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.
Table of Contents
Foreword xxiii
Introduction xxv
Chapter 1 The Current State of Women of Color in Tech 1
The Realities 1
What’s Going On? 3
Early Childhood 4
Primary, Middle, and High School 5
College 6
The Workplace 8
Why You Should Be Here 10
My Journey to Tech 10
It’s (Slowly) Getting Better 12
Support 13
Number of Job Opportunities 14
Pay 15
It’s Fun 15
Opportunities to Help Others 16
We Need You! 16
Tech Career Misconceptions 17
Tech Careers Require Constant, Hands-On Programming 18
All Tech Careers Require a Four-Year Degree 18
All Tech Careers Require Studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Another Specific Field 18
All Tech Careers Pay a Ton of Money 19
Tech Careers Exist Only at Top Tech Companies 20
Tech Careers Are Only for People with Certain Backgrounds, Grades, Etc. 21
Creating a Blueprint 25
Summary 26
Chapter 2 The Different Flavors of Tech Careers 27
Business Analysis 29
What They Do 29
Top Skills Needed 31
Educational Requirements 31
For Additional Information 32
Consulting 32
What They Do 33
Top Skills Needed 34
Educational Requirements 35
For Additional Information 35
Computer Networking 36
What They Do 37
Top Skills 37
Educational Requirements 38
For Additional Information 38
Data Science 39
What They Do 40
Top Skills 40
Educational Requirements 41
For Additional Information 41
Information Security 42
What They Do 42
Top Skills 44
Educational Requirements 44
For Additional Information 45
Product Management 45
What They Do 46
Top Skills 46
Educational Requirements 47
For Additional Information 47
Project Management 47
What They Do 48
Top Skills 49
Educational Requirements 49
For Additional Information 50
Software Development and Engineering 50
What They Do 51
Top Skills 52
Educational Requirements 53
For Additional Information 53
Technical Sales 53
What They Do 54
Top Skills 54
Educational Requirements 55
For Additional Information 55
Technical Support 55
What They Do 56
Top Skills 56
Educational Requirements 57
For Additional Information 57
User Experience Design 57
What They Do 58
Top Skills 59
Educational Requirements 60
For Additional Information 60
Web Design 60
What They Do 61
Top Skills 61
Educational Requirements 61
For Additional Information 62
Where Do You Fit In? 62
What Are Your Strengths and Your Weaknesses? 62
What Do You Value? 63
What Are Your Interests? 65
Summary 65
Chapter 3 Industry and Other Options 67
Advertising and Marketing 68
Civics and Public Interest 69
Construction and Manufacturing 71
Education 73
Finance 75
Healthcare 77
The US Government 79
On Your Own: Entrepreneurism 82
What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur 83
Getting Started 84
Research Your Market 84
Write a (Solid) Business Plan 85
Estimate Initial Costs 86
Determine Sources of Initial Funding 86
Keep Going or Stop? 88
Summary 89
Chapter 4 Emerging Technologies 91
What is an Emerging Technology? 91
The Future of Work 92
Artificial Intelligence 93
The Difference Between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning 94
Why Does It Matter? 95
Where Can I Learn More? 96
Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality 97
Why Does It Matter? 98
Where Can I Learn More? 99
Blockchain 99
Why Does It Matter? 101
Where Can I Learn More? 102
Cloud Computing 102
Service Models 104
Deployment Models 106
Why Does It Matter? 106
Where Can I Learn More? 107
Internet of Things 108
Why Does It Matter? 109
Where Can I Learn More? 110
3D Printing 110
Why Does It Matter? 111
Where Can I Learn More? 112
Keeping Up with Technology Trends 112
Information Sources 113
Tools 114
Summary 115
Chapter 5 Building Your Network 117
The Importance of Building Your Network 117
Where to Network 119
Mentoring 121
Where to Find Mentors 121
Blueprints for a Beneficial Mentoring Relationship 121
You’ve Found a Mentor - Now What? 124
Listen, This Isn’t Working Out 125
You Need a Sponsor, Not a Mentor 126
Overcoming Social Anxiety 127
Strengthening Your Connections 129
Summary 130
Chapter 6 Building Your Skills 131
Skills Gap Analysis: Where Do You Need to Be? 131
Exception 1 133
Exception 2 133
Formal Education (Is It Worth It?) 133
Trade Schools 135
Massive Online Open Courses 137
Boot Camps 138
Hackathons 139
Conferences and Seminars 140
Internships, Externships, and Co-ops 141
Volunteering 143
Certifications 144
Do You Need Certification? 145
How to Pay for Skills Training 146
Loans 146
Student Loans 146
Personal Loans 147
Credit and Charge Cards 147
Use Credit Responsibly and Sparingly 148
Grants and Scholarships 148
Tuition Reimbursement 149
Deferred Tuition Plans and Income Share Agreements 150
Crowdfunding 151
Summary 152
Chapter 7 Demonstrating Your Skills 153
Building Your Resume(s) 153
Chronological 154
Functional 155
Combination 156
What Every Resume Must Have 157
The Heading 158
The Body 158
What You Can Leave Out 162
First Impressions Matter 165
Additional Tips and Resources for Resume Writing 166
LinkedIn 169
The Difference between LinkedIn and Your Resume 170
Creating a LinkedIn Profile 171
Essential Elements of a LinkedIn Profile 171
Additional LinkedIn Tips 174
Writing 175
Online Publishing Platforms 175
Academic and Professional Journals 176
Public Speaking 177
Public Speaking Misconceptions 178
Public Speaking Basics 178
Where to Find Speaking Opportunities 180
Other Creative Ways to Show What You Know 181
GitHub 181
Personal Websites 182
Building Your Interviewing Skills 184
Becoming a Better Interviewee 185
Summary 187
Chapter 8 Job Offers and Negotiating Compensation 189
A Cautionary Tale (or, Don’t Do This!) 189
Understanding Compensation and Salary 191
Compensation 191
Salary 192
The Job Offer Process 193
Evaluating a Job Offer 194
Do You Like the Job and This Company? 195
Are Your “Must Haves” Addressed? 196
Is the Salary Offered Fair? 197
Why Negotiate Your Job Offer? 199
More of What You Want, Now 199
Solidify Your Negotiation Skills 199
Show Employers You Know Your Value 199
There Are Few Downsides to Asking 199
You May Not Get as Much Later 200
You’ll Hurt Your Finances in the Long Run 201
Preparing to Negotiate 201
Negotiation Dos and Don’ts 202
You Didn’t Negotiate! Is It Too Late? 205
Additional Resources 205
Final Thoughts - It’s Okay to Want (and Ask for) Money 206
Summary 207
Chapter 9 When Times Get Tough 209
The Need for Grid 209
The Problem with “Twice as Good” 212
Failure 213
Impostor Syndrome 216
Bias 218
Tokenism and Being “The Only” 221
Bullying 222
Lack of Support and Help 223
The Importance of Mental Health 226
Allies and When They Fall Short 228
The Need for Allyship 228
Allies Are Human 229
Summary 230
Chapter 10 The Importance and Joy of Giving Back 233
Why Give Back 233
You Make a Difference 233
Helping Others See and Know What’s Possible 234
Great Rewards 235
Building Relationships 237
Coping with a Bad Day 237
You’ve Been in Their Shoes 238
How to Give Back 239
Summary 241
Index 243
