The Rozy Effect Show Rozy Amponsah

Think of healthcare and technology as a power couple; with the two fields bound together, they are a force to be reckoned with. Just ask this week’s guest, Laura Stokes. Laura is very passionate about the two. In our conversation this week dives deep into healthcare and technology and how the two fields coming together drives a huge impact globally.

As the director of Platform Growth & Strategic Partnerships at Mahmee, a venture funded maternal health start up backed by Serena Williams and Mark Cuban, no one could have been more appropriate than her to have this conversation with on health care as it relates to technology. Early in her career, Stokes led chronic disease prevention and community health initiatives while working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she quickly saw the potential for technology to transform public health and accelerate community-driven efforts to address health disparities.Prior to joining Mahmee, Laura gained diverse strategy, operations, and business development experience at start ups, non profit organizations, and government agencies.  Laura is passionate about exploring the intersection of health, technology, and social justice. Laura also holds a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University.

On this week's episode of the Rozy effect, we dive into health care and it’s relationship with technology. We discuss the disparities within the healthcare system as it relates to people of colors, mainly women. Especially when the conversation centers around childbearing and prenatal postpartum care. The type of work that Laura does, she wants to produce on a global scale and within communities that would otherwise lack those resources. Laura touches on how technology can solve the lack of healthcare within communities that lack resources to solve healthcare issues. Stokes is passionate about introducing new models of care that improve access to comprehensive healthcare among vulnerable and underserved populations. The platform that Laura currently works for, Mahmee, is a perfect example of technology and healthcare coming together and solving an issue. It is a healthcare system centered on providing prenatal and postpartum health and educational support for expectant and new mothers. New and expecting parents get a personalized dashboard for linking mom and baby's health records and tracking health over time so that Mahmee care managers can provide ongoing support and education.

We touched on the gaps in communities that are economically challenged and also happen to be made mainly of people of color and how they are being served in relation to healthcare and some of the solutions that need to be implemented in those communities. Within our conversation Covid-19 was also discussed, specifically the role technology has played in developing a vaccine in such a short amount of time. Laura, with the knowledge and insight that she has within the healthcare field as well as technology was able to break down how it was possible for the vaccine to be produced so fast as well as justifying the validity of the fear and lack of trust many people have for the government in relation to healthcare and specifically this vaccine. To learn more about how technology coming together with healthcare can solve a lot of the health related problems within BIPOC communities check out this week's conversation with Laura Stokes.

Happy listening from the Rozy Effect team! 

Leave us your review right here on the podcast and join our community at www.therozyeffect.com 

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining our mailing list to receive exclusive access to full episodes before they're shared with everyone else, industry updates and special offers just for our friends at www.therozyeffect.com/ The hashtag for the podcast is #therozyeffectshow 

This week's episode of the Rozy Effect takes a turn into the math side of technology: data science to be exact. Who better to discuss such a topic than with Gregory Coquillo, a data science expert in his own right. Gregory has 10 years of experience in data science and many skills relating to data science. Greg is currently an Amazon Private Brands Program manager and a content creator who was recently named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in data and Analytics for the year 2020. Gregory’s passion for solving business cases, such as Operative Pricing for commodity-based products has led him deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence. 



One of the best points Gregory made during this conversation was how math has always been a factor in  everything since the beginning of time; Especially in relation to business. There is no exception as it relates to the field of technology. The driving forces behind a lot of our favorite technology brands involves data science. Gregory goes into detail when discussing this in this week’s episode. He speaks on solving business problems related to pricing for commodity-based products and how this led to him going deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence. He speaks on supply and demand in relation to business and data science.



Gregory talks about how data science operated during the pandemic  and what could be done in the future to prevent such a supply and demand mess from recurring. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer became hot commodities and scarce which created the bullwhip effect. This effect  rippled down each line of the manufacturing phase down from the natural resources to the production line causing a delay in all stages of the supply chain for these products. In order to prevent such a supply chain disaster from recurring he suggested analyzing data from what happened and using the data to determine if ever there was another pandemic what would need to be done differently production wise to ensure that demands are met from production as well as availability of the product.



Gregory’s philosophy as it relates to what one could do to leverage a career in data science and business is quite simple: google it! Whatever you are trying to do, the tools and steps in how to find them he feels, can be found on one of our best free resources yet the internet, and google to be exact. He is also a believer in constantly investing in your upskilling and learning so that it may be put into play for whatever goals are set.



Happy listening from the Rozy Effect team!



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Happy May to all my avid Rozy Effect viewers! This week’s interview is one I think many of you will truly appreciate and enjoy. From running an entrepreneurship center through FDU's Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for over for 17 years, to leading a regional trade association, The New Jersey Tech Council, this week’s speaker, James Barrood has been involved in the startup, innovative, and entrepreneurship community for over 20 years.

He has been helping entrepreneurs, businesses, and people succeed in rapidly changing environments. He has published thought and leadership articles on these topic and has been widely quoted both locally and globally and has appeared on ABC, MSNBC and other channels/media. He also has a podcast called A Few Things Show with Jim Barrood on Youtube and Itunes.

This week on the Rozy Effect we go into discussion about entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation and how one can set up a blueprint. How can someone who wants to branch into individual digital transformation begin? If I am currently in a corporate role, how can I make the switch into entrepreneurship? James’ belief is that you have to screen the market for a need and also think of your passions. Between those two things the answer to whatever it is you are trying to achieve will come to you. The key thing to note is whether or not whatever you are trying to achieve will bring value to the market place. 

He also touched on the state of affairs in terms of Covid-19 and how within that came a lot of opportunity for someone with a certain skill to establish a business. One example he gave was digital marketing. This is a skill that many companies are willing to pay for and can be done remotely. Anyone with the mind and aptitude for it could build a successful brand providing that type of service to companies. Anything technology based or related had the opportunity to build a business around. 

He also drove the point of lifelong learning and how covid-19 was the perfect time to take to brush up on and learn a new marketable skill. Considering the amount of time allotted to us due to everything being closed now more than ever is the perfect time to take advantage of building a new skill or fortifying a current skill that you have and that very skill could be leveraged in building that path towards entrepreneurship. There are so many classes and learning opportunities that could be found digitally and remotely due to covid-19 that it makes sense to start in that direction towards one’s individual transformation in taking the step towards entrepreneurism.

Please tune in this week to The Rozy Effect for more insight on some of the ways one could build a path towards entrepreneurship and individual digital transformation.

Happy listening!


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We’re back with another one: Technology field through the lens of an HR Generalist in the tech world. I know you all have been dying for this one even if you didn't know it! I know I have. How do I navigate my job hunting in tech if I don’t necessarily have the tech background or experience? Daniel Space had some great insight on this very topic. 

Daniel has been in the Human Resource space for over a decade and specifically for large tech, media and entertainment companies. His interest in human resources came through him having to navigate the job hunt and doing research for himself which ultimately landed him his first role as an HR assistant. He enjoyed it so much that he went for a masters in the subject and from there he did Human Resources, Sales and Marketing for some very notable businesses such as Web MD and Spotify. Today, he breaks down how you can go about achieving your career aspirations through tech or any field for that matter. 

One of the things he spoke about was the current climate in the job market. If you are looking to break into tech or any other market currently, to put it in Daniels’s words, it’s open season right now. Due to Covid-19, companies were forced to go into remote working. In this instant a lot of positions opened up every and anywhere. The problem is not many people have been looking into these other markets because they’re more focused on the more obvious ones. If you look into working remotely for a company in an unlikely market but who is looking for someone to fulfil a tech position, that is a great way to break into the field. The issue is many people are feeling that if they don’t break into a more obvious field or company such as Google, Facebook, or Amazon, then they have failed and that is just not true. Sometimes thinking outside the box and looking in more unlikely places can be the ticket into tech, according to Daniel. 

What is one of the most important aspects of attaining any job?: Knowing your worth and what you are bringing to a company. Contrary to popular belief, where you went to school isn’t the most important fact so much as the skillset you are there to sell. If you can speak on the skills you have on your resume and why you would be an asset to a tech company and you can sell those skillset, then you are halfway there. Daniels speaks on that. Then there’s the taboo topic of salary negotiation, especially as it pertains to BIPOC, right? Most of us are in the mindset, “Well I got the Job so if I negotiate, they might take it back.” No! Daniel actually dispels that myth by speaking on the fact that once they have offered you the position then that obviously means they want you. Knowing how to negotiate and how to approach the subject is key. There is a way to speak on why you think you deserve more and it circles back to what you are bringing to that company. Because at the end of the day, negotiating a salary is just like any other business meeting, you are doing something for the company and that in itself merits compensation. 

Please tune to The Rozy Effect for more on what Daniel has to say on the job hunting process specifically as it relates to tech. 

Happy listening! 

Leave us your review right here on the podcast and join our community at www.therozyeffect.com

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining our mailing list to receive exclusive access to full episodes before they're shared with everyone else, industry updates and special offers just for our friends at www.therozyeffect.com/ 



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Are you living in your authentic truth? This week, we take you in a different direction focused more on self rather than just tech. It is also a special episode because I had the pleasure to interview a fellow Cornellian and boss, Brianna Ford. Briana gives insights through her journey to live your authentic life.

Brianna has a background in business dating back to her days at Cornell University, SC Johnson College of Business. From there she pursued a career in investment banking at SunTrust, obtaining her series licenses. The story she tells this week is one that is all too familiar to us; we fall into the career we thought we wanted, only to realize it’s not our passion nor purpose.

It was while she was in the midst of trying to build a career in investment banking that she came to the realization that she was neither living her truth nor fulfilling her purpose. She made the bold decision and took the leap of faith, leaving the career. She then decided to pursue what she felt was true and authentic to her. She currently works in the nonprofit sector at Urban Alliance, where she has the distinct pleasure of serving as a professional development coach to young people across the city of Chicago, Illinois. She is passionate about community revitalization and thoughtful mentoring.

For the young woman starting out in her career or who is unsure of the path or the young woman of color who is currently in a career that is lackluster and is contemplating a change, this one is definitely for you and you do not want to miss it!

Briana has some great insights and introspection on living in line with your purpose and authenticity. Please tune in to The Rozy Effect for more.

Leave us your review right here on the podcast and join our community at www.therozyeffect.com

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining our mailing list to receive exclusive access to full episodes before they're shared with everyone else, industry updates and special offers just for our friends at www.therozyeffect.com/

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This week's episode of The Rozy Effect takes on a different type of conversation in relation to the world of technology. We take a look into the emotional side of it.

How do we feel when we are investing and learning through technologies and if you’re an entrepreneur, building these tech companies?

How are the decisions really being made when it comes to getting consumers and investors to buy into the technology being produced?

We had the opportunity to connect with Rakesh Dhawan. Rakesh has extensive experience creating high-tech companies in industrial, commercial, and consumer industries. He is an expert in crystallizing go-to-market strategies while building scalable, repeatable marketing, and product development business models. He is the visionary behind the electrical bike technology, and current President and CEO of Falco E-motors.

Rakesh has a very different view and approach to technology than most tech leaders today. He approaches the topic of Obsolete leaders in tech and paints for us the picture of leaders having the ability to set up teams to be more independent. How?  Allow them access to all information necessary, to execute initiatives and projects related to a company. Rakesh demonstrates the possibilities of implementing such a thing as well as the success that comes with it. He also believes in tapping into your emotions as you are developing technology as an entrepreneur.

In our conversation, Rakesh goes into how emotions play into the aspect of digital transformation. Through his entrepreneurial journey, he has always looked for opportunities to make a difference in business and has delivered results in that realm by tuning into his emotions.

To all tech enthusiasts and tech entrepreneurs, this one is specifically for you!  Please tune in this week as we dive into technology as it relates to emotion and the positive effects of leadership obsolescence through technology.

Happy listening!

Leave us your review right here on the podcast and join our community at www.therozyeffect.com

Take the info from the podcast to the next level by joining our mailing list to receive exclusive access to full episodes before they're shared with everyone else, industry updates and special offers just for our friends at www.therozyeffect.com/

The hashtag for the podcast is #therozyeffectshow

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Twitter: @therozyeffect

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LinkedIn: Rozy Amponsah