#TheTechHustle Podcast 🎙

Backstage with BobbyD: Featuring Ebun Aluko

• BobbyD, D'Hustle and Raymond...don't call him RayRay

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Have you ever felt the exhilarating rush of shattering expectations, both your own and those of others? That's the heartbeat of our latest conversation with Ebun Aluko, a tech prodigy whose journey from the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria to the bustling tech hubs of the United States is nothing short of inspiring. Her story, infused with the Grand Rapids vibe and the richness of Nigerian culture, is a testament to the global influence of tech education and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Transitioning to a career in tech can be as daunting as facing down a packed auditorium, ready to present your first big project. Ebun opens up about navigating the rough waters of imposter syndrome, a voyage familiar to many in the tech industry. With her vivid recount of personal anecdotes and the crucial role of mentorship, we delve into the importance of community support and the confidence-building power of recognizing one's unique contributions. It's a candid look at the power of self-assurance in an ever-changing tech landscape.

Wrapping up our session, we raise a toast to the successes that come with a pinch of 'delusional confidence'—a belief in oneself so strong, it borders on the fantastical. Ebun's ascent from secretary to president of her NSBE chapter and her triumph in landing a coveted internship with Microsoft serve as beacons to all tech aficionados and aspiring professionals. The discussion culminates with a chorus of advice for college students plotting their course toward the future, ensuring this episode is an arsenal of insights for anyone ready to fuel their drive for success.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome, welcome, welcome to our next episode of Backstage with Bobby.

Speaker 2:

D. What up? D-hustle what's?

Speaker 1:

going on, Bobby, when we at player Atlanta.

Speaker 2:

Atlanta, you enjoying the weather. It ain't hot though. Rainy Atlanta. I feel good about it anyway.

Speaker 1:

I guess you even got a little rain on her. She was like yo, it's a little cold out here, it's rainy. I mean, sometimes I don't even understand, man, but we are here to have our special guest pull up to our segment called backstage, with bobby d. Y'all know how I do it. I'm gonna give y'all behind the scenes view for one of my mentees that is killing in the industry out here. So let me give a quick, quick, quick round of applause and bring to the stage is eban aluco.

Speaker 2:

What up, what up look at you feeling good.

Speaker 1:

I told you the music's gonna get it going, hi, hi well, what's up, evan?

Speaker 3:

how you doing? Uh, I'm tired right now I can imagine very interesting couple of days. You know the whole conference and everything, yeah I'm happy, you know grateful that's what's up. That's what's up?

Speaker 1:

and and just to let everybody know. So we're here in atlanta attending the national society for black engineering conference. It's the 50th and 50th big shout out to them. Um, everyone's out here, you know, on a hustle right getting those job opportunities and we'll definitely come to come into that. But one thing I want to kick our story off um tell us where you're from?

Speaker 3:

Okay, so I am originally from Nigeria, shout out. Shout out to Nigeria.

Speaker 2:

What up, what up.

Speaker 3:

But yeah, I'm originally from Nigeria. I grew up in Abuja for like 18 years, so I stayed in the capital city of Nigeria with my parents and my brothers, and then I came here for college and then, you know, living here now.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, you're holding it down out here now Shout out. Is most of your family still back at home?

Speaker 3:

Also, my parents actually live here now.

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's a lot of good. Yeah, congratulations. Do they like the weather?

Speaker 3:

I mean, they don't stay in Atlanta.

Speaker 2:

Oh, okay.

Speaker 1:

So it's kind of like they stay in Texas, so it's warm weather.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything is warm and bigger in Texas. Warm and bigger. It kind of feels like Nigeria actually Does it. Fun fact, nigeria is actually the same size as Texas, like the whole country.

Speaker 2:

Ah, that's a gem. I didn't know that that's a gem.

Speaker 3:

So it kind of feels like Nigeria the same weather, same vibe Is it hot over there in Nigeria. Yeah, it's really hot.

Speaker 2:

Why don't you come to Florida?

Speaker 3:

I'll see, I'll see, I'll see.

Speaker 2:

If you want to get closer to the sun.

Speaker 3:

it's right there. I'll see, I'll see, I'll think about it. See, he has to line that up really good.

Speaker 1:

Is it hot in Africa? Yeah?

Speaker 2:

I've never been, but it's one of my lists. It's on our list.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we're going to be on the continent before they even know, and when we land over there. It's going to be lit. It's going to be lit For sure, for sure. Well, eben and I and this is more or less just to introduce everybody is one of my mentees Her and I have had a chance to have some technical career coach development and some skill set sharpening. That's what I like to say. But in general, I've been following along your journey since we ran into each other. So, uh, very much appreciate you.

Speaker 1:

Let me follow along I'm on the sideline route so, before we even uh, jump more into like our how we met each other and things like that, tell me like your journey into tech, because this is what you're out here, you know supporting tech and engineering and stuff like that. So tell me how your journey into tech, because this is what you out here, you know, supporting tech and engineering and stuff like that.

Speaker 3:

So tell me how your journey started. Okay, yeah, honestly, it's a very like interesting story. So my dad's actually a computer engineer Shout out to that. So yeah, it's like shout out to that. But yeah, it's kind of like in the fam. So it's like it always has been in the fam and I always like I remember like growing up and like he was doing all these cool stuff and I'm like I want to be a computer engineer too, like I want to be in that world where I was doing big things in tech, and then I was like you know, I'll see you know.

Speaker 3:

So I actually started as an electrical and computer engineering major with the computer, I mean she's shocking everybody with the computer science minor.

Speaker 1:

But I woke up one day and I was just like nah, I think I just read the software I was like, yeah, I'm gonna switch so I switched to computer science major with like kind of like a domain studying like electrical and computer engineering.

Speaker 3:

So that's that's basically. You know, it's like a household of engineers, because my brother's also an engineer yeah tech household yeah, yeah, that's what's up.

Speaker 1:

That's the real tech hustle at that household. That's what's up. Where do you go to school at, though? I go to school in Calvin University. Big shout-outs to Calvin University In.

Speaker 3:

Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

How did you?

Speaker 1:

end up? Nigeria, the Grand Rapids, Michigan. How did you choose that school?

Speaker 3:

So I used to go to education usa back home in nigeria and I remember one day I was just talking to one of the uh advisors and I was like you know, like I really want to study electronic computer engineering yeah, she's like you know I'm trying to look for a school like what school do you suggest?

Speaker 3:

and she's like oh, calvin, it's a christian school and my friends were like, oh okay, let's look into that, and you know so, I do my research and I was like you know what I actually do see myself at this place, and you know, here we are.

Speaker 1:

That's what's up congratulations, because that's how I got a chance to meet you, by you going to college there, so I'm grateful for that decision, definitely. So talk to me a little bit about your experience and, as somebody growing up in a household where your pops did tech and did engineering like how, how was that?

Speaker 3:

it was very fun. You know it's like and it still is very fun. You know it's like. You have like a lot of like tech-focused conversations. Like my dad and I could literally stand and like talk about cloud computing for like 20, 30 minutes. So it's like it's really fun to be in that kind of space where it's like you're like thinking, you know, and it's kind of like you have these like expectations which are not like really like make you feel pressured but, it's like it's really nice to be able to have that space where you for sure.

Speaker 3:

You see that representation of what it's like to be in tech. You know it's really nice.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I mean, even even as I'm thinking about it as you coming up and having that example, how impactful that was to your journey Right. Because your journey right, because there are a lot of uh peers that you have and including myself. I'm the only one in my family that was like that right. Um d hustle does tech also. But in terms of just my immediate family, um, I was the only one right. And then I was like who do I have in terms of looking up to and or set an example or path?

Speaker 1:

and it's so grateful to hear that type of experience because I can imagine, like the techie talks, that you have right, because for me, every time I bring up, let's say, cloud computing to my wife, she's like what are you talking about? Like, why, why?

Speaker 3:

are you in the clouds again, like?

Speaker 1:

right and, but actually having that person that you can bounce ideas off of it, and let alone it's not just your dad, but you also have some of your siblings that are in tech too.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, so my younger brother is also in tech. We go to the same school, that's what and he's a sophomore, so it's like we're around the same age group. Yeah, yeah, so it's like having those conversations kind of feels like, you know, like a friend group.

Speaker 2:

Yeah for sure she's leading the pack.

Speaker 3:

She's leading the pack.

Speaker 1:

Well, definitely talking about just challenges and triumphs and things that you've been able to really accomplish, Like when I think about even our journey where it all started. So Evan and I, just to let the audience know, met through an organization called CodePathorg. It is a nonprofit that's focusing on supporting underrepresented CS students Shout out to CodePath. Big shout out to CodePath, especially the cool thing. What up Geneva Kelsey? What up y'all? But in general, you actually was a tech fellow there, right?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, a career peer.

Speaker 1:

A career peer, I apologize. Yeah, there, right, yeah, a career peer. A career peer, I apologize. Yeah, um is uh, evan, wasn't just, you know, taking the services but she's also pouring into the cup too, because you're also supporting right, and one of the things that I always enjoy in terms of just our conversation is you're always looking to continue to support those that are around you, right, and it's so great to first of all let you know this face to face.

Speaker 1:

Keep it up, because that's what really gives value to our community is individuals like you and you know I'm pouring my cup right, I don't even know when to stop, but just seeing where you're at in this beginning of your journey, just understanding the value around, and I just want to make sure I give you that big up so much so when it just comes to about challenges and getting into tech and kind of like transitioning into this idea of working at the keyboard as an engineer, what was kind of like one of your first hesitations, even though your upbringing came with you know your family members already at the keyboard.

Speaker 3:

Honestly, I think, like I think this is like almost everyone, but I always used to have like imposter syndrome. It was so bad, like, and I remember like I really felt it the most when I was like switching from electrical engineering to computer science because like that's a big change, and I was like junior year yeah I'm like, am I ready to make?

Speaker 3:

that decision, yeah, and I remember like, so I joined copath, like in 2021, like 2022 that was. The first class I took was mobile app development and I'm like this is fun, you know, like I do enjoy doing this and that's when, like that idea of like wanting to switch from hardware to software actually like came to my head and then, like, I started coding technical interviews, but I was just very scared yeah like am I sure I can do this, like am I actually sure I could do this?

Speaker 3:

and it got so bad where, like I could have like a technical interview didn't go so well and I just stopped decoding for like two months a few months straight, like I just wouldn't even look, goodbye close the laptop, put him back, goodbye, like, and it was really like hard to mentally get out of that space and I think that was like my biggest challenge is like trusting in myself and like believing, like you know, like making that change was worth it.

Speaker 3:

Like trust, because at that point, like you don't know what the end goal is yeah, yeah you're still in the process, like how do you assure yourself that, like, you're making the right choice? How do you assure yourself that you're really good at what you're doing? And it's so funny how, like sometimes, that imposter syndrome used to creep up and I would find myself like going into different parts of tech yeah where, like I started having conversations about cloud computing story from, like my AWS cloud practitioner exam yeah um, started like going into cyber security.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I just, I just felt like you know, in that moment like I really like software engineering but I'm like I'm not sure I could code. Let me just try this and try that and try this and all that kind of stuff.

Speaker 1:

So so, yeah it's really imposter syndrome you know 100% and I tell you that a lot of my mentees that I have a chance to give them some insights into my personality to help lift that feeling of imposter syndrome definitely deals with that and it's something that I think the newer generation it's going to be even more prevalent, right.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Because the level of engineering is always just so high and then the spectrum is so broad. Right, you were talking about hardware all the way up to software, and then the cloud and this, like it's just so much and it just weighs on you, and then you have this feeling of like, hey, do I even belong to the? Does they see me? Do they see?

Speaker 2:

me because I'm here and I don't want to raise my hand.

Speaker 1:

But right and uh, as soon as you kind of like, uh, work yourself up to really understanding what that feeling is right and for me, obviously working at code path has been one of my greatest things ever since I left the keyboard is like giving you that new perspective of what it means right, because you can imagine how many rooms I was in that nobody looked like me, right I've been doing it since 2002.

Speaker 1:

So imposter syndrome was something that I always kind of dealt with, but then I just said you know what? Fuck it if they don't like me, then fuck it. If I don't know it, fuck it right, just keep moving on right, because the thing that I realize and learn is that sometimes you're in a room and you think everybody else is smarter than you and you could be the smartest person in the room. That's true.

Speaker 1:

Or it's like you think that everybody knows everything but nobody knows anything, right? And then soon as you start to be in those rooms and you've really figured out that interaction and you start to understand that, and then you start to realize, hey, I actually have value here. I'm not the imposter, actually they the imposter because they putting up a front. Yeah, have value here. I I'm not the imposter, actually they the imposter because they putting up a front.

Speaker 3:

You know what I'm saying. Yeah, so over time, as you're going in your career and look at, I'm doing a mentorship right here, you know up into the shoes real fast, right, and it's just in general.

Speaker 1:

Eventually, those feelings, you're still going to have them, but you're going to be able to deal with them and cope with them even better and be more effective, and especially when you get at the keyboard, because then nothing speaks for that right it's like yo the code runs. You're like, look at this. It did what it's supposed to do. Who's the imposter?

Speaker 1:

now because, you questioned it, right and definitely want to just uplift you and continue to encourage you as you're on this journey, because, uh, it can definitely be something to hold you back, but I can already see a star standing in front of me playing. So we've fallen a long route for it right thank you for sure, for sure. So, uh, do you feel like you've overcome that challenge at all, or what do you think you still, you still dealing with it. What do you think?

Speaker 3:

honestly, like you said, like it's always, you're always gonna have imposter syndrome yeah but I think the one thing I've learned and I think it's very interesting that I say this it's like like so, for example, walking into like the NSBE conference right, everyone has a resume, and it's so like sad, how like it kind of feels like that's who we are.

Speaker 3:

Like a piece of paper is who we are, and that's like one of the best ways for me to like gutting over that. It's like I'm more than that paper. I'm more than one project. I'm more than like a programming language that I know. It's like. It's like there's so much like depth and beauty to who I am as a person and what I can bring to the table. So I think that's like the one thing that I always had to like, constantly like remind, and I'm still constantly reminding myself. It's like you deserve to be in those facts, I deserve to like be in, like do anything. You know. It's like the sky is literally the starting point. You know. It's like, yeah, so I think that's like the one thing just always reminding yourself that those things are going to come up and, like you know it doesn't make you different yeah different.

Speaker 3:

Like everyone experiences this kind of stuff. You just have to, you know, pick it till you make it if you didn't know that's what we're doing right now

Speaker 1:

it sounds like we made it. Yeah, you know, pick it till you make it. Oh my gosh, evan, thank you so much. Know, that's what we're doing right now. It sounds like we made it. Yeah, you know, pick it till you make it. Oh my gosh, evan, thank you so much for giving that to our audience. And this is why, when I was looking at who should we have come through, I was like yo, we got to get Evan to pull up because she's got some experience in life and she's going to give it to them raw. And let me tell you something that's exactly what our audience needs to hear, because your journey is not just yours, right? It's like once you tell your story, everybody else becomes a part of that journey too, right.

Speaker 1:

And that helps influence their growth, because now they can go back and say, hey, evan did it, bobby did it, d-hustle's out here hustling. Guess what I can do. I can keep it up and do it right. And it's so great to hear that you have that as your tool to remind you, because you are right, the nesb conference.

Speaker 1:

Uh, resumes are kind of like your only identity, right, um, and I like the way that you described it, because it definitely just makes me even question, like, how much value I put in people's resumes, right? Um, I know the hustle, so I'm out here trying to make sure you ready for it, right, but in terms of just understanding the value, it's that interpersonal skills and I think that was like one of the things that I enjoyed the most when I was recruiting here at the NSBE conference, when I was working at Twitter, is that I was not just looking for resumes, but I'm looking for that bright star. I see you like come closer. Oh, tell me your name. Word, that's what you working on. Like, the door's open, just walk in, just walk in. Type. The person that I walked through the door may not have had the best resume, but their interpersonal skills where they're at in their journey and then you can see where they're flourishing.

Speaker 1:

Because one engineer a big shout out to Steven he started off from lesbian, went to Twitter, became a level two software engineer, then went to Google, become a senior software engineer and now he's at Google pursuing a principal engineer. It's like if I had a chance to interview him just because of his resume he might not have been able to get through, but because I seen something in him, his conversation, his mindset, I was like yo, you can definitely come work for us, right? So I'm so, so, so happy to hear that you already developing this and actually, side note, you also are the chair or president of your NSBE chapter, right?

Speaker 3:

Yes, tell me a little bit about that.

Speaker 1:

This is why she got so much good advice because she's the leader of the pack. I told you she's leading from the front, bro.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I mean honestly, that has been so fun. So I actually like. So I went to college and I was like you know, like it's a new space, you know I have to be out there, like I have to like get into all the student orgs. So I actually started as like SWE, like Society of Women Engineers, like secretary. Then the vice president then moved to NSBE then, the secretary and now I'm the president and for me it's like it's so fun.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

It's so fun, like, like being able to help people. You know, it's like anytime, like before. So I, when I was like, before I came to college, I'm like, what's your vocation? I'm like, oh, like, it's like my job. But like I think for me it's deeper than that.

Speaker 3:

It's like more than like just my job. I think like for me, my vocation is helping people through any way, like, yeah, at school, at home, at work and everywhere I could possibly do that, and I think that's's what NSB has proven to me. It's a very safe space for me, not just me, other engineers and therapists. It's like come, let's come together, let's work together. We have homework nights. We have projects that we work on together, have meetings where we play games. It's just that safe space, because it's really hard being in tech.

Speaker 3:

For sure, 100% and also hard of being underrepresented in tech facts because I'm melanated. Y'all see me how do you take away all those struggles that don't even need to be struggles? Yeah, like how do you make them easier for yourself. You know, and I think that's what, like nsb is so intentional about that, you know it's like, and that's why, like, I'm so glad that I've been able to, like give back and like help people.

Speaker 1:

Sure.

Speaker 3:

It's a very safe space for me. Like anytime I think of NSB, I'm like home.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and thank you so much for that, because this is the thing in terms of attributes that, when you first met, I already picked up from you, right, it's? Like that, your ability to not just go through those experience, but give back the experience that you have.

Speaker 1:

And also, leading from the front right, you're leading the crew as the president of nesb and if anybody hasn't told you this, great job keep it up because that's what's going to bring our next generation of engineers into the fold so that they can get exposure to people like me, to people here here at NSBE organizations, companies. I even heard that you said some of your members got interviews and stuff like that.

Speaker 3:

I did, doing a good job, doing a good job. I'm so proud of them, so proud of them.

Speaker 1:

I'm so proud of them too Big shout-outs to each and every one of them that are out there Now in terms of your journey and let me know if you're cool with me talking about where your internship is going to be. But go ahead and let us know where you're going to be doing some summer interning at in the coming weeks, coming months.

Speaker 3:

Okay, so I'm going to be in redmond, washington with microsoft look at that.

Speaker 1:

That's what's up. Yo, it's literally lit over there because, um, I'm so proud of you, I'm so happy for you to have this opportunity. If y'all didn't hear it, heaven is going to be at microsoft and turning this summer, holding it down for all of them and big ups to that journey. So tell me a little bit about it. So, in terms of like um interview process or application, how'd that work out for you?

Speaker 3:

Honestly like, so like it's still a dream. I'm still trying to like wake myself up because I still can't believe it. So I applied, like in January, and for me, like in previous years, like by January, I'm like you know, I'll wait until the next recruiting season, I'll wait and all that kind of stuff. And I have like a job application tracker where, like, I keep track of the dates when I applied and applied in January, january 26. Cause, I've looked back and that is everything.

Speaker 3:

I'm like did I actually apply on January 26? I'm like, oh my God, that actually happened, but yeah. And then like two weeks later, like February 10th, I think, so I think, I think, I think that was it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it was her email, she knows, and then I get an email like congratulations on your final.

Speaker 1:

Oh, did the email sound just like that yeah how did it sound? I'm like and I'm.

Speaker 3:

I'm holding my phone. I'm like final round, because I'm so used to like the um sweet interviews, like yeah, like an interview process, like you get an oe fest. So I'm like you know like no online application came, so I'm like straight to final rounds. I'm like lord, I've seen something like oh, what's going on? Yeah, so then you know like I scheduled the interview for like february 29th because I was so busy with school and that kind of stuff.

Speaker 2:

Wow, the leap year, yeah, yeah, that's why I was checkbox, that's why it was, it was so it was.

Speaker 3:

I was like, is that a a sign? But yeah, so then I had it on like february 29th, you know same thing grinding right like studying every single night, and I remember like the day I set up the interview, that same night I'm like already on code path link, like trying to set up a meeting with bobby, I think like it's like I'm standing with bobby's and I'm leaving with catalina, with daniel, with kelsey.

Speaker 3:

I'm like every I need to talk to everyone like I have like almost like six mock interviews before that that's what's up because I'm, like you know, like I think that's a good thing. It's, like you know, like I've had like other experiences with like interview processes where I'm like I feel like I could have done better and I was like you know, this time those are things I have to change.

Speaker 3:

So I was like you know, we're gonna do the mock, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna push myself and yeah. So it's like two back-to-back technical interviews very interesting. I was like wow, like I remember, like joining the meeting that day, I'm like my god, microsoft, I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it, and like it's like Technical interviews. The questions were nice, everything. Just it was very smooth. You know, it's like I was really in awe. And then you had the whole Two week wait period.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, that's the.

Speaker 3:

Itching.

Speaker 1:

I'm like how many times you were refreshing your phone, like yo send me an email. Let me make sure this thing works it was so fun.

Speaker 3:

It was literally the entire spring break. So my school's on spring break and like it's spring break, like girls sleeping. Yeah, I was up every day like I'm like microsoft outlook, I'm like what's going? On where's the email? Where's the email and all that kind of stuff? So I think, like, honestly, like it's, I'm, I'm still in shock yeah, because yeah, I'm still in shock. I'm so glad, happy, grateful, and it's like it's one of those things where you actually see like hard work.

Speaker 1:

Pays off Like it's like 100% Give that gym sound. Actually she needs to drop some gym. Hard work pays off. I got a question for you.

Speaker 2:

So when you figured it out and you told your dad, talk to me about that experience.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's a good one.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I remember like, so like when.

Speaker 3:

I got the interview. I called him. I have an interview with Microsoft, so that's the thing. Anytime I think of mentors, my dad has always been a mentor for me. I remember creating my job application tracker and, in my Google Drive and sharing it with him, put some companies in there like, put their links, sending me job links. So it's like shout out to dad, shout out to pops. You know, it's like my dad, my mom, like my mom. Be like, oh, let's practice behavioral too. I'm like okay, everyone was all hands on deck.

Speaker 2:

Everyone's like.

Speaker 1:

I was there too I was helping too.

Speaker 3:

Everyone was like all call him and so funny because I get the offer like 10 pm monday night last week. So I'm in shock. I'm like, so they email me and they're like, oh, go into your portal and like verify yourself id. I'm like, okay, what?

Speaker 1:

yeah, what is this extra step?

Speaker 2:

it's 10 pm like what does?

Speaker 3:

that mean. And then I see the offer and I'm like huh, and I'm like congratulations. I look up and like eb, and I'm like congratulations, it was so like it was, it was just really shocking. And I'm like progressions, eb, and I'm like ah, it was so like it was just really shocking. I remember like calling my mom immediately and like shaking and she's like my dad's sleeping and they wake him up and it's like wake him up she got the offer and all that kind of stuff.

Speaker 3:

It's a very like proud moment. I remember the next day like being on call with him for like an hour just talking, cause I think the one thing is like it's like everyone has been there, like yeah, from day one, because I remember like honestly, like this is my first internship ever that's what's up first internship and I remember like after I switched my major, I was like you you're gonna have to make this work you're gonna have to make it has.

Speaker 3:

There has to be something that comes out of it. And I think, like for all of us, like the offer was kind of like that reassurance, that like everything was going to be okay, like everything was going to be well, so like it's like a three-year coming internship, it's like I've been waiting for this, working hard, and it's like you know, it finally paid off yeah, for sure, and I'm so, so proud of you.

Speaker 1:

I'm like, if you could just imagine um watching a basketball game and you know, court seats, the ones right on the edge of the court Like people pay extra to sit there.

Speaker 2:

Right, I pay extra to sit there to root for.

Speaker 1:

Evan from the sideline. So I'm so proud of you and I know your family is very proud of you and you're setting examples because you have other ones coming up behind you not just your family, your siblings, but also members ofbitt chapter and people at your school I bet you they're like who evan why?

Speaker 1:

and that's just going to motivate and inspire them. And then that journey you're going to have working at microsoft I mean back in the days I probably might not I might not say the way that I'm going to say it now about microsoft, because I didn't really like microsoft like that back in the days but the things that they're really impactful, the skills, the technology, the engineering, the length of you know contributions that they may make in the operating system to where they are right now.

Speaker 1:

And the contributions, like it blows my mind and I'm like so excited, not just for you, because I have a few mentees. You remember asia taylor, what's? Up asia taylor yeah, so I have another mentee that's at microsoft, so that's what I connect for you for sure, I like that 100%, and she's actually featured here in the backstage with Bobbie.

Speaker 1:

D too, so catch her episode, because she really enlightens a lot of people on her experience working at Microsoft. But the thing that I just can't wait for you to have is that experience is when you're walking in the door, you're getting the badge, you're getting the logo, you get your name right next to it. I even would be practicing my email. It's gonna be evan at michaeljonescom. You are going?

Speaker 1:

to be engulfed in that position and that opportunity and I can't wait to hear the results of it because it's going to be life-changing, in my opinion, career changing, and it's really just going to give you an idea of how great you are, because we've been saying it for a minute, though, but now you really get to see it.

Speaker 3:

Yeah yes, yes, yes, congratulations. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1:

Thank you, congratulations, thank you so the next thing that I want to kind of give you a chance to, you know, continue to give, which I've always appreciated is, uh, do you have any like um advice that you want to tell the next young generation that are coming up pursuing this field of engineering and technology, and this journey that you're on, yeah, or journey that they will be on?

Speaker 3:

yeah, honestly, and like this is like the first thing that comes to my mind, because like I'm staying with all my friends, like for the next week conference in airbnb, and every time I tell them this entire conference, it's all gonna make sense in the end like right now, it seems so hard, like it just it's so funny because I remember being in that space where I'm like oh lord, what's going on, but it's all gonna make sense.

Speaker 3:

And, honestly, hard work, consistency, you just have to practice, like practice, like practice, because I think the one thing and I think it's life in general, like nothing gets handed to anyone. You have to work hard to get it and the moment you put in that work, you're going to get it. You know, you just have to believe in yourself. Yeah, and I always used to tell myself you know, you have to have faith.

Speaker 3:

You know you have to be delusional, delusional, like you have to be delusional, delusional, like you have to be delusional. I remember, like before my microsoft offer came, like I was talking to my friend and I'm like you know, I keep seeing, like the microsoft logo everywhere you're gonna guess you'll get used to it. You're gonna see it in red money. I'm like amen like.

Speaker 1:

You know, I'm gonna see it right.

Speaker 3:

You know it's like and just being delusional, like I used to see, like different posts about, like I started like searching about, like, oh, like, after a grad I'm gonna be in seattle yeah you know, just making sure that you see yourself in those spaces because you get to manifest those things. You know, when you see and believe it, it's gonna come to pass. Work hard and it's all gonna make sense in the end. Honestly, that's, that's really my biggest advice. You know, work hard and you will get it. You'll get get it 100%.

Speaker 1:

Thank you so much for that. And if you are listening, there's this button that, if you didn't hear what she said, you can press. It's called rewind. You press that rewind button and listen to it again Because, mindset wise, what you're really, you know, giving to our audience here is just when you really believe. Not just you can imagine, but you believe you can see it. The stars are lined up, the universe will bend to your ability and then all yo look at.

Speaker 1:

Y'all didn't see how easy this was, but it does require the hard work, patience, development, continuous iteration, that's that software engineers, one thing you're going to find out definitely when you get to Microsoft is that no matter how great you think the code is, it can be iterated on again. Right, it can be rewritten again, it can be made more enhanced, it can add more futures. We won't be able to take in more options. We want it to do more stuff. So, just being comfortable with that feeling of iteration, you and your journey, I guarantee you're going to be where you want to be.

Speaker 3:

Oh my gosh, this has been a really cool episode.

Speaker 2:

You're dropping some gems here, right.

Speaker 1:

Some knowledge up in here. So, Evan, this is a chance in our conversation. Being backstage with Bobby D, you get a chance to ask me any questions. You have on the table, anything that you want to know, even if it's more career vows, because you know I'm already them, bars are already written. I know. Even if it's more career vows, because you know I'm already in bars already written, I'm ready to go, but if you do have a question for me, let me know.

Speaker 3:

If you have any type of questions, this is ask bobby d anything you want honestly. I think, honestly, my biggest question is and I think it's less for me and more for everyone that's here. I knew it's like we all flew out of lana.

Speaker 3:

You know it's like that's that's big, that's big. And I have some of my friends. You know it's like we all flew out of manhattan. You know it's like that's that's big, that's big. And I I also have my friends. You know it's like you're here in atlanta like one step forward, ten steps forward, please, not one like ten steps forward. You know it's like I'm like after like going for like such an impactful event like going for like it's because it's the 50th conference, like yeah it's be like you know it's a big deal.

Speaker 3:

What's like your biggest advice? Like going back home, like you know, like reflecting and you know, just thinking about, like everything that you've gotten like what's your biggest advice for, like college students? You know, it's like what's the next move, you know yeah what should they think about as they go back?

Speaker 1:

home. Look at you. You're asking really foundational questions, right?

Speaker 3:

here, like I think. I think they ain't ready for it, they're ready for young, young royalty I'm gonna give her a new title now. Her name is young royalty.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for the question, young royalty, uh, your boy, bobby d, gots a little, but no, I think, in terms of just coming to this uh conference. I remember the first time that I came to nesby. First of all I was blown out of my mind. How many people were there, right? And then, let alone how many black people that look like me and you, that got it, that can write code, that can you know really, in their lane of engineering, kill it right. And then I also see the companies and organizations that are willing to open up those doors for those people to come through.

Speaker 1:

So, first of all, one of those things that I always want to encourage attendees is to reflect on the opportunity you had to be in that scene, because I tell you, I worked in this field for more than 20 years before I came to NSBE.

Speaker 1:

I didn't even know, and now you're getting it to see it from your first door, and it's almost like one of the things that I always feed back into is like, oh, I want to give back, I want to make sure that this is not the first time and last time, but it's a way for me to find a pathway so that I can contribute to it. That's either recruiting at the conference or, after I'm done with Twitter, coming back to the conference to continue to support. But, in terms of those that are attending, this is going to be your chance to do something that I've spoken to some of your members about this idea of following up afterwards. This idea of following up afterwards right is not only like reflecting on the opportunity that you have to be in the presence of companies, peers, but follow up with those companies and peers. Right, network, right. Your network is going to be your net worth 100% right.

Speaker 1:

So the people that you are, connected to the people, that you're getting their LinkedIn, your peers, that you're also meeting other chapters and stuff like that. You don't know where they're going to be at in five years. Right, you might be needing a job opportunity and guess what? They may be the one that interviewing you. So make sure that you follow up and following up with companies. I'm sending the recruiter hey, it was really nice to meet you the other day. I know you were a little overwhelmed. I'm really interested in this opportunity. Holler at your boy. Here goes my resume. If you lost it. Blah, blah, blah, blah.

Speaker 1:

Like I'm mindset wise already following up with that. And then the last thing is is that I'm telling other people about it. I'm not just in my group, peer group, nsbe groupers. I'm seeing other black engineers that are either campus when I go home and talk about my journey, letting them know like, hey, I went to this conference, I have this organization, I have seen it with my own eyes. I know somebody. Her name is Evan and she's working at Microsoft for the summertime.

Speaker 1:

It's like go back and tell your community about it, right. Don't hold it a secret, because the idea of them not being able to get access to it is through you, your experience, right, and then, at the end of the day, be grateful, right.

Speaker 1:

Can continue to your experience right and then, at the end of the day, be grateful right, continue to manifest, and I hope to see you next year, because once you get that job at Microsoft, you better be on the team that's coming to NSBE working at Microsoft as a recruiter For sure, right, for sure. And that's what I would be giving them advice on. So thank you for that question, young royalty. Give them a round of applause.

Speaker 3:

I gave a little gym or something.

Speaker 2:

A little bit. I do have a question for you. So when you got the position in Microsoft and you went back to tell your Teammates, were they excited? Did that give them the motivation? Like you know what she can do it, I can do it. Did you see the ambition In their eyes? Talk to me a little bit more about that. You know what she can do it, I can do it. Did you see the ambition in their eyes? Talk to me a little bit more about that.

Speaker 3:

You know what's so funny it's that like, like, so, like I was still like in the bubble of like I just got the offer and it was actually one of my other friends that told me everyone like that was a different type of fire within people. It's like yeah people were calling him like.

Speaker 3:

I need to leave code I need like people were like, like the other day we were flying in here we're at the airport like layover one, one hour. Like I'm like I look at my brother and he has a terminal open. I'm like, wow, it's just one hour layover right now and it's like, it's like there's this different type of like, you know, like it's like an awakening, it's like you need to get up and like really do that kind of stuff.

Speaker 3:

I think that that's like another thing that was really happy about, because I'm like honestly, like I personally believe that your experiences influence others. It's like this was just not a win for me, it's a win for all of us. You know, it's like a situation for us to all like see that I can do it. If evan can do it, I can do it. You know, and like I think that's it was. It's really been beautiful, like that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Like everyone came here with a new mindset. Like I'm like getting interviews, like getting like everyone has been literally like last night, like people were up to like 3 am like coding, doing their stuff, like prepping for interviews today on site, and it's really beautiful to see that. It's really beautiful to see like them like use this as a way to actually like grab those opportunities. You know it's really beautiful to see that. It's really beautiful to see like them like use this as a way to actually like grab those opportunities. You know it's like what are the odds that they? I got the offer like a week before Nesbitt the stars, I'm telling you.

Speaker 1:

They were lining up for you, right?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's like they all came with this renewed mindset, where they're like I'm going to grab everything and I'm going to go home with offers.

Speaker 1:

And for sure wow, big shout out. Well, we're coming to the end of our show. Here I mean thank you cue up the music a little bit d what we got going on. Let me see, let me hear it, let me uh. There it goes. So, evan, thank you so much for pulling up here at the tech hustle to our podcast.

Speaker 1:

Um, let me talk to the audience real quick, okay okay okay yo what up y'all y'all know how it is when it comes to the end Backstage with Bobby D. I don't know if you didn't hear what I heard, but I heard Jim's and y'all better go and catch him, though. D Hustle marked every spot where the Jim's stop, so go and rewind back to that spot. Thank you again for tuning in to Backstage with Bobby D. These episodes are going to be. We're going to travel the country, go all around the world, talk to peers, mentors, key people that have made some impact to my life, people that I've made impact to their lives, like Evan. So thank you for letting me ride along Right, and let me see you. I moved from the sideline, but I paid for my seat, though, because I'm sitting in the front.

Speaker 1:

But in general, thank you so much for tuning in. We'll see you in the next episode. Holla at your boy.