Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring

the Next Generation of Technology Innovators

by Susanne Tedrick

Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 18 yrs +, 288 pages

Genre: Business, Careers, Technology

Publisher: Wiley

Release date: April 2020

Synopsis

Tech industry jobs are growing fast, offering great pay, career growth and learning opportunities. Women of color, sadly, have not been able to fully participate in this boom. There are many misconceptions about the tech industry. Misconceptions can often discourage women of color from pursuing or remaining in technical careers. For example, misconceptions like “tech careers are all about coding ”or “there’s no diversity in tech.”

In reality, tech career opportunities can be diverse, fun, and incredibly dynamic. While there are barriers to overcome, Women of Color in Tech is an indispensable resource for building a rewarding future in tech. Packed with inspiring stories and practical advice, this book shows you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed.

This practical guide will help you develop the blend of knowledge and skills needed for getting into tech—and staying there. Author Susanne Tedrick understands that, for a variety of reasons, young women of color are underrepresented in tech and may not have access to strong support networks or resources to be successful. Using her own experiences transitioning into tech, Susanne offers you real-world guidance on finding knowledgeable mentors, learning the latest industry trends, cultivating strong relationships and more.

If you’re thinking about going into tech, or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will help you build a blueprint for a successful career.

• Understand the reality of tech today, not misconceptions.
• Learn about the different tech jobs and opportunities that exist, not just coding.
• Gain an understanding of emerging technology areas that will affect jobs, like artificial intelligence, Blockchain and cloud computing.
• Discover traditional and non-traditional education option to get the skills you need.
• Find mentors, build your professional network and get the guidance you need.
• Stay motivated and deal with difficult situations.
• Recognize the importance of giving back to increase diversity and inclusion.

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Guest Post

My Earliest Memory As A Technologist

By Susanne Tedrick

Growing up, my dad loved consumer electronics and technology. He is the main reason how I ended up developing a passion for it. There was one particular incident that he and I had that was not only hilarious but perhaps was a solidification that I was meant to go into technology.

When my dad brought home new gadgets or electronics, I always spent as much time as I could experimenting and playing around with them. Sometimes my fascination would transcend mere curiosity, and I dissembled equipment to see the parts inside and to see how it worked (much to my parents’ chagrin).

One weekend afternoon when I was about 11, my dad’s inner “tinkerer” was awakened, and together, we decided that we would attempt to fix our floor model TV on our own. The unit would turn on and there was sound, but no picture would appear. Mind you, neither of us had any idea where to even begin, we didn’t have an instruction manual – it was like the blind leading the blind. My mother was aware of our plan and didn’t really say anything, she just looked at us with a smile that was half bemused/half knowing disaster would strike, but powerless to stop it.

We opened up the TV and had “deduced” that the unit needed a new fuse. We took the broken one that we had to the local electronics shop, where the person behind the counter seemed just as knowledgeable as we were. He took a quick glance at the broken fuse and gave us what he believed was the right replacement. He rang it up at the cash register, and we were then on our way.

We could barely contain our excitement when we got home. We enthusiastically put the fuse in, plugged the unit in and then turned it on. We saw the unit power up as it normally did, but no picture. Shortly after, we heard a loud pop…. and then next thing you know, a small fire has broken out in the back of the TV. My dad immediately unplugged the unit and got the fire extinguisher to put the fire out. My mother, watching the entire time, had a look of disbelief and amusement across her face.

Now obviously, we had no business at all doing what we did, and it is a small miracle that we didn’t burn our house down that day. But that helped spark my curiosity even more and helped deepen my technology knowledge, rather than deter or scare me off completely. Over time, I would learn that the fuse that we had was not the right one and it wasn’t even the root of the problem. It was the picture tube itself that needed to be completely replaced – we weren’t even close!

This memory is one of my favorites with my dad, but it served as an early precursor to my technology career.

This was such a fascinating read.  I love hearing how people find their passion and it seems like for Susanne it came at an early age with her dad.  I love how her mom knew things probably wouldn’t end well but gave them space to tinker and try and find the answer.

About the Author

Susanne Tedrick is a technical specialist for a Fortune 50 technology company. Fiercely committed to increasing participation of women and people of color in STEM educational and professional opportunities, she is a career mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Initiative and a volunteer workshop technical assistant for Black Girls Code, a nonprofit that empowers girls of color to develop in-demand IT skills and prepare for careers in tech. Susanne was awarded the 2018 CompTIA AITP Rising Star of the Year Award, and nominated for the 2019 CompTIA Advancing Women in Technology Mentorship Guide Award, for her dedication to advancing her career and that of others. Views expressed are those of author Susanne Tedrick and are not endorsed by any of her current or former employers.

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Giveaway

Autographed Copy of WOMEN OF COLOR Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card (USA only) (ends July 17, 2020)

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