Tai Saint-Louis

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Dr. Jackie Jakes could not have even imagined the career he has today. That’s because cyber security, his field of expertise, simply wasn’t a thing at the time. Soon after he joined the military, however, he was introduced to cyber security in one of its most serious real life applications. “I started out as what we call an information system technician, doing traditional IT such as setting up networks. But then as our military networks started to be exploited, I was one of the people that was called upon because our leadership team thought I had the necessary skills and the ability to transition into this new field. “And it became real and personal for me once I started seeing that people were in effect being killed because of cyber attacks–whether it be an intel report being stolen or a malicious attack. So for me, it really became, ‘Hey, this is something we need to take seriously.’ And that’s when I developed a passion for it.” While the concept of...

There is a commonly held belief in the business world that we are in the midst of a global skills shortage. In fact, 80% of CEOs are still reporting skills gaps as a major threat to their organization’s growth. But there is good news to be found in this current climate; because, as ServiceNow’s Sarah Tilley simply puts it, “While there is a very real skills shortage, there isn’t a global people shortage.” For Tilley’s team, that means approaching talent acquisition and development on a multipronged level that takes external recruitment, internal mobility, learning and talent planning into consideration to support ServiceNow’s overall talent strategy and business priorities to ensure a seamless and quality employee experience. “Our integrated approach allows us to be more transparent and establish clear expectations for candidates and employees,” Tilley explains. “Through a unified approach, we can also better understand and respond to employee needs, which drives higher engagement,...

At the center of Gap’s ethos is a commitment to individuality, creativity and self-expression. And while the company points to one’s fashion sense as a surefire way to incorporate all three into one’s life, it has also intentionally sought ways to ensure that consumers can see their style and values reflected in the brand as well. The Hip-Hop generation will likely recall first becoming aware of Gap’s desire to connect with the culture in 1997, with the iconic LL Cool J commercial. Today, the company continues to foster those cultural moments through unique brand collaborations, and by making sure that those tasked with spearheading these initiatives are people who truly get what these moments can mean when properly executed. “Gap is one of the world’s most beloved brands. People know and love Gap because at our best, we do more than sell clothes. We create conversations,” says Brigid Andrews, who leads the company’s partnerships and collaborations. “By blending creativity with...

Whether you’re using WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family across oceans and time zones, or finding all types of entertainment and inspiration on Reels, chances are Meta touches your life on a daily basis. Many of us have had a front row seat to the evolution of this brand, from the days when your Facebook page had to be linked to a college email address, to the futuristic capabilities of the new Meta Quest 3 VR headset. Behind the tech giant that has come to permeate our lives are diverse tech creatives who have built an amazing ecosystem that equally pulls from their similarities and their differences. We recently caught up with Cyriel Dikoume, an Engineering Manager at the company, to find out more about what it’s like to be part of the team responsible for the wide range of innovation that has happened at Meta in even just the last two years. “It’s kind of like our apps: connecting people is what we do best,” Dikoume told AfroTech. “The essence of connection and...

Be honest: how much thought have you put into financial planning? Depending on where you are in life, you might think that you’re not making enough money for that to be a concern; or that you’re too young to be thinking about retirement or life insurance. But the truth is it’s never too early to take the necessary steps to set yourself and your family up for the future. And the idea that financial planning is one of the best ways for people of color to start leveling the playing field when it comes to generational wealth really is a thing. Especially if those plans include a life insurance policy. Now before we go any further, let’s dispel some of the shame and judgment that exists around this sensitive topic. Yes, communities of color remain severely under protected when it comes to life insurance. Yes, Grandma’s house could have stayed in the family longer if only she’d had life insurance. But if you’ve ever made a slick comment about someone’s family having to turn to...

  The latest round of winners of the Famous Amos Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative have been selected, and their businesses represent an impressive cross section of the entrepreneurial talent that exists in the African American community. It’s a community that unfortunately continues to be underserved when it comes to opportunities.   Each year since 2021, Famous Amos has partnered with the National Black Chamber of Commerce to award three Black, early-stage business owners with $50,000 in unrestricted business capital. But the Ingredients For Success Entrepreneurs Initiative gives its winners and participants much more than that, coupling the grant with business and mentorship resources provided by the NBCC.   The 2023 winners– Steffanie Rivers, Emir Horton and Londyn Jackson –have not only developed impressive businesses, they’ve done so through amazing personal journeys that have put them in position to inspire and support others in their fields. And they are all...

Since joining UnitedHealth Group about eight years ago, Kimberly Jackson has discovered new ways to center diversity, equity and inclusion not only in her role as a leader, but in her own personal and professional growth. That renewed perspective was inspired by the company’s approach to DEI, which includes initiatives that foster a safe space for both inclusion and education. “In recent years, there’s been a purposeful shift in UHG’s resources to meet people of different backgrounds where they are,” she tells Afrotech. She adds that, while some are not unique to the company, UHG has reinvisioned these tools, creating employee resource groups where participation is not limited. As the Senior Director of OptumRX IT Client Services, Jackson has incorporated the company’s overall approach into her own department’s initiatives. “My leadership team has taken on the task of delivering DEI forums,” she explains. “And what I’ve learned through those forms is that the traditional topic of...

In 1963, a Virginia native named Wendell Scott became the first African-American man to win a race at NASCAR’s highest level of competition. That feat was not repeated for another 58 years, when Bubba Wallace took home his first NASCAR Cup Series title at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021. Yet somehow, Scott’s legacy isn’t nearly as well known as that of other pioneering athletes like Jackie Robinson or Arthur Ashe. Even for those who grew up with NASCAR in the background of their childhood like Lion Forge Entertainment founder and filmmaker Dave Steward II, who vividly remembers the time in the 90s and early 2000s when the racing world saw a boom in popularity. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) As Dave Steward II entered adulthood, his father, businessman David L. Steward, was developing a professional relationship with NASCAR, supporting and spearheading a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives. That relationship eventually led to the elder Steward’s company World Wide...

Like most of us, the 2020 lockdown forced Chris and Fay Breedlove to reevaluate their relationship with travel. It had been a central part of their lives together since they met as law students at Howard University, leading them to over 44 cities in 15 countries over the course of their courtship and marriage. As they dreamt of revisiting some of their favorite destinations, Fay came up with the idea of creating a scent that captured some of the cities they had fallen in love with. “Fay’s initial thought for starting this whole business was that she wanted to get the scent of Singapore Changi International Airport, which is funny because that airport is a destination itself, and definitely analogous to Singapore as a whole,” Chris says. And thus, Terminal B, a luxury fragrance brand built around their love of travel, was born. The company itself is named after the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, with the letter B representing both the...

Sponsored editorial written in collaboration with Bryan Collick at Braze You’ve spent years studying your craft, securing the perfect internship, learning from an amazing mentor, gathering a few years of work experience, and now you’re ready to go after your dream job. You are confident: you’ve got the swag, the sauce, the juice. Most importantly, you know your stuff. Today’s job market, however, is extremely competitive–and the current economic climate isn’t helping. Showing up authentically is a major key, but is this possible in the professional world while still fitting within a company’s corporate structure? And how do you continue standing out after you land the gig? Bryan Collick , Senior Manager of Business Operations, Engineering at Braze , shared some tips with AfroTech to help you not only get in the door, but also ensure that each position is propelling you toward a professional legacy you’ll be proud of.

When you hear the name Mozilla, you likely think of Firefox, the open source web browser. But those in-the-know also recognize it as the software company backed by a non-profit and dedicated to internet health and privacy; one of the only few women-led technology companies; and a challenger-brand that aims to put its users first. Over the past several years, Mozilla has been busy building on its heritage and creating impact beyond its flagship privacy products with new products such as Pocket , a distraction-free and go-to app for reading; and Hubs , a more accessible way to collaborate in mixed reality – no VR headset needed. “There are so many areas where people are starting to fear technology, and it’s not that they’re fearing technology itself,” says Leigh Felton, Mozilla’s VP and Chief of Staff. “They’re fearful of the abuse from other organizations who are not using technology responsibly. But technology itself can be a significant benefit and value add to society.” For...