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Brandon Nicholson is a part of a nonprofit exposing Black males to technology. The Hidden Genius Project Nicholson, an AFROTECH™ Future 50 honoree, serves as CEO of The Hidden Genius Project, an Oakland, CA-based venture that curates several programs, mentoring Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills, according to its website. Nicholson reveals that the project was originally planned as a two-year initiative but ultimately grew into something much greater, now spanning nearly a decade. “As volunteers with no budget and no infrastructure and no real idea of what we’re doing and probably no business doing it at all, we set out to establish this first ever cohort in 2012,” he told AFROTECH™. “Five young men, high school age who are gonna commit to it just a short period. But what eventually became like a two-year program unbeknownst to literally everybody involved, it just, [was] building the plane as it was flying.” Today, The Hidden Genius...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Often, in the political process, whether at the local, state, or federal level, Black men feel as though they are not considered when it comes to policy. Vice President Kamala Harris changed that when she released her nine-page economic agenda proposal called the Opportunity Agenda for Black Men. This document outlined how she specifically wanted to improve Black men’s lives holistically. Harris plans to take five steps to increase the prosperity of Black men. (1) Provide 1 million forgivable loans of $20,000 for Black men to create businesses; (2) Provide education, mentorship, and apprenticeship programs aimed at getting Black men into higher demand industries, as well as create pathways to bring more Black men into the world of teaching; (3) Support regulations for cryptocurrency, which Black men are materially represented in as holders of these assets; (4) Launch a National Health Equity...
It is no secret that women face more challenges than men in the workforce. From pay discrepancies to patriarchal views on leadership, many women have found it harder to navigate pathways to career success. Although these circumstances are true, they do not eliminate the reality that many women have overcome social constructs and systemic barriers to excel across several industries. But does career success equal happiness? A report from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) indicated that work happiness is strongly influenced by engaging in meaningful work, feeling valued by coworkers, and enjoying daily tasks. For women, however, the context is more nuanced. According to Forbes, job satisfaction differs significantly between men and women. The Conference Board’s latest survey reveals that women are notably less satisfied than men for the seventh consecutive year in nearly all aspects of their jobs. This wasn’t always the case — between 2011 and 2016, satisfaction levels were nearly...
Ambitious people can be notoriously independent, but most figures who’ve made it to the top couldn’t possibly have achieved their goals alone. Instead, political leaders, monarchs and even company CEOs have relied on teams of mentors and experts to guide them for centuries. Historically speaking, just because advice comes from a confidant doesn’t mean it will be good, but that’s why it’s so important to go over some good questions to ask a mentor when you think you’ve found your match. Like with therapy, your first connection might not be the perfect fit, but that doesn’t mean the right mentor isn’t out there waiting to guide you to new heights. Good Questions To Ask A Mentor That Might Help Outside The Workplace Most people seek out mentorship in hopes of securing their dream job, but the experts you connect with can have valuable insight that can transform your personal life too. Make it a priority to ask questions about them in the vetting process, such as why they decided to...
Tyler Perry opened the world’s largest Black-owned studio, not just to build his own legacy but to empower others to create theirs. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he self-funded Tyler Perry Studios to launch in Atlanta, GA, in 2008. I t’s now reportedly worth $280 million and serves as both a hub for his creative projects and a welcoming space for other filmmakers seeking to rent its stages and spaces. His ambition to succeed and help others is driven by his great-grandfather, who was enslaved, NBC News reports. “I’m on the wave that they set in motion,” he told the outlet. “So I feel like I’m supposed to live well. I feel like I’m supposed to have everything that I want. Not just for me, but for everyone who didn’t get it. …It’s not just about what I’m doing,” Perry told NBC News. “It’s also about all the people that’s affected.” Perry’s vision has manifested in several ways. His workforce is 99% Black and also includes a population of those who were formerly incarcerated and...
Antonio Brown worked at six barbershops and decided to open his own storefront. ABC Action News reports he is the founder of Central Station Barbershop and Grooming in St. Petersburg, FL. The decision to open his own shop was driven by a desire to have ownership and forge a legacy. “Seeing the things that were impacting our community, I understood the importance of ownership and entrepreneurship and different things like that,” he reflected, according to ABC Action News. “So, I wanted to step out on my own and build my own reputation and my own barbershop my way.” For nine years Central Station Barbershop and Grooming has been making its mark in the community through services that include haircuts, beard trims, hot shaves, and facials for men and women. “We have a safe space here,” Brown told the outlet. “This is a place where a barber and a client have an opportunity to have one-on-one time.” The business is also attached to a higher calling. Per the business’ website, children can...
High-performing women reportedly face more judgment compared to their male counterparts. Management software company Textio released a report surveying 450 participants that reveals a drastic difference among workplace feedback depending on a person’s gender or race. In fact, 67% of men said they were described as “intelligent,” while only 32% of women said they received the same description. When considering race, the numbers dwindle with 18% of Black workers saying they were labeled as intelligent in comparison to nearly 50% for white and Asian workers. With traits that include “likable,” “brilliant, “genius,” “gifted,” and “talented,” women still reportedly heard that feedback less than men. Even when surveyed on receiving negative feedback, women stated they experienced this at a higher rate with 56% being labeled as “ unlikable” in comparison to 16% of men, and 78% of women said they were called “emotional” in comparison to 11% of men. On top of this, women are seven times more...
Hello Alice is continuing its commitment to serving underserved entrepreneurs. In partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Hello Alice has officially launched the next round of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company’s (BGE) Energizing Small Business grant program. The initiative offers $20,000 grants to central Maryland businesses to help them succeed and thrive, according to the Hello Alice website. No stranger to empowering local small businesses, the BGE Energizing Small Business grant deployed more than $2.5 million in grants to 129 small businesses in central Maryland in 2023. “When small businesses thrive, they become powerful economic engines, creating even more opportunities in their communities and we are so pleased to celebrate today’s grant recipients,” said BGE President and CEO Carim Khouzami in the 2023 grant announcement. “Since 2019, BGE has granted over $13 million to small businesses throughout Central Maryland. This is in addition to other small...
Usher’s nonprofit organization, Usher’s New Look, is working to make tech career paths more accessible for underserved youth. Essence reports that Usher’s New Look teamed up with IBM’s SkillsBuild program to provide young people who are supported by the nonprofit with free tech training including in AI. IBM’s free global platform provides educational pathways and content, particularly focused on career prep resources. “We serve more than 1,500 youth per year, and all the students we serve will have access to SkillsBuild,” said Usher’s New Look CEO and President Careshia Moore, according to Essence. “AI is being infused into every part of our lives, particularly the workforce. We want to make sure that our young people are prepared for what’s coming.” IBM Vice President and Chief Impact Officer Justina Nixon-Saintil chimed in, “In the United States, we very much focus on partnerships like Usher’s New Look, where we can to bring the free training, the expertise from IBM, even job...
Black Girls Code (BGC) is living true to its name. The organization exists to ensure at least 1 million girls of color will establish a presence in the tech industry by 2040 by partnering with schools, individuals who share its mission, and other organizations, a press release mentions. Among its efforts to bolster career paths in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) is providing computer programming education. In October 2023, the organization hired former Salesforce executive Cristina Jones as its CEO. Jones’ experience also includes having worked at Twentieth Century Fox, where she was able to gain further experience within the entertainment sector and technology. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Black Girls Code (@blackgirlscode) Now, in her latest role, the focus is on workforce development and fostering industry partnerships that will help to build the skills of its students and forge career pathways, as previously reported by...
A young Black entrepreneur’s tireless work to combat food insecurity is paying off. At age seven, Te’Lario Watkins II launched his business, Tiger Mushroom Farms in central Ohio, according to its website. “The idea of Tiger Mushroom Farms began after I planted cat grass and basil seeds at my 1st Cub Scout meeting,” Watkins wrote. “I enjoyed watering MY plants and was eager to see their growth each day.” He continued, “I began to wonder what else could I grow in Ohio in the wintertime. I remember reading a book about mushrooms. I told my parents and asked them about growing mushrooms. My parents bought me a mushroom kit…and the rest is history.” Nearly nine years after launching Tiger Mushroom Farms and selling his mushrooms at local farmers markets in Columbus, OH, the 16-year-old also has his own nonprofit, according to ABC News. The Garden Club Project’s mission is to eliminate food deserts and motivate children to make healthier food choices. ABC News reports that Watkins has...
If you want to advance in your professional career, it is imperative to obtain guidance from the right supporter. Keith Chaney learned this while working at technology company Google as the strategy and operations lead of its global partnerships and at McKinsey & Co., where he served as a management consultant. That’s when he decided to exit those jobs to pursue his own career as a founder. During the South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 pitch competition, he recalls his experience as a first-generation graduate navigating the intricacies of post-college life. He later realized the importance of gaining peer support to be successful in the long term. “When I started my career, I was surrounded by an amazing family. Unfortunately, no one in my family had worked for Google, McKinsey, or any of the places I found myself during my career. So, despite their best efforts, no one was ever able to tell me the information that I needed to win in those spaces,” Chaney said at SXSW 2024. His desire...
At this point in your career journey, you might be ready for a mentor yet unsure of how to approach the topic. Knowing how to ask someone to be your mentor is a vital skill, as discovering a mentor is likely one of the most valuable choices you will make in your professional life . This applies to all fields, from professional basketball to web development to firefighting. The challenge is that approaching someone and asking them to act as your mentor is not a simple task. Even in the greatest of situations, requesting somebody to mentor you may feel awkward, especially since influential people are typically in high demand as mentors in their field , and successful people are also frequently the busiest. Asking Someone For Mentorship You must first be certain that this is what you want: what makes you desire to have a mentor? And, most importantly, why would you like to receive mentoring? Do you wish to pick up a new talent, or have you been struggling with certain issues at work?...
Going straight out of school and into the professional world is a huge transition that leaves many feeling blindsided. Receiving guidance on how to navigate the change from someone with industry experience is invaluable, which is what makes mentors so impactful . That and the selflessness they exhibit by going out of their way to help you in whatever stage of your career you may be in so you can grow. Forming this kind of relationship can make it challenging to decide what to write in a retirement card for a mentor. An optimal message for a retirement card would be one that is fairly brief but sincere enough to convey the gratitude that person deserves. There is no shame in seeking inspiration for what to write in a retirement card for a mentor. Sometimes it is hard to convey feelings of gratitude and appreciation in the most appropriate words for the situation. These messages are a great start and can easily be edited to align with the card giver’s personal relationship with their...
Professionals often strive to advance throughout their careers, and there are several ways that they can achieve this goal. Two of those ways are through mentorship and sponsorship. The differentiation between the two is that a mentor will enhance your skills, provide guidance on a project or task you are undertaking, or elevate your way of thinking. A sponsor will be useful to advocate on your behalf, create opportunities for you, and help promote you within an organization. Matthew C. Meade, a financial services executive with experience working with Fortune 100 companies, stopped by AfroTech to provide some insights on what to consider when seeking either route to move up the career ladder.