“As long as you’re pursuing opportunities to grow but not sacrificing your values, you’ll always find your way. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet people who believe in you along the way. ”
How did we meet?
I started working with Marichae a few months ago when she joined the same team that I was on. From our first interaction during her interview panel, I knew she had an energy that I vibed with. We share the same affinity of music and I’ve loved having the experience of being surrounded by someone like her. Her confidence is infectious.
IG: @marichaec
MARICHAE COLEMAN
Marichae is a Las Vegas native currently living in Brooklyn, New York. An always-aspiring creative and storyteller with a background in event management, partnerships, and partner marketing, she currently works as a Platform Partnerships Manager at Adobe supporting Creative Cloud developers through extensibility platform initiatives that bring Adobe’s mission of Creativity for All to life.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: The biggest challenge is having to advocate for yourself even when you’re TIRED. I’m reminded almost every day that this country does not value me. There are so many areas of my life where I have to advocate for myself as is, it’s that much more exhausting the more I have to bring that energy to work. The biggest opportunity is being reminded of how strong you are. There’s an enormous pressure that comes with knowing that by advocating for yourself you advocate for generations of women that come after you, but there is something beautiful about amplifying and continuing on the legacy of strong women before you. Women literally make history every day. When I look back on my most challenging days, I can recognize them as part of my history.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: I’m still really defining what my craft is, but I’ve always been passionate about connecting and supporting creators, musicians specifically. I graduated from college with a degree in Hospitality focused on events, interned with LiveNation during their inaugural Las Rageous music festival, and through my experience at UNLV, I started working with the Life is Beautiful festival. LIB is a festival that really celebrates the revitalization of DTLV; there’s always a great music line-up but also comedy stages, food from some of the best chefs and restaurants, the Blue Man Group walks around, insane art installations. Joseph Gordon Levitt filmed his podcast during the festival a few years ago with a live audience.
I’ve been reading Elaine Aron’s The Highly Sensitive Person and really understanding how sensitivity can be my superpower. I hope I can make musicians feel seen and understood through their music and community.
Q: It’s been such a complicated and tumultuous time in the world for a variety of reasons. How have you been taking care of your mind and soul? What have you learned about yourself?
A: Honestly, I don’t always do a good job of taking care of myself. I’ve learned that, first and foremost, it’s an ongoing and continuous effort. There’s no “once I do this, I’ll be this.” I am in constant need of intentional care. I’ve been using the WHOOP fitness band to help me better monitor my health. I have moved and traveled a lot in the past few years, which I consider the excuse that has led to me breaking my routines, but these are my baselines:
- Meditation: I’m in a trial for Open after using Headspace for a couple of years. If I don’t use both to some degree, I think I’ll convert to open.
- Fitness: My favorite workouts are boxing and kettlebell training; I also enjoy running more for the mental health benefits.
- Music: I own three pairs of headphones because I typically have an ear in throughout the entire day and I can’t risk them all ever being dead at the same time. There is no better way to start my morning right now than performing the SOUR album in my bedroom.
- Marvel movies: They’re my comfort blankets. Especially the first Captain America, Age of Ultron, and Infinity War.
Q: Breaking into tech isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t linear, especially for people of color. What has your journey looked like? What has it taught you?
A: In the past 3 years, I’ve lived in 3 different cities. My first tech role was at a start-up in San Francisco that got acquired 3 months after I started. A third of our team was let go, but I was kept on. I had three different managers before leaving the company. I moved to New York and two months into my new role, I lost my manager again. In every position I’ve had since college, I ended up reporting to a middle-aged white man with a VP title (and great reputation amongst their team).
I was born and raised in Vegas, so I actually majored in Hospitality. My first job out of school was a lot of traveling, coordinating hotel stay and events for companies like Google and Facebook, and wholesale entertainment bookings for Vegas shows. I got to attend some amazing conferences including CES, travel to Chicago and New York for the first time, stay at nice hotels and eat 5-star meals. I wanted to pivot from traditional Hospitality and do something more in the music scene. When I was turned down after interviewing for my “dream job” (I no longer dream of labor), I remember telling myself “if I can’t get this job here, there’s nothing left for me in Vegas. I have to figure out something else and it might as well be somewhere else.” I interviewed for the start-up role in SF and for a corporate bookings coordinator position for SXSW in Austin. I love SXSW, but thank goodness I ended up in SF. Moving to New York was more about wanting a cultural change. There are so many people who look like me here.
I’ve learned that although breaking into tech isn’t easy, as long as you’re pursuing opportunities to grow but not sacrificing your values, you’ll always find your way. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet people who believe in you along the way.
“It took accumulating more experience and confidence for me to shed these feelings of self-doubt, and to channel that into building a better understanding of what my strengths and weaknesses are.”
How did we meet?
I met Amanda in-person for the first time earlier this year and weirdly enough, the first conversation we had felt like we’ve known each other for years. She had such a chill energy about her and after getting to know her, we discovered we had lots in common. It’s been so rewarding seeing her grow professionally.
IG: @brothermandi1
AMANDA HUANG
Amanda Huang is a Taiwanese-American developer based in San Francisco. She received her B.A. from Claremont McKenna College, where she studied Computer Science and Economics. Currently, she is a Developer Advocate for the Creative Cloud Platform and Ecosystem team at Adobe. In this role, she ensures the journey for developers building on top of Creative Cloud products is intuitive and delightful. Outside of work, she loves reading about history and playing tennis.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: In my opinion, the biggest challenge is combating the imposter syndrome that comes with feeling underrepresented in your field. Women are still greatly underrepresented at tech companies, across all levels but especially in engineering and leadership roles, and it’s hard to not let this distort your perception of what success looks like in the industry. However, in the face of many events going virtual, I think the biggest opportunity is more minorities to take advantage of these events to network and meet people who understand and empathize with your identities. I’ve joined fantastic organizations both at work and outside work that help curate a sense of community.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: Outside of school and internships, I went to several hackathons by myself: forming random teams with like-minded people and building awesome projects while learning off others. This hands-on experience gave me the confidence to start building my own projects, and helped me discover my passion for open-source technologies. It taught me that there are so many resources online, and that you can learn something from everyone around you. I want to use my skills to help lower the barrier of entry for those interesting in developing their ideas.
Q: It's been such a complicated and tumultuous time in the world for a variety of reasons. How have you been taking care of your mind and soul? What have you learned about yourself?
A: Like many others, the pandemic has made it harder to see family and loved ones as much as I’d like. I’ve had to learn to be more intentional with self-care and making time to be active. Working out helps me take my mind off the daily stressors, and I’m able to just focus on how my body is feeling.
Q: Breaking into tech isn't easy, and it certainly isn't linear, especially for people of color. What has your journey looked like? What has it taught you?
A: I hadn’t considered working in tech until I started college, and I didn’t start to code until my first computer science class. I questioned my decision to pursue engineering a lot in the beginning, but I found the work challenging but rewarding. It took accumulating more experience and confidence for me to shed these feelings of self-doubt, and to channel that into building a better understanding of what my strengths and weaknesses are. I learned to trust my gut when it comes to knowing what it is that makes me feel fulfilled.
“I owe that to my belief early in my career that even though I could not see it at the time, there was a role out there for me that utilized my professional skills and my personal interests.”
How did we meet?
I met Bria through our shared involvement in Adobe’s Creative Cloud Product Representation and Equality team. The first call we were on together was a memorable one for me. She spoke with such confidence and clarity that I knew she was someone I wanted to know. It’s been the best experience seeing her move with intent within the company and (patiently) push for real change.
IG: @briaismynameoh
BRIA ALEXANDER
Bria Alexander is a Senior Design Program Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) consultant, and an International Speaker, Facilitator, and Interviewer. She currently supports Unified Experience and Brand Experience Programs within Adobe’s Design organization, where she also leads the San Jose site of the Black Employee network and the Creative Cloud Product Representation and Equality team. Outside of her professional commitments, Bria enjoys travel, live music, and a great bottle of wine.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in journalism?
A: The biggest challenge to me is a lack of understanding of what it is like to be the only person of color in the majority of the professional spaces I occupy. It is challenging to be the “only” – it is easy to be misunderstood and difficult to be yourself in those environments. On the flip side, the biggest opportunity I think is the outsized impact I feel minorities can bring to organizations. Because there often so few minorities in the tech industries, we are able to bring perspectives that align with our life experiences that are often not considered on first pass. The importance of diverse perspectives has never been louder in our industry. Now is the time to lean in.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: I started working on my craft through natural interest. It was something I wanted to try, so I tried it and found that I had a talent for it. I hope to inspire others to do exactly what they feel like doing, regardless of how practical it is , or how well (or not well!) it aligns with your other goals. Life is meant to be lived, do all the things you’ve ever wanted to do, and never forget that you can change your mind at any time.
Q: It's been such a complicated and tumultuous time in the world for a variety of reasons. How have you been taking care of your mind and soul? What have you learned about yourself?
A: The most effective way I’ve taken care of my mind and soul these past few years is taking a break, both professionally and personally. In 2020 I took the first 2 week vacation of my career, and headed to the mountains. Since then, I try to prioritize an extended break every year. I’ve learned that I am far more productive, inspired and vision oriented, when I have the space to rest, and feel rested.
Q: Breaking into tech isn't easy, and it certainly isn't linear, especially for people of color. What has your journey looked like? What has it taught you?
A: That is so true! Breaking into tech is not easy and no one person’s path is the same. I did an interview with my team at Adobe about this topic just last year. What I shared then is that where you start isn’t where you end up. I started my career in sales enablement – and I transitioned to Design Program Management with an emphasis on brand and UX experiences. I am happier than I have ever been with my current role and my career trajectory. I feel I owe that to my belief early in my career that even though I could not see it at the time, there was a role out there for me that utilized my professional skills and my personal interests.
“I look back at some of the pivots I’ve made in my career and while I thought they were “wrong” decisions at the time, every decision was a learning moment and growth opportunity.
”
How did we meet?
I recently met Angie at a team offsite and we instantly clicked. Seeing another fellow Latina in that room was a big deal for me, especially since I’ve been the only one for so long. Angie is such a bright and kind soul and I’ve loved getting to know and learn from her.
LinkedIn: Here
ANGIE BRYANT
I grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, in a tiny farming community called Orange Cove with a population of less than 5,000 mostly Mexican immigrants and farmworkers. School and good grades were my tickets out, and while attending the university at Cal State Fresno, I got the advertising/marketing bug and got my foot in the door as a receptionist and media buyer at a regional advertising agency. From my early start of answering phones, I eventually moved on to hold various marketing, product, and partnership roles at companies such as Dish Network, LeapFrog, Logitech, Netflix, and Adobe.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: My biggest challenge and biggest opportunity are one in the same, in that I didn’t see (and unfortunately still don’t see) a lot of people who “look” like me. And by “look”, I don’t mean just physically but also from a cultural and background perspective. Many of my peers and colleagues had degrees from prestigious universities and were well traveled. Early on in my career I was intimidated by this stark difference in upbringing and experience, but later I realized that these differences could also be advantages in that I could bring diversity of thought and perspective to our business challenges and opportunities. This is the opportunity that I see in tech moving forward, that education, experience and “fit” shouldn’t be the only factors when interviewing potential candidates but creative thinking, diverse thought and inclusion could also be key and important differentiators. Some of the smartest, most creative people I know (read: my dad) never set foot in a classroom.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: I enjoy unlocking opportunities and partnerships that deliver tremendous value to our business, our partners’ business and, more importantly, our joint users/customers. Working in business development has taught me that negotiating to “win” isn’t always the right outcome, but partnering to unlock opportunities where the customer wins and, ultimately, customer satisfaction, engagement and retention, which translates to growth and revenue, will be wins our companies reap in the end.
Q: It's been such a complicated and tumultuous time in the world for a variety of reasons. How have you been taking care of your mind and soul? What have you learned about yourself?
A: I put myself first and while that may sound selfish and self-centered, I realize that I won’t be any good to anyone in my life including my husband, children, extended family, work, and partners if I am not at my best. Being at my best means making time for exercise and self-care, as well as continual learning and increasing my skills, either work skills or life skills. What I learned during these difficult years is that growth never stops, and learning is a gift that you can give yourself. I started studying horticulture last year and it’s expanded my brain and how I think and process so much more than I could have ever thought possible when I signed up for the class.
Q: Breaking into tech isn't easy, and it certainly isn't linear, especially for people of color. What has your journey looked like? What has it taught you?
A: That the journey is meandering and that each decision you make about your career is a step forward…always. I look back at some of the pivots I’ve made in my career and while I thought they were “wrong” decisions at the time, every decision was a learning moment and growth opportunity. And that there is no substitute for hustle...and ganas. I’m proud of the journey I’m on and am excited to see where the road takes me next.
“I had a really specific goal in mind when I was looking for a role – something that I could make a tangible impact in, where I could go and expand my horizons and learning opportunities. ”
How did we meet?
I met Nana about a year ago when she joined our team as a college grad. I’ve absolutely loved seeing her grow, professionally and personally, and come into her own. She’s sharp, witty, and she’s taught me so much about advocating for what you want.
IG: @nana_yoshimura
TikTok: @goodvibesonlyeet
NANA YOSHIMURA
My name is Nana, and I am currently on Adobe’s Creative Cloud Extensibility team working on products and partnerships with developers. I believe in the power of strong mission statements, and I enjoy working in creative spaces with driven individuals making measurable impacts. I grew up in Japan, New York, and Brazil, and throughout my years living abroad, I’ve experienced, first-hand, the importance of diversity and representation. I’m excited to continue paving the space for POC in the tech space.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: In my eyes, challenges are opportunities for growth. Representation in tech is often overlooked, however, it is something that I believe is critical to creating the next generation of inclusive technology. For me, the biggest challenge has been the lack of resources and support that you may have available to you when you are just starting off – for instance, you may have to invest more time into building your network, finding mentors that support you and your career, and peers that inspire you to take on new opportunities. On the flip side, the biggest opportunity here is that you get to pave your own path without being anchored by set precedents. The only limitation is what you set for yourself, and I’d like to believe that it’s boundless.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: I always found joy in the aspect of storytelling – whether it means in business settings, building relationships with others, or creating short-form video content for the world to see. I grew up learning that storytelling, like many other modes of medium, is not as linear as it may seem – and there is always an opportunity to redefine the norm. I find beauty in unlocking my ability to communicate different worldviews, and building rapport around an idea, vision, or product. With my craft, I hope to impact others through inspiration and insight.
Q: It's been such a complicated and tumultuous time in the world for a variety of reasons. How have you been taking care of your mind and soul? What have you learned about yourself?
A: I’ve learned it the hard way to take care of myself – both physically and mentally. Health is wealth (!) and it comes before anything. I have made a promise to myself to never sacrifice long-term health and actually listen to my body. For me, balance is really important. I start by making sure I’m getting enough sleep, I am getting some exercise and sun, and making conscious choices about my food. I also learned that having your space outside of work is really important – whether that means spending time going on trips with friends, pursuing your passion, and making a positive impact in means that makes sense to you.
Q: Breaking into tech isn't easy, and it certainly isn't linear, especially for people of color. What has your journey looked like? What has it taught you?
A: Breaking into tech isn’t as easy as it seems, at all! For me, I had a really specific goal in mind when I was looking for a role – something that I could make a tangible impact in, where I could go and expand my horizons and learning opportunities. A lot of mentors have helped me get to where I am today, from alumni to second and third-degree connections on LinkedIn. It taught me that it is important to be truly passionate and curious – and find people that can vouch for you. Breaking into tech is all about finding people who believe in you and your growth potential.