Glowing in Tech Glowing in Tech

In today's episode, we continue to talk with Hosanna about TheTechCornr is
having on inspiring Women and the industry at large. Hosanna also tells us about
the most challenging times in her career and the tips she has for women starting
out in the tech industry.

HIGHLIGHTS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:13 Hosanna’s tips, how to survive a team member that you're
just not clicking with.
00:06:00 Tech Tea
00:10:00 Fear mongering in tech “ it does scare people”
00:11:11 “Give the people some hope!” Clickbait and the media
00:12:27 Learning about tech, the do’s and don'ts
00:13:10 What interests me most about tech
00:18:42 Upskilling, studying never stops!
00:20:37 How do I know I want a tech job? Avoid job descriptions!

Glowing in Tech is a weekly podcast between two black women software
engineers, exploring how to thrive whilst navigating the tech space and
encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to level up in their careers.
Hosted by our award-winning co-founders Jessie Auguste, a backend software
engineer at CybSafe, and Amber Shad, a frontend software engineer, also at
CybSafe. Hosanna Hali, is a Microsoft Azure expert who also launched
theTechCornr platform with a goal of empowering and encouraging women to
enter a career in tech. In today's episode, we continue to talk with Hosanna about
the impact TheTechCornr is having on inspiring women and the industry at large.
Hosanna also tells us about the most challenging times in her career and the tips
she has for women starting out in the tech industry.
Subscribe to The Glowing in Tech Podcast which drops weekly wherever you get
your podcasts.
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In this episode of Glowing in Tech, host Amber and Jessie are joined by Hosanna, an Azure specialist at Microsoft and the founder of TheTechCornr. Hosanna shares her journey into the tech industry and discusses the importance of increasing diversity in the field. She also talks about her platform and how it aims to inspire and educate women about opportunities in tech. Tune in to hear Hosanna's story and her impact on others in the industry.
During the pandemic, Hosanna launched theTechCornr platform with the goal of empowering women to pursue careers in the tech industry. With a strong passion for diversity and inclusion, the speaker had actively participated in panels and discussions on the topic.
Hosanna aims to showcase not only tech-related topics but also other aspects of her life, such as her wedding and their home, in order to build a community of multifaceted women. She's intending to release an ebook in the near future, focusing on starting a successful career. While the ebook will contain tech-focused content, it will also cover broader subjects beyond technical skills, including office politics, appropriate attire, effective communication with managers, and other essential skills for professional women.
[00:01:00] Tech industry offers diverse opportunities.
[00:05:11] Tech career path: programming to client-facing roles.
[00:09:29] Longevity at Microsoft despite challenges.
[00:07:09] Notorious tech company application process.
[00:09:54] Staying at one company.
[00:12:14] New technologies and learning.
[00:13:15] Learning through application is key.
[00:15:56] Changing roles and career growth.
[00:19:52] Building a multifaceted community.
[00:20:45] Transitioning to in-person work.
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In this episode, the Candida discusses her personal journey of recognising and addressing burnout and the importance of mental health. She recalls attending a talk on mental health and burnout given by a speaker who visited their organisation. This talk served as a wake-up call for Candida, as she realised they were exhibiting several signs of burnout, such as withdrawing at work, neglecting their appearance, operating on autopilot, and feeling down and upset.

Following the talk, the Candida had a coaching session with the speaker who gave the talk. The coach noticed a significant change in the speaker's energy after the session, highlighting how burnout was negatively impacting their overall well-being and work performance.

Candida acknowledges that recognising and acknowledging burnout can take time, but they have become better at identifying the signals for themselves. However, it was the mental health and burnout talk that truly helped them realise that their experiences were not normal and that they needed to take time off to address their burnout.

Throughout the episode, the importance of embracing creativity in daily life is highlighted. We discuss how creativity extends beyond traditional artistic pursuits and can be found in problem-solving, innovative thinking, and approaching different situations. We emphasise that tapping into creativity can bring joy and fulfilment, and it doesn't always have to be tied to generating income or pursuing a creative career. Instead, they encourage listeners to explore and embrace creativity through hobbies, personal projects, and allowing space for creative thinking in everyday life.

The episode also addresses the impact of self-doubt and societal expectations on individuals who identify as creatives. The conversation emphasises the courage and strength required to pursue a creative path, especially when it goes against the expectations of family, friends, and society. 

Overall, the episode underscores the significance of recognizing and embracing creativity in daily life. It suggests that by doing so, individuals can experience improved mental health, increased satisfaction, and a greater sense of fulfillment.

Candida also addresses the pressure that can arise from turning creative outlets into a career. They caution against placing the burden of income generation or resource reliance on creative activities, as it can diminish the joy derived from them. Instead, they advocate for tapping into creativity for the sake of enjoyment and personal fulfillment.


Additionally, the Candida delves into the impact of self-doubt on creatives. They acknowledge that societal expectations and judgments can lead many creatives to feel inadequate. They stress the significance of reframing these thoughts and beliefs, and finding the courage and strength to pursue creative endeavors that may defy societal norms. The speaker suggests that self-doubt is an energy that needs to be continually tapped into, and taking breaks from creativity can result in denying a part of oneself. They emphasize the importance of living authentically and aligning with personal values, as denying creativity and not living true to oneself can have emotional consequences.
TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:42] Allowing myself to enjoy work. 
[00:05:29] Keeping the curiosity alive. 
[00:09:43] What's the tech tea? 
[00:13:19] Hybrid working and bias. 
[00:17:40] Language and Ambition.
 [00:18:07] Different interpretations of ambition.
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In this episode of Glowing in Tech, hosts Amber and Jessie interview Candida Bradley, a Career and Well-Being Coach at Makers. Candida shares her journey, starting with a design degree in university and becoming a book artist. She then became a carer for her grandfather and later opened a craft shop in London. However, running a business on her own proved to be tough. The hosts discuss the importance of career and well-being coaching and how it can help individuals navigate their professional and personal lives.

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:23] Finding your career path. 
[00:07:19] Dealing with burnout. 
[00:07:50] Mental and physical wellbeing. 
[00:11:35] Self-compassion in learning. 
[00:14:56] Nurturing curiosity in tech. 
[00:19:18] Soft skills in technical roles. 
[00:22:26] Standing out in job applications.
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Cybersecurity expert Stephanie Itimi shares her biggest career challenge as a woman in tech. She describes how microaggressions from her manager undermined her confidence and how she used peer reviews to advocate for her work. She emphasises the importance of having a support network and self-awareness to combat imposter syndrome.

In this episode, we highlight the significance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. They argue that creating a fair and equitable workplace requires a focus on inclusion, not just diversity. We suggest that companies need to shift their perspective on diversity and inclusion from being a fancy word to an essential everyday practice. We also discuss the issue of tokenization and the importance of incorporating inclusive practices, psychological safety, and retaining diverse talent. We emphasize the need for companies to understand their culture and work towards accommodating and thriving with diverse talent. Overall, the episode emphasizes the need for companies to prioritize diversity and inclusion to create a fair and equitable workplace for everyone.

We discuss the importance of company culture, especially when a company is scaling. They note that many companies prioritize profits and growth without considering the impact on their culture. This can lead to a lack of understanding and clarity around the company culture. We suggest that this is where the risk lies, as a company's culture can become diluted or lost as it grows. They also highlight the role of mid-managers in cultivating and maintaining a company's culture and suggest that a culture audit can be useful in identifying areas for improvement. Overall, we emphasize the need for companies to prioritize their culture and actively work to maintain it as they scale.


TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Introduction
[00:00:37] Microaggressions in the workplace. 
[00:03:29] Surviving in tech. 
[00:06:37] Self-confidence in the workplace. 
[00:09:47] Importance of psychological safety. 
[00:13:36] Diversity and Inclusion in Tech. 
[00:16:08] Workplace equity and inclusion. 
[00:19:45] Diversity and inclusion in companies. 
[00:22:26] Company Culture at Scale. 
[00:25:50] D&I work should never be free.
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In this episode of Glowing in Tech, Stephanie Itimi, founder of Seidea and cybersecurity expert, talks with Amber and Jessie about her background in cyber intelligence and her work helping minority women break into cybersecurity careers. She provides insights into the different aspects of cybersecurity, including protecting critical data and systems and physical and technical security. Additionally, she discusses her current research on cybersecurity and physical security for domestic workers in Nigeria and the importance of addressing unfair data collection and surveillance practices.

The episode highlights the importance of involving everyone in a company in security to improve overall security. This can be achieved through brainstorming sessions and encouraging team members to share their thoughts on the security policy and framework. By involving everyone, it becomes everyone's responsibility to prioritize security, not just the security team's. The episode acknowledges that not everyone is naturally security aware, but involving everyone in security culture and awareness can make them more security conscious. It is also important to stay informed about the latest threats and tactics by keeping up with information security magazines, cybersecurity ventures, and ICO reports.

The episode addresses the issue of a lack of talent in cybersecurity but also emphasizes that talent can be developed through skills training, partnerships, and work experience. Stephanie aims to bridge the gap between those who are new to the industry and those who are already in the industry, and to help them thrive and break barriers to get into CISO or CSO positions. Steph runs a successful business that focuses on getting marginalized women into cybersecurity and encouraging them to level up in their careers. The episode stresses that cybersecurity is an open industry for anyone, and it is important to understand the ecosystem and the acronyms. The lack of diversity in the industry is also discussed, with only 20% of the sector being women worldwide, and 80% being men. Steph believes that it is important for women of color and marginalized people to be more involved in cybersecurity to protect the most vulnerable online.

The episode emphasizes that building a secure web application is a complex task that requires constant updating to stay ahead of attackers. The threat landscape is constantly changing, and attackers are always finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. Therefore, developers must stay updated on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities through various resources such as conferences, networking, research, and open source. Additionally, the speaker stresses the importance of involving everyone in the organization in security culture and awareness, not just the security team. Building a secure web application requires a collective effort from everyone involved in the development process.

[00:00:00]Introduction - Who is Stephanie Itimi?
[00:01:06] Smart cities and domestic workers
[00:03:41] Business Continuity in Cyber Security
[00:06:49] Cybersecurity certification overview
[00:10:03] Cybersecurity as an open industry
[00:13:01] Business side of cybersecurity
[00:16:57] Learning about new cyber attacks
[00:19:24] Importance of Security Culture
00:23:59] Remote working security risks
[00:26:18] Cybersecurity psychology
[00:29:46] Uber's Two Factor Authentication Attack.
00:32:37] Cybersecurity and Diversity.
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