to progress in their career duing this unpredictable and unceratin job market. If tech jobs and career are declining in this current job market then what is next? If you're curous to know the answer, then you will enjoy this epsiode.

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Key Takeaways:

• What caused recent tech layoffs and the decline in demand for engineers and other tech workers
• How Tech workers can create the future instead of being afraid of it

• The importance of having an idenity outide of your job

• 3 Ways to have a mission driven tech career

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Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

For this week here's a throwback episode from Season 2 with 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]

When is the right time for a career change? What valuable soft skills do we take for granted? How can we make the most of our abilities?

All of these questions are answered in this week's episode. Grace chats with Kimberly Hill, who shares her invaluable insights on advancing your career in the fast-paced world of tech.

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Key Takeaways:

• The importance of seizing opportunities when they arise, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone. Embracing new challenges can lead to incredible career growth.

• Recognizing when it's time for a career change is a vital skill. Willingness to pivot can open up new horizons and avenues for personal and professional growth.

• Finding purpose and passion in your work and personal life is crucial. Kimberly's experiences offer guidance on balancing your career with personal values and interests, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and successful professional journey.

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Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Instagram: @gracemacjonez

Twitter: @gracemacjones

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

Connect with Kimberly:

Linkedin: Kimberly Hill

Instagram and TikTok: TomeCandles

Enjoyed listening to this episode? Please leave a review on iTunes and Spotify. Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]

What do you do when you've been laid off? How do you deal with the financial and mental uncertainty? How do you upskill yourself to pivot into a new role?

All of these questions are answered in this week's episode. Grace chats with her brother David Macjones, who shares his own background and experience with the recent tech layoffs— and most importantly, how to navigate the uncertainty of it all.

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Key Takeaways:

• Shifting your mental perspective when dealing with an unexpected layoff to one of optimism and preparation instead of doubt and failure.

• Understanding not to take the processes and obligations of Big Tech companies personally.

• Learning to survey the landscape of your company and the tech industry as a whole can save you lots of prep time.

• Finding a purpose, hobbies, and other streams of revenue outside of your 9-5 is crucial to overall work-life balance.

• Prioritize personal values while looking for roles to pivot into. Upskill yourself so that companies have no choice but to value your worth.

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Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Instagram: @gracemacjonez

Twitter: @gracemacjones

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

Connect with David:

Instagram: @dmacjonez

Linkedin: David Macjones

Enjoyed listening to this episode? Please leave a review on iTunes and Spotify. Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]

Content creation is at an all time high, and we're here to provide some guidance and tools on how you can join the creator economy!

In this episode, Grace chats with Sandy Lin, an entrepreneur and creator, about the creator economy, transitioning into it, the role of creative perspectives, and the future of content creation and technology in this evolving landscape.

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Key Takeaways:

• Sandy shifted into the creator economy during the pandemic by sharing her journey as a young entrepreneur on platforms like TikTok.

• Learning to leverage business experience and understanding that creative perspectives are valuable

• Even without a technical background, individuals can venture into tech-based companies by learning from mentors, networking, and accessing resources.

• The creator economy is a rapidly growing market with significant potential for empowering individuals to monetize their content.

• AI holds promise for improving content creation, particularly in editing and language translation.

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Follow Tech Unlocked for more career tips:

Website: www.techunlocked.co

Instagram: @techunlockedpod

Twitter: @techunlockedpod

TikTok: @techunlockedpod

Connect with Grace:

Instagram: @gracemacjonez

Twitter: @gracemacjones

Linkedin: Grace Macjones

Connect with Sandy:

Instagram: @bysandylin

Enjoyed listening to this episode? Please leave a review on iTunes and Spotify. Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]