… and How it Has Been Costing Me Millions In Opportunities

There was a time I wanted to change the world. I tried to change the tech industry. Now I just want to change my thinking. I have struggled with depression on and off since 2011 that I’m aware of. My peak depression level came early 2013 after moving from Raleigh, NC to San Francisco. The move didn’t cause my depression, but the lack of self-awareness that I was even depressed almost killed me. As an entrepreneur, one of the most successful behaviors you can develop is the skill of…

The first article I wrote in 2017 was on January 2nd. The title was “I felt like 💩 in 2016 and What I’m Going To Do About It.” The post described how I was out of shape and it was time to make a significant life change. Looking back at 2017, I did.

I started off 2017 like many people with a goal of losing weight and getting in shape. My last weigh-in before my end of the year vacation, the scale says 183 lbs. That means I’m minus 22 pounds from weighing in at 205 in April 2017. In…

On January 2nd of 2017, I like many people wrote an article about my pledge to lose weight and get in shape. My post was called “I felt like 💩 in 2016 and What I’m Going To Do About It”. After the article, I worked out regularly for the next month and a half. In February I lost almost four pounds. Then March came. I went back to my old sad routine. I was getting angry and was well aware that I needed to make a massive mindset shift and change my eating habits. March is also my birthday month…

Originally posted on New America Weekly Edition 171

The flurry of news — from open letters, to apologies, to media exclusives — about racial and gender imbalances in Silicon Valley, the self-proclaimed tech innovation capital of the world, has sent shockwaves across the community. In June, for instance, the New York Times ran a story that shone a light on the corrosive culture of sexual harassment in the tech startup scene. This reality has affected the community’s workforce: Many women and minority entrepreneurs now seem to be turning away from Silicon Valley, launching startups away from the epicenter of innovation.

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When the tech industry talks about tech startups and entrepreneurs, too often the narrative revolves around Bay Area companies such as Instagram, Uber and Twitter. As technology continues to democratize opportunities and innovation, however, many successful tech entrepreneurs are now emerging outside Silicon Valley or the Bay Area. Entrepreneurs are building startups in cities such as Detroit, Seattle, Atlanta and Austin. Each of these cities has an emerging entrepreneurship ecosystem of tech hubs, accelerators, and founders. But all too often, alternative narratives are overlooked in favor of Silicon Valley giants.

Regardless of which location founders call home, there is also…

With the growing need for inclusion across the world tech hubs are instrumental to empowering innovation and diverse entrepreneurship. But how? Without a playbook to create inclusive cultures or best practices, tech hubs and entrepreneurship communities continue to ask, “Where do I start?” or “How do I create an inclusive culture?”

Based on extensive research and years of experience Melinda Briana Epler and Wayne Sutton, founders of Change Catalyst have partnered with Women Techmakers, Google’s global program supporting women in technology, to launch a six-part video and toolkit series on “Creating Inclusive Tech Hubs.”

The six-part series includes comprehensive PDF…

During President Obama eight years of being President of the United States of America I had the opportunity to visit the White House three times. Each time was related to work I’ve been doing to create a diverse and inclusive tech culture. But the journey began eight years ago.

Like many African-Americans before my generation if you would have told me I would see a black president in my lifetime I would not have believed you. Growing up as a black man from a small town, Teachey, NC with a population of 200, if you would have told me I…

I take breaks to work alone. I prefer headphones, tea, and a coffee shop. If you need to talk, ping me on Slack, DM me on Twitter, or FB message Me. Text me if you have my number which is close friends. Emails give me anxiety. The above is my preference as an introvert.

During the day too many meetings drive me crazy. After a couple of back to back meetings, I’ll take a walk or a break. Please don’t touch me to get my attention. If I’m having a rough introvert day, I’ll work out of a nearby coffee…