Women of Color in Tech : A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators

"Read this book to help bring to life your vision of a future in tech. With practical advice and inspiring stories, you’ll develop the right tools and the right mindset. Whether you’re just considering going into tech or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will show you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed."--;The current state of women of color in tech -- The different flavors of tech careers -- Industry and other options -- Emerging technologies -- Building your network -- Building your skills -- Demonstrating your skills -- Job offers and negotiating compensation -- When times get tough -- The importance and joy of giving back. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 About the Author......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Contents at a Glance......Page 15 Contents......Page 17 Foreword......Page 25 Introduction......Page 27 The Realities......Page 31 What’s Going On?......Page 33 Early Childhood......Page 34 Primary, Middle, and High School......Page 35 College......Page 36 The Workplace......Page 38 My Journey to Tech......Page 40 It’s (Slowly) Getting Better......Page 42 Support......Page 43 Number of Job Opportunities......Page 44 It’s Fun......Page 45 We Need You!......Page 46 Tech Career Misconceptions......Page 47 All Tech Careers Require Studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Another Specific Field......Page 48 All Tech Careers Pay a Ton of Money......Page 49 Tech Careers Exist Only at Top Tech Companies......Page 50 Tech Careers Are Only for People with Certain Backgrounds, Grades, Etc.......Page 51 Creating a Blueprint......Page 55 Summary......Page 56 Chapter 2: The Different Flavors of Tech Careers......Page 57 What They Do......Page 59 Educational Requirements......Page 61 Consulting......Page 62 What They Do......Page 63 Top Skills Needed......Page 64 For Additional Information......Page 65 Computer Networking......Page 66 Top Skills......Page 67 For Additional Information......Page 68 Data Science......Page 69 Top Skills......Page 70 For Additional Information......Page 71 What They Do......Page 72 Educational Requirements......Page 74 Product Management......Page 75 Top Skills......Page 76 Project Management......Page 77 What They Do......Page 78 Educational Requirements......Page 79 Software Development and Engineering......Page 80 What They Do......Page 81 Top Skills......Page 82 Technical Sales......Page 83 Top Skills......Page 84 Technical Support......Page 85 Top Skills......Page 86 User Experience Design......Page 87 What They Do......Page 88 Top Skills......Page 89 Web Design......Page 90 Educational Requirements......Page 91 What Are Your Strengths and Your Weaknesses?......Page 92 What Do You Value?......Page 93 Summary......Page 95 Chapter 3: Industry and Other Options......Page 97 Advertising and Marketing......Page 98 Civics and Public Interest......Page 99 Construction and Manufacturing......Page 101 Education......Page 103 Finance......Page 105 Healthcare......Page 107 The US Government......Page 109 On Your Own: Entrepreneurism......Page 112 What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur......Page 113 Research Your Market......Page 114 Write a (Solid) Business Plan......Page 115 Determine Sources of Initial Funding......Page 116 Keep Going or Stop?......Page 118 Summary......Page 119 What Is an Emerging Technology?......Page 121 The Future of Work......Page 122 Artificial Intelligence......Page 123 The Difference Between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning......Page 124 Why Does It Matter?......Page 125 Where Can I Learn More?......Page 126 Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality......Page 127 Why Does It Matter?......Page 128 Blockchain......Page 129 Why Does It Matter?......Page 131 Cloud Computing......Page 132 Service Models......Page 134 Why Does It Matter?......Page 136 Where Can I Learn More?......Page 137 Internet of Things......Page 138 Why Does It Matter?......Page 139 3D Printing......Page 140 Why Does It Matter?......Page 141 Keeping Up with Technology Trends......Page 142 Information Sources......Page 143 Tools......Page 144 Summary......Page 145 The Importance of Building Your Network......Page 147 Where to Network......Page 149 Blueprints for a Beneficial Mentoring Relationship......Page 151 You’ve Found a Mentor—Now What?......Page 154 Listen, This Isn’t Working Out......Page 155 You Need a Sponsor, Not a Mentor......Page 156 Overcoming Social Anxiety......Page 157 Strengthening Your Connections......Page 159 Summary......Page 160 Skills Gap Analysis: Where Do You Need to Be?......Page 161 Formal Education (Is It Worth It?)......Page 163 Trade Schools......Page 165 Massive Online Open Courses......Page 167 Boot Camps......Page 168 Hackathons......Page 169 Conferences and Seminars......Page 170 Internships, Externships, and Co-ops......Page 171 Volunteering......Page 173 Certifications......Page 174 Do You Need Certification?......Page 175 Student Loans......Page 176 Credit and Charge Cards......Page 177 Grants and Scholarships......Page 178 Tuition Reimbursement......Page 179 Deferred Tuition Plans and Income Share Agreements......Page 180 Crowdfunding......Page 181 Summary......Page 182 Building Your Resume(s)......Page 183 Chronological......Page 184 Functional......Page 185 Combination......Page 186 What Every Resume Must Have......Page 187 The Body......Page 188 What You Can Leave Out......Page 192 First Impressions Matter......Page 195 Additional Tips and Resources for Resume Writing......Page 196 LinkedIn......Page 199 The Difference between LinkedIn and Your Resume......Page 200 Essential Elements of a LinkedIn Profile......Page 201 Additional LinkedIn Tips......Page 204 Online Publishing Platforms......Page 205 Academic and Professional Journals......Page 206 Public Speaking......Page 207 Public Speaking Basics......Page 208 Where to Find Speaking Opportunities......Page 210 GitHub......Page 211 Personal Websites......Page 212 Building Your Interviewing Skills......Page 214 Becoming a Better Interviewee......Page 215 Summary......Page 217 A Cautionary Tale (or, Don’t Do This!)......Page 219 Compensation......Page 221 Salary......Page 222 The Job Offer Process......Page 223 Evaluating a Job Offer......Page 224 Do You Like the Job and This Company?......Page 225 Are Your “Must Haves” Addressed?......Page 226 Is the Salary Offered Fair?......Page 227 There Are Few Downsides to Asking......Page 229 You May Not Get as Much Later......Page 230 Preparing to Negotiate......Page 231 Negotiation Dos and Don’ts......Page 232 Additional Resources......Page 235 Final Thoughts—It’s Okay to Want (and Ask for) Money......Page 236 Summary......Page 237 The Need for Grit......Page 239 The Problem with “Twice as Good”......Page 242 Failure......Page 243 Impostor Syndrome......Page 246 Bias......Page 248 Tokenism and Being “The Only”......Page 251 Bullying......Page 252 Lack of Support and Help......Page 253 The Importance of Mental Health......Page 256 The Need for Allyship......Page 258 Allies Are Human......Page 259 Summary......Page 260 You Make a Difference......Page 263 Helping Others See and Know What’s Possible......Page 264 Great Rewards......Page 265 Coping with a Bad Day......Page 267 You’ve Been in Their Shoes......Page 268 How to Give Back......Page 269 Summary......Page 271 Index......Page 273 EULA......Page 290 Highly Commended International Business Book from the 2021 Business Book Awards Nonfiction Book Awards Silver Winner from the Nonfiction Authors Association Winner of CompTIA's 2020 Diversity Technology Leader Spotlight Award Winner of a Technology Rising Star Award from the 2020 Women of Color in STEM Conference Break through barriers to achieve a rewarding future in tech Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators will help you overcome the obstacles that often prevent women of color from pursuing and staying in tech careers. Contrary to popular belief, tech careers are diverse and fun—and they go far beyond just coding. This book will show you that today's tech careers are incredibly dynamic, and you'll learn how your soft skills—communication, public speaking, networking—can help you succeed in tech. This book will guide you through the process of cultivating strong relationships and building a network that will get you were you want to be. You'll learn to identify a strong, knowledgeable support network that you can rely on for guidance or mentorship. This step is crucial in getting young women of color into tech careers and keeping them there. Build your professional network to get the guidance you need Find a mentor who understands your goals and your struggles Overcome negativity and stay motivated through difficult times Identify and develop the soft skills that you need to get ahead in tech Read this book to help bring to life your vision of a future in tech. With practical advice and inspiring stories, you'll develop the right tools and the right mindset. Whether you're just considering going into tech or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will show you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed. Break through barriers to achieve a rewarding future in tech Nonfiction Book Awards Silver Winner from the Nonfiction Authors Association Winner of CompTIA's 2020 Diversity Technology Leader Spotlight Award Winner of a Technology Rising Star Award from the 2020 Women of Color in STEM Conference Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators will help you overcome the obstacles that often prevent women of color from pursuing and staying in tech careers. Contrary to popular belief, tech careers are diverse and fun--and they go far beyond just coding. This book will show you that today's tech careers are incredibly dynamic, and you'll learn how your soft skills--communication, public speaking, networking--can help you succeed in tech. This book will guide you through the process of cultivating strong relationships and building a network that will get you were you want to be. You'll learn to identify a strong, knowledgeable support network that you can rely on for guidance or mentorship. This step is crucial in getting young women of color into tech careers and keeping them there. Build your professional network to get the guidance you need Find a mentor who understands your goals and your struggles Overcome negativity and stay motivated through difficult times Identify and develop the soft skills that you need to get ahead in tech Read this book to help bring to life your vision of a future in tech. With practical advice and inspiring stories, you'll develop the right tools and the right mindset. Whether you're just considering going into tech or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will show you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed

Break through barriers to achieve a rewarding future in tech

Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators will help you overcome the obstacles that often prevent women of color from pursuing and staying in tech careers. Contrary to popular belief, tech careers are diverse and fun--and they go far beyond just coding. This book will show you that today’s tech careers are incredibly dynamic, and you’ll learn how your soft skills--communication, public speaking, networking--can help you succeed in tech.

This book will guide you through the process of cultivating strong relationships and building a network that will get you were you want to be. You’ll learn to identify a strong, knowledgeable support network that you can rely on for guidance or mentorship. This step is crucial in getting young women of color into tech careers and keeping them there.

• Build your professional network to get the guidance you need
• Find a mentor who understands your goals and your struggles
• Overcome negativity and stay motivated through difficult times
• Identify and develop the soft skills that you need to get ahead in tech

Read this book to help bring to life your vision of a future in tech. With practical advice and inspiring stories, you’ll develop the right tools and the right mindset. Whether you’re just considering going into tech or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will show you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed.

"Read this book to help bring to life your vision of a future in tech. With practical advice and inspiring stories, you'll develop the right tools and the right mindset. Whether you're just considering going into tech or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will show you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed."-- Provided by publisher