The tech industry isn’t exempt from the phrase, “There’s enough room for everybody to win.” According to a Dice report, over 375,000 tech jobs were posted in October 2022 and were up by 25% from the previous year period (January 2021-October 2021). One of the U.S. cities creating an influx of opportunities in the tech sector is Detroit, MI. Last year, the “Motor City” ranked No. 1 on the list of top 100 emerging startup ecosystems in the world, per a report by Startup Genome.
It’s not always the journey, but the destination in the end that can make a difference. For a group of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) alum, that landing place happens to be the island of Barbados for the inaugural FABA Festival, a festival that champions Black culture like never before.
Auntie Tab is back to help her nieces and nephews spice things up in the kitchen… the healthy way. The award-winning social media personality will bring her McCormick® Sunshine Seasoning to retailers after the original, limited-edition all-purpose seasoning was a fan favorite selling out in just 39 minutes in 2021. “We were so blown away by the response to the McCormick® Sunshine Seasoning by Tabitha Brown last year that we knew we had to get the seasoning in stores,” said Alia Kemet, Senior Vice President, Creative & Digital Transformation, McCormick®, in a press release of the news shared with AfroTech. “We are always looking for new and exciting ways to bring innovative flavors to everyday meals. Now, everyone can have Sunshine in their lives”. .
Shine, the women-focused self-care app, is now available for Android users. Shine offers daily motivational and self-improvement quotes through audio and text messages. The app built by women co-founders, Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi, provides assistance for a wide range of topics including stress, anxiety, relationships, career goals, productivity and more. The app was previously only available on Apple’s App Store and through text messages. Android users can now enjoy Shine Premium, a subscription-based service, which features the standard motivational text with audio meditations and affirmations, personal check-ins along with personalized 7-day challenges to help users achieve their goals. Shine Premium is $53.99 per year or $9.99 per month. Shine told TechCrunch last year that the company’s $5 million Series A funding would be used to develop an Android app. Shine has been successful on the App Store, especially after the Christmas holiday. The app is ranked 31 on the App...
Editors note: A portfolio is one of the key things you can create to set yourself apart from the competition. In this article Maya Patterson, a product engineer at Facebook, will walk you through the steps needed to make your portfolio shine amongst the pack. Understand why you’re building a portfolio At a macro level, a Product Designer’s job is to solve messy problems while being laser-focused on the user’s needs. The path to solving these problems falls somewhere in the land of pens, post-its, and pixels. No matter what stage of the process we’re on, our job is extremely visually focused. We lean on paper sketches, static mocks, and hacky prototypes to express our product vision. Interviewers need to see these artifacts in order to adequately assess your skills. A resumé can only tell a hiring manager where you’ve worked and snippets about what you’ve done. A portfolio shows what you’ve done and how you made an impact. Show them your process! As you craft your portfolio, remember...
On Monday, July 3, a team of Gambian students was denied entry into the United States due to visa restrictions. Now, the restrictions have been lifted, and the students will now be allowed to participate in the First Global competition in Washington D.C. The students were denied twice even though Gambia, a Muslim-majority nation, is not listed in the U.S. travel ban. Team member Fatoumata Ceesay, 17, told the BBC that the team is “excited and happy, but also disheartened, because we are not going with our mentor because he is a government official.” Mucktarr Darboe, director at the ministry of higher education, was not granted access because the U.S. has banned granting visas to Gambian governmental officials since last year, according to the BBC. The team is one of 164 others competing and showing off their robots. Gambia hopes to win big with their robot designed to clean contaminated rivers when the competition starts July 16-18. “I hope to come back with knowledge and...
Considering a sponsor to invest in your career journey this conference season? Terri Evans, a senior technical program manager with a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A&T State University, was able to further her decade-long career thanks to securing a sponsor for her first AFROTECH™ Conference in November 2024. She has worked in several project management roles across companies that include Northrop Grumman, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and Equinix. Her next steps within her career were to move into leadership, and this was an incentive to attend the conference. “I’m looking to expand to being in a space of manager of a PMO (Project Management Office) or as director of a PMO. I work primarily in the infrastructure and data center space, so there is a lot of growth in that space due to artificial intelligence (AI) and all of the cool and things that are in machine learning that are coming into the space,” she told AFROTECH™. “So because of that, there is a deep...
Success in business is as much about strategy as it is about skill. Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power has long been a guide for those looking to navigate the complexities of leadership , negotiation, and influence. While the book is often seen as controversial, its insights can be powerful tools when applied with intention and ethics. Below are key quotes from The 48 Laws of Power that can provide valuable lessons for business professionals striving to master their industry. “Never Outshine The Master.” In business, understanding hierarchy is crucial. Whether you’re working for a company or building your own, making superiors feel secure in their position ensures smoother professional relationships. Many careers have been derailed because an employee unintentionally threatened their boss’s authority. The key takeaway? Demonstrate competence, but allow those above you to take credit when necessary. Influence is built strategically, not by brute force. “So Much Depends On...
Embrace new opportunities in the coming year. The new year often brings a time of reflection and a renewed focus on personal growth and professional development. This includes strengthening one’s professional brand, enhancing skills through customized learning paths, obtaining industry-recognized certifications, and cultivating meaningful connections within one’s field. One key opportunity to consider in the new year is the AFROTECH™ Conference. This event has helped professionals land their dream roles in tech , secure speaking engagements, attract new clients, and open doors to countless other opportunities. The annual event empowers the next generation through insightful discussions led by industry change-makers, hands-on activations, recruitment opportunities from leading companies, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies. This year’s event — held in Houston, TX, at the George R. Brown Center between Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, and Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 — drew in a crowd of...
Snoop Dogg reportedly earned a substantial paycheck for his appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Beloved by generations, the “Gin and Juice” rapper was one of the final torchbearers at this year’s games. View this post on Instagram A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) “At the same time, it says a lot about France as far as connecting the dots and allowing me to do this. I look at this as a prestigious honor and something I truly respect,” he expressed, as reported by the Toronto Star. “I would have never dreamed of nothing like this. I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.” Snoop Dogg also took on the role of NBC Olympics correspondent, as reported by AFROTECH™ , leading to segments like swimming with Michael Phelps, traveling with the U.S. men’s basketball team, and cheering on athletes such as decorated...
John Hope Bryant is investing in the businesses of Albany State University graduates. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Bryant has served as the chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE Inc. since 1992. The organization focuses on improving financial well-being in underserved communities, benefiting 2.8 million people and directing $2.4 billion in private capital. During an appearance on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, Bryant emphasized that financial literacy is the new civil rights movement for this generation. “We have got to be as obsessed with this as we were with the right to vote,” he explained. Bryant continues to be a voice and a vessel, and this was displayed on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Albany State University (ASU) in New York. He served as the commencement speaker in front of a crowd of over 700 students, according to WALB News. “John and I are good friends. We’ve known each other for a while,” ASU I nterim President Dr. Lawrence M. Drake II told the outlet. “I also...
Leading with integrity over the dollar sign is food reviewer Keith Lee’s mantra. Keith Lee is renowned for his social media presence, where he shines a spotlight on small-owned businesses , helping them gain widespread attention. With 16.8 million followers on TikTok and a staggering 794.2 million likes (as of this writing), his influence is undeniable. Beyond amplifying businesses, Keith is also known for his restaurant reviews, many of which have gone viral. His reviews carry significant weight, often referred to as the “Keith Lee Effect” — a phenomenon where his endorsement can skyrocket a business’s popularity, while a less favorable review might have the opposite impact. As previously reported by AFROTECH™ , Keith Lee’s platform played a pivotal role in supporting Soul Prime Chicago, founded by Shonya “Chef Royce” Williams. At the time, the restaurant was facing financial struggles just four months after opening, struggling to pay its staff. Following Lee’s video, customer...