The GenAI Revolution, Ep 3: Preparing Howard Alum for Big Tech & Entrepreneurship

In this final chapter of our mini-series on AI, we venture beyond campus to spotlight Howard alumni making waves in both big tech and entrepreneurship through the power of AI. Despite the persistent Black wealth gap and underrepresentation of Black professionals in technology, Howard's tech and entrepreneurship ecosystem is fostering a new generation of leaders.

Host Dr. Kweli Zukeri delves into the transformative potential for young people in the tech world. We’ll hear success stories from several Howard alumni currently working in big tech and entrepreneurship, how the innovative education and curriculum support at Howard prepared them for these industries, as well as how the Afrotech Conference is creating more opportunities for Black technologists and entrepreneurs.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

Why now is the best time to be within the technology industry

27:03: [Sam Altman] I think this is probably the greatest time, at least since the internet, to be graduating, to be a young person. If you're interested in entering the technology industry, this is a very special opportunity that probably won't come along again for a while. You all got very, very lucky. It's at the birth of a new industry and a time of tremendous change when young people have the most advantage and the most opportunity. There's a reason that I think young people drive a lot of the technological revolutions. You all are way more familiar with AI tools than people older than you. You bring a new set of fresh perspectives. What can be created now? What just wasn't possible before this?

HBCUs where culture is created

15:09: [Erin Horne McKinney] I think one of the great things about being at an HBCU is that we are the culture creators. Right at ours, there's no such thing as failure—there are learning experiences, right? And those are the things that make you grow. People are coming to us for the culture, for the experience. But one of the things you get as a minor, no matter which HBCU you go to, is that you get that grit. That hustle, learning to overcome obstacles, learning that when somebody says no to you, it’s not really no; it means you need to become a better problem solver, right? So, learning how to problem solve.

On turning academic knowledge into practical skills

36:29: [Antonio McMichael] I think you get a lot of foundation from the classes that you're taking that will teach you the what and the how, the academic side of things. But you have to be able to take the academic side and turn it into something practical, like actually building things.

Guest Profiles and Show Links:

• Kweli Zukeri | Howard Profiles
• Kweli Zukeri | LinkedIn
• kweli.zukeri@howard.edu
• Coded Bias 
• State of Tech Diversity: The Black Tech Ecosystem | NAACP
• AfroTech
• AFROTECH™️ Conference
• Blavity Inc
• Simone Tyler | LinkedIn
• Erin Horne McKinney | Howard Profiles
• ERIN (Ear-in) HORNE MCKINNEY, M.A. | LinkedIn
• PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
• Black Commerce Conference