WiT Twin Cities's Podcast Jessica Meyer & Anna Bliss

As Danielle Steer of Lunar Startups reminded us: Prince knew the revolution would start here. From social justice to startups, it starts here, with us. We talk with Danielle about the importance of individual action and how new ideas about funding can improve inclusion in tech and entrepreneurship. Danielle talks about how Lunar Startups works with resilient people creating resilient companies (name checks a few you should know about!) and how those companies can lead the revolution.

Looking for a job is awful. It's a broken system and makes us feel bad. It’s no picnic on the hiring side - matching a job description to the cold data of a resume doesn’t let either side tell their story. Enter Matt Decuir and Invisible Network - what started as an experiment on Twitter became a way for a job seeker to find the right job for them and for a company to find the right person to hire. Invisible Network matches humans and what they want, rethinking how to look for that next job.

John is a farm kid from North Dakota who found his way to software development. And not long after that, he discovered the importance of being an ally and advocate. His allyship journey began when he had two interns, one was a man, the other a woman - and he could see, right in front of him, how they were treated differently. It was then that he started asking questions and encouraging others to do the same - to think about not just what they say, but the tone they use and how it can be or seem different with different people. We talk about green beans, bathrooms, getting uncomfortable, and the importance of bringing allies along on the journey. (And if you are wondering about the Batman and Robin thing, read this: https://coreytponder.medium.com/allyship-is-not-the-heros-journey-3397eb885072)

In this episode, we talk with Rosie Nestingen - Tech Transformation Director at Best Buy and one of Twin Cities Business Magazine’s “100 To Know in 2021” (https://tcbmag.com/tcb-100-people/rosie-nestingen/). From getting a high end consignment shop into the digital world through roles in digital marketing to shaping tech talent transformation on a digital and technology team, Rosie sparked her own curiosity and now is helping others to find that spark. We talk with Rosie about networking, about improving accessibility to tech and tech careers, and project managing yourself. We talk about what questions you ask yourself and the people you work with, including challenging folks to think about who is included in the conversation and how to increase connections and open more opportunities for people who might not otherwise have a path into tech. 

For our third season, we have added a third voice to our co-hosts: Paith Philemon. Paith is a transplant to the Twin Cities and we talk in this introductory episode about what brought her here, how she has found community, about Donkey Cars, about all that has happened in the last year, and how changes in technology have helped (and, in some cases, still need work) to get us through the last twelve months. Whether it’s cell phones that used to require tapping a key up to three times to get the right letter in your text message to now having the capability to record events that can change the world, a rethinking of how we interact and consume social media, or the importance of diversity on teams creating the tech - there has been a lot. We are glad that Paith has joined us and is adding her voice to the stories we share. 

The Twin Cities has a vibrant tech community and startup ecosystem. In her role as CEO of Hack the Gap, Caroline Karanja is working to ensure that community and ecosystem reflect the broader community and are more inclusive of under-represented groups. She participated in the first Hack the Gap hackathon (hackthegap.com) and was hooked on its ability to draw people in, to provide inspiration, to make our community more expansive. Like a lot of us, her path into technology was a little accidental and that informs how she encourages others’ interests and curiosity about tech.  Our conversation with her includes where she sees space for creativity and creatives in technology, the good of technology and its use in the last year, and where there are still gaps in access and opportunities to broaden its reach. A book is coming out soon that highlights some of our local tech talent and their stories - it’s an adjunct to the inspiration and sense of community built at Hack the Gap events. Follow @hackthegap on Instagram and Twitter to find out more about their events and the book!