Tiffany Black
Director of Influencer Engagement at Ancestry.com
Tiffany is the Director of Influencer Engagement at Ancestry.com. She helped restart the Black Employees at eBay (BEE) because if you can’t find your tribe, you must build it. She worked as a journalist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Inc magazine, and CBS Sports before transitioning in to tech marketing. She is a North Jersey-born New Yorker, bred at UNC Chapel Hill and transplanted to the Bay. Connect with Tiffany on Twitter.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced, and how did you get through it?
I was once told, don’t make this “diversity thing” become 50% of your job. I am diverse, so diversity is not about my job but about who I am and what I bring to any company I work for. I chose to move on to another career opportunity making sure my diversity was valued just as much as my skills and experience.
What’s something you’ve done that you’re really proud of?
I grew up in the projects and was labeled a hood prodigy. Drug dealers used to say, don’t mess with her, she’s going to make it out of here. So I was supported and uplifted by not only my family and teachers, but by the people in my neighborhood. So I’m proud to be an example of “started from the bottom, now I’m here.” Because it really did take a village for me to be where I am today.
What’s something that’s been on your mind this Black History Month?
I am a huge advocate for prisoners’ rights and education. The prison population is overwhelmingly people of color. So I’m always thinking of what more can I do to help our incarcerated brothers and sisters. I volunteer with the Prisoners Literature Project in Berkeley, and I’m always recruiting more people to join me. Reading and responding to letters from prisoners keeps me humbled, motivated and focused.
