Nothing is more significant in this life than the love of a mother. Renowned musician will.i.am took a moment to shed light on how his mother’s sacrifices led to his success today during the AFROTECH™ 2024 Conference, Nov. 13-16. The innovative producer, visionary artist, and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning music group Black Eyed Peas opened up about his humble beginnings in a session on the main stage titled “CollaborA(I)te: Empowering Creative Connections.” “I remember my mom was like, ‘Wait, put your clothes on. You go up here to get our food stamps. Sit in this line to get this cheese.’ When you’re in the projects, and that’s your reality, standing in line to get government services, and you’re there and you’ve got dreams and you’re like one day, I want to move my mama out of these projfts, and you come outside, and your best friend that you grew up with is no longer with you because he got shot and you want to dream different — that’s where I get ambition from.”...

When Cecil Hunter spotted a beautiful, vintage Mustang in a parking lot, he knew he had to introduce himself to the owner and admire the maintenance of the vehicle. Little did he know that a conversation about cars would lead him to a fulfilling internship and post-graduation offer to start his tech career at T. Rowe Price. As far as internships go, many computer science majors might not imagine starting their tech career at an investment management firm. But these days, every company is a tech company and T. Rowe Price has maintained its reputation as an early leader in bringing technology and innovation to financial services. T. Rowe Price’s internship program brings in a cohort of interns who join several of the firm’s departments for the summer. But the internship is not weeks of busy work and meaningless activities. The cohort of interns is invited to start growing their career skill set from day one. With impactful and cutting-edge projects, as well as being integrated into...

Whether you’re a current college student or you graduated years ago, you have access to a wide network of alumni who attended the same school as you. By tapping into alumni networks, you could make valuable connections, learn from experts and even get your foot in the door at a prospective employer. So how can alumni help students jumpstart their careers? And what steps can you take to make the most of alumni networks? Here are five ways to connect with fellow graduates of your alma mater (even as you figure out what career is right for you ): Set up a meeting with your career or alumni services office Join online alumni groups Introduce yourself over email Attend local alumni meet-ups and events Set up informational interviews or shadow days Got help from your alumni network? Don’t forget to pay it forward 1. Set up a meeting with your career or alumni services office Colleges offer a wealth of free resources to students and alumni , including career and alumni services. If you’re...

If you’re not getting enough work done in a day, you may not not be managing your time well enough. Procrastination, disorganization, and poorly defined goals can all lead to mismanagement of time. Wasted time often equates to poor work-life balance, missing deadlines and high-anxiety and stress. In most cases you don’t need more time in the day, you need to manage your time better. With today’s technology, there are so many different apps that can help you effectively manage your time and increase your productivity. Here is a list of 5 apps that will help you manage your time more effectively so you can focus on getting work done: Focus Booster The Focus Booster app uses the Pomodoro Technique to help individuals focus. Dedicated to helping you stop procrastinating, this app allows you to plan the amount of time you need to focus and take breaks. Evernote Evernote helps individuals stay super organized across different platforms. Create shortcuts that help you quickly access the...

Icebreaker questions are an easy practice that can make a big difference in the workplace. Whether you’re kicking off a Monday morning meeting, onboarding a new team member , or leading a company retreat, icebreaker questions are one of the best ways to create an atmosphere of openness and engagement. They can ease tension, reveal common ground, and jumpstart conversations that otherwise wouldn’t happen in a strictly professional setting. When used well, icebreakers can build team cohesion and make each team member feel safer and more included. They’re especially valuable in hybrid or remote workplaces with limited opportunities for informal interactions. The key is to choose questions that are light enough to be low-pressure but interesting enough to invite genuine responses. Here’s a mix of fun, thoughtful, and creative workplace-appropriate icebreaker questions , grouped by themes. Get-To-Know-You Basics What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? This question reveals team...

The rhythm of ambition often starts quietly—a hum of potential that builds into a bold symphony. For IntusCare, the journey began in the halls of Brown University, where co-founders Evan Jackson and Robbie Felton turned their vision for eldercare into reality, with Stevie Wonder’s song “Sir Duke,” setting the tone for their path forward. Much like a timeless Stevie Wonder groove that lingers long after the music fades, IntusCare’s journey from pitch competitions to industry innovation has been driven by harmony, persistence, and an unwavering belief in its mission. Rooted In Mission: A Personal Commitment To Equitable Care Founded five years ago, IntusCare set out to disrupt the healthcare status quo and deliver high-quality care to low-income older adults — a population often left behind by systemic inequities. Their mission is deeply anchored in serving diverse, marginalized communities, including Black, Latino, and Asian American populations, who have historically faced...

McDonald’s is next in line for companies retracting their commitments in the DEI space. According to NBC News, the fast food giant had been intentional within the space following several lawsuits that had been filed by former Black owners for discrimination and sexual harassment. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, this included Former Oakland A’s player and McDonald’s franchisee Herb Washington. He filed a civil rights lawsuit in 2021 accusing the company of redlining and not providing similar benefits to Black store owners that white franchisees received. “There are two McDonald’s systems: one that is designed for white owners to flourish and grow and another that is designed to pigeonhole and oppress Black owners,” Washington said in 2021, per the outlet. “I will no longer give up my seat on the bus for white franchisees. After four decades in the McDonald’s system, I have been targeted for extinction. When I stood up for myself and other Black franchisees, McDonald’s began...

Life can change at any given moment, and this was the case for entrepreneur Parker Barbee. In 2022, Barbee was laid off from his job just before the Christmas holiday. This moment of uncertainty led him to jumpstart his passion for a staple dessert in his family — banana pudding. KSL News reports Barbee is the founder of dessert sweet shop Parfé Diem, located in Salt Lake City, UT’s Sugar House neighborhood. According to its website, it features a variety of pudding parfait flavors, including banana, strawberry cheesecake, pistachio, and chocolate. It also offers shortbread cookies and a creative twist on the classic ice cream sandwich, using pudding as the filling. View this post on Instagram A post shared by parfé diem 😋 pudding parfaits (@parfediem) Now, just in time for the holiday season, Barbee’s venture has received a significant boost through the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant, established by investor Daymond John of “Shark Tank.” The grant is $25,000 and is funded with...