Leonidas Caldwell

Authentic experiences feel (to me, anyway) like they're a bullish investment, as there is this constant struggle to distill, monetize, and cut out any of the blemishes that make those experiences feel so real. I was talking to Jeremi Dudu recently, and we were reminiscing about the good old days when there were all these authentic and intimate little events that were out there to be discovered for those who had the interest and were willing to put in the effort to find them. They're still out there, but we aren't privy, I suppose. I think a lot of this stuff got killed by a few years of society shutting down. If something was already just hanging on by a thread and not making a lot of money, then it became quite clear that it couldn't continue. I'll tell a more detailed version of the story later I think, but for now I'm interested in knowing if people want to be reminded of the world outside of our virtual prison. The thing that jumped to my mind when we were having that conversation was this little bar in North Central Philly called Natalie's. Never have I experienced such a place that felt like I was stepping through a portal to another dimension. Walk through the doors and on the other side you find people dressed in unironic leopard print with spit shined alligator dress shoes. But the real hook was the fact that there were barely any tables. And if you did manage to squeeze your way in, you would be treated to an otherworldly experience of musicians who had never even played together riffing off of each other on stage, completely unrehearsed, and just purely vibing out in the purest sense of the word. It was absolutely incredible. Actually got replaced by a nightclub years before covid. This is the kind of thing that you could never explain or recreate virtually. It was far too mixed between awesome and awkward for AI to ever generate it. My theory is that this kind of energy is always there and always seeking an outlet. The band Faith No More called it "The Real Thing" in the title song of the album. It morphs and changes over time. It moves locations. It changes shapes. But it's always there to be discovered. But it's not always easy to find. Authentic experiences. I think that's what I'm seeking and that's what I'm about. I'm thinking about doing a series devoted to sharing these kinds of incredible experiences that can only happen in person as part of raising the signal about Meet Near Me. I would love for this to be the kind of thing where it's not just a spotlight on me but rather a third person storytelling series where anyone could put themselves into the shoes of the one experiencing it. So I would love to hear from a diverse group of people with their own encounters with meaning and significance. What do you think? Do you have an in-person magical experience that you'd love to share and want to write a guest post? Share a bit about it in the comments below and let's talk!

6

How have volunteering and side projects impacted your career? 🔗 Let us know in the comment! 👇🤔 In Episode 9 of "My First Day in Tech" by Careerist, UX Co-Hosts Kimetha Dunn and Andrew Riddle share their unconventional paths to success. Discover how they built strong networks, found mentors, and gained invaluable experience through their commitment to giving back. 🤝✨ 🌟 Highlights of this episode include: - Kimetha's journey with volunteering and its career impact. - Andrew's experience in Dallas: New city, new network. - Empowering others through Black Women in AI. - Utilizing resources like Google, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Meetup. - The unspoken rules of tech and the importance of mentorship. - Finding your "why" and creating value through problem-solving. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to take action! 🎧✨ https://lnkd.in/gXw_dbCD 📌 Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (0:41) Volunteering's impact on Kimetha's career. (2:57) Andrew's Dallas networking journey. (4:39) Empowering others through Black Women in AI. (5:29) Utilizing online resources. (20:42) Mentorship insights and the unspoken rules in tech. (30:26) The foundation of success: Finding your "why". (31:32) Solving problems as designers. (34:39) Volunteer opportunities: AIGA, Girls Who Code. (39:02) The importance of having someone review your work. (44:04) Asking the right questions in mentorship. (45:01) The value of one-on-one mentorship. (46:00) Comparing university and Careerist experiences. (47:21) Finding your "Tech Tribe". (48:21) The power of initiative. #techcareers #careergrowth #firstjob #careeradvice #networking #mentorship #volunteering #careerdevelopment #careertips #careerist #myfirstdayintech Connect with us: - Instagram: @careerist.learning - LinkedIn: Careerist - Andrew Riddle: Andrew Riddle, M.S. - Kimetha Dunn: Kimetha Dunn

2

Hey, I’m ‘Tine Zekis, your Pivot & Pay Strategist. I help Black women professionals double their income by leveraging their existing skills. If you haven’t heard my story yet, I’d love to share it with you now. I started my career as a high school math teacher before making a pivot into software engineering. Through a series of strategic job moves and salary negotiations, I was able to double my teaching salary in just two years, and I more than TRIPLED my teaching salary in less than five years. Now, I help Black women professionals change the trajectory of their careers, dramatically increase their incomes, and build generational wealth. I've worked with clients to fine-tune my methods, reducing the time it takes to achieve these results. And now, I'm sharing these strategies with YOU in our FREE Career Elevation Bootcamp: 5 Days to Your Next Big Move! If you want to learn how I did it, and more importantly, how YOU can do it too, join us for this transformative bootcamp. We’ll work with you to get crystal clear on your career goals, build out an actionable roadmap to help you reach those goals, and do the deep mindset work to help you expand your view of what’s possible so you can command the salary you deserve. The bootcamp is next week, starting on Monday, June 10th. Use the link in the comments to learn more and to register. I can’t wait to work with you. Let’s make your next career move your best one yet! See you Monday! #CareerElevation #SalaryNegotiation #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #BlackWomenInBusiness #BlackWomenInTech #BlackWomenAtWork #CareerAdvancement #WealthAndFreedom #GettingBlackWomenPaid #IncomeBoost #CareerPivot #WomenInLeadership #GenerationalWealth #Empowerment #CareerSuccess #ProfessionalWomen

45

5 Comments

I know it's been a while since I wrote an admonishing post dedicated to newbies, but let me get into it. There are many opportunities in tech and there's plenty of money in tech too. You can tap some of it and live an enviable life if you know your onion and position yourself rightly. But making money in tech won't happen overnight, forget the lies and overinflated hists you read out there, you'll have to put in the work. Some of the people in tech whose beautiful grass-to-grace stories inspire you and whose lavish and beautiful lives you envy didn’t just get those enviable lives immediately they got into tech, for some of them, it took them about 1 to 5 years to even make their first $1k or $2k a month from a job or gig, but because they knew what they wanted and where passionate and consistent with learning and bringing value to the table, they stood the test of time and can now confidently tell you they make or are paid $5k monthly, this is around 7.5 Million Naira. Most times some of us don't talk about our struggles in our early days in tech. We don't tell you how we worked for free or happily took gigs of 30k just to help us build enviable portfolios that would help us make the plenty of money we dreamt of, but we kept going regardless because we didn't see getting into tech as a get rich scheme but we were passionate about proffering solutions and we needed a means of financial sustainability and one that we'll be indulging in for a long time. So I get sad when I see tech enthusiasts or newbies try to get into tech with the get-rich-quick scheme mindset and with the mindset that it would be a smooth ride with no hurdles because they've been lied to by someone who just wants to make money selling a course or bootcamp to them. And it saddens me because I know how it always ends for most people with this mindset, it never ends well Gaining a valuable skill isn't a walk in the park, regardless of the field, it comes with its dynamic challenges, and do it with getting into tech. Tech would make you rich, and it would give you peace of mind, but you need to get into it with the mindset that you'll face challenges and that this is a serious matter, so you'll have to put in your best to learn because if you ain't good at what you're learning, you'll think there's no job in tech. And if you could spend 4, 5, or 6 years to learn and earn a BSc that might be redundant when you're out, why can't you spend 2 or 3 years to learn a valuable tech skill? Yes, some people make good money 3 or 6 months into their tech journey, this I'm not refuting, but this isn't an absolute truth. Just because it works for others and it isn't working for you right now doesn't mean it won't work for you in a year, 2, or even 3 years So don't let anyone pressure you, the destination might be the same, but the journey is different for us all I wish you all the best as you go through this path. It can only get better. #techclaritycoach

78

6 Comments

Embracing non-traditional paths in software engineering enriches our field. I genuinely cherish the fact that I ventured into engineering after a career in music. It wasn't just a job change; it was adding a new chapter to my story, one that enhances how I approach problems today. Here's why diverse backgrounds matter: - They bring unique perspectives that can shed new light on familiar problems. - Both music and software engineering require creativity, and skills from one can translate to success in the other. - My music background has been invaluable, especially working with musicians at Twitch, creating a symbiotic relationship between my past and present roles. Your career path doesn't need to be linear. In fact, I believe that the most intriguing stories—and potentially the most innovative thinkers—come from those who've explored multiple fields. I wouldn't trade my journey for anything because it shapes how I perceive and tackle challenges in tech today. #DiversityInTech • #CareerChange • #SoftwareEngineering ♻️ Repost if you found this valuable.

13

The Human Factor in Tech! I'm excited to share a short video featuring an insightful interview with Pariss Chandler, the Founder and CEO of Black Tech Pipeline. In this clip, Pariss talks about the critical importance of the human factor in the tech industry. She shares her vision on how fostering a supportive and inclusive environment can drive innovation and success. Pariss Chandler's leadership and dedication to creating inclusive tech spaces inspire us all. Her insights remind us that technology isn't just about code and algorithms—it's about people. Watch the video now and join the conversation on the importance of human-centric approaches in technology! https://lnkd.in/guiHHfte #Tech #HumanFactor #BlackTechPipeline #Innovation #Inclusion #ParissChandler #prison2success #documentary There is more to come, stay tune in!

3

🎧 New Episode Alert! 🚀 This week on the Getting Black Women Paid Podcast, we're diving into "Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time-Saving Tips for Entrepreneurs." Tune in as Ileka shares her expertise on optimizing workflows, automating processes, and eliminating inefficiencies. Alongside my probing questions, we uncover strategies for reclaiming your most precious resource: time. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or check out the link in the comments! 🎙️✨ #GettingBlackWomenPaid #GBWPPodcast #PodcastAlert #WorkSmarter #WorkSmarterNotHarder #EntrepreneurshipTips #ProductivityTips #ReclaimYourTime #ListenNow

8

2 Comments

Navigating the Tech Industry: A Journey of Realizations and Growth Reflecting on my journey from grad school to where I am now, I've learned some hard truths about the tech industry. Early in my career, I often saw content from people saying, "I want to help you find your first break in the field so you can get into organizations like FAANG." It sounded promising, but deep down, I knew it was a marketing tactic. Many people eventually launch their own courses, aiming to capitalize on the market. The job market today isn’t what it was back in 2019-2021, when exuberant salaries were the norm. It’s crucial to acknowledge that the real winners in this downward economy are the tech influencers of the digital era. Everyone dreams of landing a job at a big tech company or earning a hefty salary, and this desire is expertly exploited by modern-day tech gurus. Their niche audiences are often recent graduates or those just entering the industry, making content on how to get into FAANG or secure a high-paying remote job. Both topics attract a large audience, eager to join the elite club of tech professionals. However, the job market is influenced by geopolitical factors and economic cash flow. Your skills ultimately determine your success. Making money is about survival, and having valuable skills is essential. Unfortunately, this isn’t what tech influencers teach. They exploit our brains' programming to make us believe in their narratives. The real journey to success is perilous and rarely discussed. I've faced these challenges myself, experiencing existential crises and uncertainty. Looking back, I realize there was no one to tell me to be patient and take one step at a time. Following such content can lead to a never-ending chase for money. While financial stability is important, it’s also vital to understand the responsibilities that come with high salaries. Managing a team, making strategic decisions, and justifying those decisions to senior management are all part of the job. So, here’s my advice to those on this journey: avoid getting trapped by social media content. Find your niche, discover what you love, and start building projects around it. Share your work, seek feedback, and continuously improve. This is what truly matters in your career journey. Let's focus on genuine growth and skill development, not just the allure of high salaries and big names. P.S[Note] : the images used here were generated by Stable diffusion 3 and no one was being personally targeted

14

1 Comment

🌟 Harnessing the potential of text messaging is crucial for nonprofit success. 📝 Don't let uncertainty or overwhelm hold your nonprofit back from leveraging the power of text messaging. 📣 Dive into our curated collection of 42 SMS examples designed to inspire, engage, and mobilize your supporters. Explore our FREE comprehensive guide and revolutionize your nonprofit's communication strategy today! ▶️ https://bit.ly/3wJNihV #RallyCorp #TextMessaging #Nonprofits

3

1 Comment

🌟 Harnessing the potential of text messaging is crucial for nonprofit success. 📝 Don't let uncertainty or overwhelm hold your nonprofit back from leveraging the power of text messaging. 📣 Dive into our curated collection of 42 SMS examples designed to inspire, engage, and mobilize your supporters. Explore our FREE comprehensive guide and revolutionize your nonprofit's communication strategy today! ▶️ https://bit.ly/45gZWCj #RallyCorp #TextMessaging #Nonprofits

2

1 Comment

This Black Women's Equal Pay Day, here are some actionable steps YOU can take. Check out this informative post from Faith Eatman MPH, MBA to learn what organizations, allies, and Black women can do to make equal pay a reality!

1

TGIF! 🎉 Just a reminder that I'll be speaking at BaddieCon in August about breaking into tech. We'll cover transferable skills, networking, self-guided learning, and interview prep. 🤓 Use code ASBC15 for 15% off your ticket! See you there! #BaddiesInTech #WomenInTech #BlackinTech

10

GTA Black Women In Tech Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Tech webinar I learned the following strategies -Overcome mental barriers by building skills & mindset -Define what it means to you & then find solutions -YOU belong HERE  -Let go of limiting beliefs & BELIEVE you have inherent values & attribute achievements to what you have accomplished -  Accept praise & celebrate you  -Acknowledge your success  -Continue to improve daily eg take courses  -Find & lean on your community eg mentor -Be present & mindful  -Don't internalise the success, write them down and reflect on the impact -Don't let it cage you, think about if you give in what would you miss My take home is embrace, feel the fear and take one step at a time until that feeling becomes silent. Do not let FEAR cripple you

6

Take 5. Yes there are Black Game Developers too. Here are their games and their backstories. Five are introduced in this video. Ahmed Abdullah, Alexander Francois, Amber Leigh Black, Andree Augustin and Ben Lowther. More to follow. https://lnkd.in/es3qdMzc #IGNLIVE #ignsummerofgaming #summerGameFest #developers #videogames

1

Your feedback is requested! For the past few years, I’ve been working on my SaaS (Software as a Service) application and I want to share my journey to empower and encourage people to live and build their dream. So basically it’s Building a SaaS While Black and being a woman. This is the true story of an Black woman Instructional Technologist who decides to create a SaaS with no software development experience and have my journey taped. Find out what happens when the idea goes from a simple but powerful PDF to Product. I want to know which title should o go with: 1️⃣ SaaS Sisterhood: A Black Woman's Journey from Idea to Innovation 2️⃣ Innovation Noir: Charting the Course of a non-tech, self funded, Black Woman's SaaS Venture 3️⃣ SaaS Noir: Black Woman in Tech, One Line of Code at a Time I have my fav but I want to know which one resonates with you. I look forward to your feedback.

11

6 Comments

You know when you see trolling and look away because it's so _______ (awkward, distressing, triggering)? Well, for many reasons, about a year ago, I decided to not look away and instead lean curiously and start asking why. I've been interviewing trolls in the metaverse, and have a growing team of people helping with some audacious goals. This began more as a passion project, but is evolving into a movement to redefine how we use online spaces for community, conflict, and personal transformation. Here's how you can help: -Support and share thetrollproject.com to raise awareness about the impact of trolling in social VR.  -Join us in developing and implementing strategies for healthier, more resilient virtual communities. -Help us amplify our findings and solutions to create safer and more inclusive social VR environments. Thanks to Christopher Lafayette and GatherVerse for amplifying this project! #thetrollproject

17

6 Comments