#TheTechHustle Podcast 🎙

Backstage with BobbyD featuring Chanel Power

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

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Curious about the journey from aspiring neurosurgeon to leading software engineer? Chanel Power shares her fascinating transition, revealing how a background in mathematics and chemistry unexpectedly led her to discover a love for programming. Join us as Chanel discusses the critical roles of self-discovery, resilience, and community support in crafting a fulfilling career in tech. Co-host Bobby D joins this inspiring discussion, highlighting Chanel's initiatives like Mentor Me Collective and Blackbirds, which showcase the power of mentorship and building supportive communities.

Chanel's story doesn't stop there. She speaks about the transformative impact of re-entering the tech industry after a hiatus, thanks to a Google IT Automation with Python course. Her success is a testament to the importance of seizing opportunities and selflessly helping others along the way. Learn how Mentor Me Collective has changed lives by helping over 400 people secure six-figure salaries in tech, emphasizing the profound impact of service, community, and positive societal change.

We also explore the power of support systems like Employee Resource Groups, specifically through Chanel's work with Blackbirds at Twitter. Discover how cultural mentorship and allyship foster both personal and organizational growth. Chanel shares her vision for the future, focusing on accessible tech education and social impact, all while exploring the challenges of balancing career and family life. As we celebrate our community and gear up for our next adventure, we invite you to join us on this engaging journey of empowerment and innovation in the tech industry.

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Speaker 1:

I had a dream that I was working for Apple and I was shocked because I didn't even apply for the role. They actually just sent me an email saying we would like to invite you to interview as a software engineer.

Speaker 2:

Look at that.

Speaker 1:

A part of finding yourself and especially finding your flow in tech. You have to go through a lot of no's and no's to get to that one powerful yes, and me being the person. I'm not going to allow one no to deter me. I was knocking on doors, I was sending emails.

Speaker 2:

She was on that hustle Baby, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Hashtag the tech hustle. How much money have you?

Speaker 2:

collectively been able to help people get.

Speaker 1:

Yes, so between the reality is I mean the way the AI is coming. Baby, if you don't know how to create these algorithms, you ain't going to be here.

Speaker 2:

You're going to be left behind. Welcome, welcome, welcome. What up d hustle?

Speaker 1:

guess where we at player the big apple we still here the ball drop yeah just found out that the ball drops right around the corner.

Speaker 2:

I know big shout out to we work, we're holding it down on broadway. What is it 14, 9 or 1460? Broadway, we work, location um, and yeah, it has a great view, great environment and d hustle's chilling.

Speaker 1:

He said this might be park weather. I feel good about the weather I usually, usually in july is brutal facts, when I come in the summer, but this year yeah beautiful, so we got a special guest for today's show. Who we got?

Speaker 2:

Audience. I need y'all to tune in because she's killing it in these streets. She's supporting her community 100%. Her commitment is phenomenal and we're going to get into all of those conversations.

Speaker 1:

Stop that.

Speaker 2:

What's her name, let's bring her to the stage. Chanel Power. Hey everyone.

Speaker 1:

What up, Chanel, what up, hey? I'm so excited to be here. This is a wonderful opportunity and a full circle moment actually.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, for sure, full circle. Thank you for coming. Thank you for coming Because we backstage with Bobby D. Absolutely and you know where I got that name from, where Chanel dropped that on me. She was like yo, when you create something, you should name it backstage with Bobby D and I was like thanks, chanel. Absolutely, that's where the jam came from.

Speaker 1:

That's where the jam came from.

Speaker 2:

Not me thinking it's all him.

Speaker 1:

It's okay. No, it was so funny. We were out to dinner with a friend and we were just talking about all of Bobby's amazing accomplishments and also what he wanted to do with his platform, and I was like, man, bobby, all the gems and all the wisdom that you share. I would love for you to create a brand that leans into that.

Speaker 2:

So backstage with Bobby D definitely fits, just to give you a heads up. We're not paying Chanel to see this. No, they're not. We're not paying her. No, it's genuine love.

Speaker 1:

You know what's funny?

Speaker 2:

You actually was my first speaking guest for Mentor Me Collective, that's we're Mentor Me Collective. So that's what I mean by a full circle moment.

Speaker 1:

I'm here to support in any way that I can.

Speaker 2:

Big shout out to Chanel. We're definitely going to get into Mentor Me Collective and yo, chanel, gave the call, you know me.

Speaker 1:

The light is turned on it don't matter where it's at, I'm standing in it.

Speaker 2:

You know what I'm saying. So I do appreciate all the support, love that you've been this movement, this Bobby D in general, because it's peers like you that have really just set me forward to succeed in life.

Speaker 1:

That is awesome.

Speaker 2:

So I appreciate you and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey.

Speaker 1:

We love you. We thank you for all that you have done in the community how you've continued to create community which we'll talk more about that from your journey with Blackbirds. I'm super excited to lean into that too.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, for sure, For sure. So, Chanel, uh, you're also a software engineer into tech and all that stuff. But yeah, let's first start off how you got into tech and how this journey has begun for you.

Speaker 1:

Uh yeah, um, so many of you may or may not know. Um, I actually started my career journey with really leaning into wanting to go into medicine. Um, I was very passionate about neurosurgery and creating non-invasive or minimally invasive methods to help folks who were struggling with addiction.

Speaker 1:

A lot of folks in my family struggled, and so it was a really big passion of mine to kind of find some kind of method where there can be some kind of surgery that can help with that helping folks on their forward journey. So, long story short, went to school, studied mathematics and chemistry by a double major Shout out to that.

Speaker 2:

She just mentioned it like it's like mathematics and chemistry double major. She's like I just checked those boxes out, Light work. For her it feels like a lifetime ago.

Speaker 1:

I mean, it was definitely a struggle, but thank. God we made it. But yeah, I did that and throughout my career journey was really passionate about I don't know, just you know not even passionate. I feel like I learned a lot about myself throughout that career journey in undergrad and so so, journeying forward, I found my way to computer science. In my mathematics degree we had to take Python and other you know different languages but I really loved programming. But I was still gung-ho about going to medical school yeah yeah, um.

Speaker 1:

So I was like why should not? Did you not realize it then? But anyway, um, long story short, I graduated and I was like you know, I think I want to take some time for myself. Yeah, um, you know, at that time school had become so much of who I thought I was and I just wanted to rediscover myself. I had also been in school for about like six and a half years. I mean failing classes, retaking classes, the whole nine.

Speaker 2:

So if you're going through that journey, baby it's okay. Just keep going forward, Keep pushing keep pushing.

Speaker 1:

Yes, so long story short. Yeah, you know, my mom was a single mom and she, for her, like I would have been the first doctor in our family and she was like, hey, you know, like I don't want you to stop. Yeah, I was like mom, I just need a break. Right Turned into a longer break than I thought, but at the time I asked her for a year and she was like OK, I can, I can deal with that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

During that year I was trying to figure out, like again, my next step. So for me I was more so figuring out how can I do something that would help me in my applications moving forward in medicine. So I was looking for all kinds of roles, like you know, in the hospital I had been a medical scribe, I had worked at the VA hospital in the pharmacy department. I mean, I did so many different kinds of research and no doors were opening and I was like and me being the person like I'm not going to allow one note to say, you know, to deter me I was knocking on doors, I was sending emails.

Speaker 2:

She was on that hustle Baby hashtag, the tech hustle, so I was like you know what's going on.

Speaker 1:

So for me, I'm a woman of faith and a woman of prayer and I was like Lord, if this is you know, if your word is true, and if you really have something for me in my life, I need you to show me, because at this point I think it had been like five months past graduation. You know are piling up and all that kind of stuff.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I had a dream that I was working for Apple. I had a dream that I was working for Apple and I was shocked Because, first of all, I was so focused on medicine yeah, I had never even thought About technology at all, not because I didn't think I could do it, but just because I was like that has nothing to do with me, like minding my own business Stay.

Speaker 2:

But you got a taste of that Python? I sure did, because your mom know my mom, because the first thing they want to do are you going to be a doctor or a lawyer, I'm telling you, I'm telling you so for her like it's so funny, you said that, so three things for her.

Speaker 1:

She was like either medicine, either law, or either becoming an engineer and obviously being in New York, civil engineering architecture is super huge. So I was the kid that she assigned medicine. I was like you know growing up like you.

Speaker 1:

Just you go with the flow. Yeah, plus, I was really good at mathematics and science anyway, ie my degree, but moving along strong, um, uh. So anywho, yeah, um went online to, to linkedin, was trying to figure out who I knew um, at the time that worked at apple, and a good friend of mine, who I just recently, recently, graduated, worked at the store and I was like, hey, you know, I think I want to like work here yeah.

Speaker 1:

I actually started my journey in retail FYI, if you guys didn't know that and so she was like, hey, I can totally uh refer you. And literally after she referred me, I think a week later, I heard back from a recruiter and, um, five weeks later, after five rounds of interviews, I got the job, and so even my job in, uh, apple retail uh, the focus was on, obviously, our technology, but helping individuals who had vision impairments, hearing impairments, motion impairments and helping them understand how our technologies can help them live a better, more fulfilled life. So it's my job to help educate Johns Hopkins doctors, physicians, scientists also the University of Maryland, their doctors and their scientists on our technology. So that's what I did during the day. So I guess it was more like a mixture of UX, research and all that kind of stuff, mixed with learning and development, and it was amazing, really great. I will definitely say that my last internship at school prepared me for that.

Speaker 1:

I worked in the accessibility or prototyping and design lab and we focused on accessible technologies. We partnered with the Toyota Research Institute to create at that time we were trying to create a GPS system for folks who were navigating the mall, who were vision impaired and hearing impaired, helping to figure out how they can, you know, also have an experience.

Speaker 1:

So, being able to have that internship now leaning into, you know, this opportunity in the apple store um was amazing, and so I did that for about a year and a half and it came to a point where, of course, I was doing my you know the job to the best of my ability. I was showing up and helping and obviously other ways that I could possibly help as well with my team, um, but I was like man, I did not go to school and struggle this long for me not to use my math degree, so I again went back to print I. I was like man. Lord, I really want to. Um, I want to do something. I didn't know it was engineering. At the time, um, I was thinking maybe, like you know, uh, product management, or you know, uh, data science, or yeah, I was just trying to find my way and again, me being a first generation technologist, even that journey was, you know, something serious.

Speaker 1:

But any who long story short um at the time, uh, you know something serious, but anywho, long story short um at the time. Uh, you know, during the pandemic is actually when I had that realization that I want to do something else. Um, you know, through me applying, getting to the final round, not getting accepted.

Speaker 1:

It was so difficult yeah, and you know the rejection is always hard to to get through, but I think a part of finding yourself and especially finding your flow in tech you have to go through a lot of notes in order to get to that one powerful yes facts it makes it feel even more um ah man worth it, you know, yeah, uh, so in long you know, moving along strong um during the pandemic um.

Speaker 1:

I actually started mmc during that time and I will talk more about that. But during my journey there, um in the store, I had gotten an email in the back end and they were like hey we're looking for a data science intern and I was like oh, okay, I can do that yeah um, so you know, send my resume, send my uh the email and went to you know chick-fil-a for lunch, came back. I actually sent the email to the entire thread of 50 000 people.

Speaker 1:

I did not send it to that one person but I was so blessed because the my current director was actually the person that reached back out to me Look at that. And he was like, hey, we have some incredible talent in the retail space.

Speaker 2:

So if it doesn't work out with this person.

Speaker 1:

We'd love to talk to you about what you can do with our team and you know, moving forward, I was able to have more conversations with him, my current manager now and get this. I didn't even apply for the role. They actually just sent me an email saying we would like to invite you to interview as a software engineer. Look at that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, fire, and at that time I hadn't touched code in over two years, so I actually used this. Course the Grow with Google, google IT. Automation with Python. Course AB it was the jumpstart I needed. So, yeah, automation with python, yeah, of course, ab. It was the. The jump start. I needed um. So yeah, you know, long story short went through that um was able to obviously pass the interview and here I am now, almost four years later in the role.

Speaker 2:

Congratulations that, that's how you get into the moves that like that, and and blessings to your dreams. I'm pushing you into that direction, um, but also taking opportunities that you didn't know would open up the next door for you, correct? You know, I'm saying, and a lot of people, especially when they're getting that attack, they think, hey, I just want to start here at the top of the mountain, and it's like yo, there's a journey you got to go through. You're not sure what path you're going to take, but guess what? We'll be there eventually. There we go, but you just got to go and make that first step, that first drive.

Speaker 1:

And I think something that folks may not think is important but really is important is service. You know, as you're going through your journey and you're so journey, you're trying to figure out again life, figure out your next steps. It's important to take time to serve. You know whether that's like you know, with the skills that you do have, maybe volunteering within like a specific organization or community, maybe volunteering within like a specific organization or community, um, I really believe that service, almost like lights, a light within you, like ignites a fire within you to allow visibility from other people, like other people will begin to see you, um.

Speaker 1:

So you know, I just believe that as you serve, especially in a selfless capacity, um, that people around you will understand and feel that genuinity and then, from there, be open to advocate for you. Because that's even how my brand started, even with meant to be collected you, because that's even how my brand started, even with Mentor Me Collective you know what I mean I wasn't here to become LinkedIn famous.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I wasn't here to grow even a brand. To be honest, I didn't even think it would last this long. It actually was. How again? So let me tell you this part, so I know we're gonna get to that.

Speaker 2:

Just a second but let's do it. Mentor be collective. What up? Mentor be collective community. She can't hold it back. She's like yo, I gotta get it out now. I'm telling you because it all intertwines.

Speaker 1:

So again during that time I was like man, I want to do something more technical. I'm applying to all these jobs, not get like. Either not getting it or getting. The were getting laid off, furloughed, college students were coming into the market. There were no jobs. I mean, there was so much chaos obviously outside of that, with even civil unrest which went forward and so on forth.

Speaker 1:

The Lord was like Chanel, you're over here trying to find a new job. You are still getting paid. Why are you not appreciating where you are, but also take time to help other people? And so that's when I actually started what was formerly known um, formerly known as Mentor Me Chanel, now Mentor Me Collective by just a LinkedIn post, and I was like, okay, and basically the Lord said trust me to get you to where you need to be, and I need you to focus on helping other people. And so that's what I did. I did not worry about my next steps. I did not worry about, you know, uh, yeah, like what my next role was going to be. I was more so like how can I help the people and impact them in a way that is measurable?

Speaker 1:

yes because that was also something that I was like praying about. Like how can I help our community in a way that is past a protest?

Speaker 2:

yeah, right, you can go and process.

Speaker 1:

You can go and protest, and that's cool. I'm all here for it because lord knows I'm a firecracker. But also, how am I going to be able to measure that next year or the year after?

Speaker 2:

and the year after.

Speaker 1:

So the strategy was you can measure success by helping people get into tech, helping the individuals who never knew that six figures was attainable and then, from there, seeing that it's okay to also have work-life balance, yeah, yeah, and so that's what it was for me.

Speaker 1:

So, yeah, took the time in May 2020. It was like, hey, you know, hey, for those who are interested in getting into tech, feel free to, you know, use my LinkedIn or my calendar link, and I'm happy to, you know, provide you with free, you know service. Again, I was like Lord, I'm just going to use this as a way to serve the people. Yeah, and that's how it became like what it was?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, big shout out, big shout out.

Speaker 1:

So I'm just again very grateful for where it has come to be. I mean thanks to you for the support, bobby and the community. But from there we were able to help about, I'm going to say like 400 plus people get into tech with making six-figure salaries plus, I think, total compensation is around $27 million to $30 million in total compensation.

Speaker 2:

Let's take a pause right there. Can you repeat that number again? How much money have you collectively been able to help people get?

Speaker 1:

yes, so uh, between 27 and 30 million dollars in total compensation, so salary sign on bonuses and also stock options.

Speaker 2:

That's what's up. Beautiful, that's what's up, and and the thing that's so like, eye-opening for me about this journey is number one realizing the commitment to serve and just give right and then the way that you get paid back is by seeing other people achieve things right in front of your eyes, right it's like when you have an idea, you plant a seed and then you watch it grow and then it grows into a blossoming tree flowers and it's like, wow, that that's the part of giving that always is enjoyable for me, because I'm a seed planter.

Speaker 2:

I plant seeds and I come back around and see, and then I'm like, oh my gosh, like I didn't even expect, like this is a way that I always tell my mentees is that people cannot see how great you are. You have to see greatness in yourself Wow Right, because you don't know how great you are. You have to see greatness in yourself wow right, because you don't know how great you are. Nobody knows how great you are other than you right.

Speaker 2:

So then when you come back and you look at that plant, you're like, oh my gosh, I didn't even know wow how great you could be right so that's why you always got to step and stand on that and believe in yourself. And, obviously, having a community like mentor me collective, because we over here watering it right absolutely we out here watering it making sure it got us in the right sun.

Speaker 2:

Right, yes, and oh my gosh, uh, mentor me collective. Uh, we'll talk even more about it um has been one of the the first non-profits uh community development program that I've committed to as soon as I stepped away from the keyboard too, so you didn't even know that I did I stepped away from the keyboard. It was like, yep, let me jump over there first yes, for sure, and the thing that I enjoyed encountering what program you were developing or the community you're creating is number one the loyalty that you had with your crew.

Speaker 1:

Right, it was like yo mmc yeah, I was like, yo, I was like word that's, that's how y'all wrote mmc.

Speaker 2:

And then I was like, all right, so who's at the helm? And it was like Chanel and I pull up your profile. I'm like, ooh, chanel doing her thing, and I'm scrolling and scrolling big shout outs to you, big shout outs to the community, and it just gave me inspiration that I know where I'm pouring my water and cup and time into that there's definitely going to be results and I appreciate y'all just giving me a court-sized seat to be able to see it, baby prime stage.

Speaker 2:

Oh, for sure, for sure so tell us a little bit more about um mentor me collective in terms of like what services you offer where you're at in your journey right now, and all that absolutely so.

Speaker 1:

Mentor me collective is a non-profit organization. We are here to empower first generation learners. Whether you are a high school student, college student, um, early career professional or a seasoned industry professional. We want to make sure that we're empowering you with skills, knowledge, confidence that you need to pursue your passions, achieve your dreams and make a positive impact on society. We do that in a multitude of ways through mentorship programs as well. We do that through education initiatives, where we're partnered with Google at this moment, providing access to free scholarships to obtain various kinds of certifications. In the past, we've partnered with Microsoft, miro and the Banner Review to help about 100 individuals most of them were black women, black and brown women into design and user research. So the goal is to become a non organization where anyone who is a first generation individual whether you are a first generation immigrant, first generation technologist, anything with first generation in your identity we want for you to know that you have a home with us and that also you can find any kind of resources that you need to succeed, obviously along with career coaching as well. So those are the services that we provide.

Speaker 1:

We do want to make sure that folks obviously know and have visibility to different roles in tech. So you'll notice that our LinkedIn is popping. We love that Facts, we share a lot of resources and I think also, you know, in tech sometimes you feel like your application just hits. You know this endless pool of like bottomless basically and so we think it's super important to reshare opportunities, especially when they are tagged with a hiring manager or a recruiter, so that you know that there is a face to this role, there is someone that you can reach out to, and if you are in the community, we also offer referrals. So if you are interested in opportunities like, for instance, at Apple, I mean I don't know I see and come across some people who just don't even consider that they can ever work at a company like that and I'm like baby, if I'm here you can do this.

Speaker 2:

For sure.

Speaker 1:

So getting opportunities from individuals Like myself or other folks who also see the vision and also want to ensure that we have. We're providing support and like a leg up for the next individuals behind us. You can obviously reach out to us and we'll we'll pair you with someone who can refer you so that you can be seen and heard by a recruiter as well. Case in point, let me give you this testimony so currently mentoring this wonderful individual who's a data engineer and she's a black woman, has been in data engineering for the last five or so years and is also looking for her next opportunity.

Speaker 2:

Um I was like girl with your skills.

Speaker 1:

You need to be at netflix or something okay and she was like netflix, they wouldn't look at me, you know. So, again, having conversations like these, um, I was like, hey, I'm gonna pair you with another mentor of mine who actually works at netflix senior data engineer, black man, powerful, you know, and I want you to see that there are people that look like you, that are there, that are thriving, um, and that you can, that you are not even can. You are quality and you are the choice representative, like when it comes to the candidate they're looking for. Yeah, ciao, connected with my mentor A week later. Baby, we'd like to interview you for this role.

Speaker 2:

So it's so important for us to advocate for each other.

Speaker 1:

It's important for you to be in a community where people can see your value, can believe in you and also bring you to that next level where you believe in yourself too. So I love that you mentioned that.

Speaker 2:

Oh, my gosh Chanel. That's a gem right there and thank you for that testimony because, I think you are right. A lot of our community just can't see us sitting at those tables. And the thing is is that once you sit at the table, like you and me and other engineers and mentors that you had you'll be like yo. I know somebody in my neighborhood that's better than you like what do you mean? That you are the best that we got and then we're talking twitter, facebook, apple netflix like all of these top companies that we just don't know.

Speaker 2:

We just don't know. So the services you offer in terms of just opening the eyes of those that have been doing data engineering for five years, and I bet you they are better than even Baby certified Google Cloud, certified AWS, maybe Azure, I mean the certifications go on.

Speaker 1:

It's giving Bill of Rights. I said, honey, you definitely are what they're looking for. They need someone like you, and you can now be a representative for your community and for folks who are connected to you.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, yeah, and this is another thing and I thank you for saying that, because this is a thing that I tell my mentees all the time, especially during this time of searching is like use your network. Use my mentees all the time, especially during this time of searching is like use your network, use it, use it as a currency, right, and just know that you're going to spend it, spend it, spend it. Don't be afraid of it, because you guess what you're going to have to pay it back because when you're sitting at the table.

Speaker 2:

What are you going to do? You're going to give right back right, so that that and that and that's something that I don't. I seen, and with my own eyes, with the other side of the table and the other baby, oh my gosh, when we had that conversation years ago, it opened my eyes.

Speaker 1:

I think at that time I was just about two years into my role, um, and I was struggling and I was like, probably it's hard to find the help. How do I, you know, have those conversations to advocate for myself? I mean, you were such a amazing and still are I won't say thank you.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much, just in case it's not being paid.

Speaker 1:

No, I'm not, I promise you. There were so many gems that he shared with me about again being a first-generation individual in the space how to navigate difficult conversations, how to bring things up to your manager, how to advocate for different values financially and also helping other people. But anyway, long story short, I want to say you mentioned how other individuals support the one. They sacrifice everything for the one because they know behind them is 10. Facts. So I just want you to even talk more about that, because the people need to know about that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and the concept that we're talking about is more or less just how, when you're in an organization, how much value you provide by being in an organization and looking for support.

Speaker 1:

The tough thing about us being minorities underrepresented is that there ain't that many of us right, and when we look around the room we can't find what we looking for right and one of the things that I've always appreciated, especially when I find an ally that's willing to support that's really willing to see me step up is like hey, when it's time for me to get promoted, I want you to know.

Speaker 2:

Hey, I want you to mention in a room that I'm not in that.

Speaker 1:

I'm ready.

Speaker 2:

And if they're an ally, they're going to side with you because they understand. They understand the struggle and challenges you have being in that conversation and being able to step up and speak on your behalf. Absolutely and as soon as you have that, you'd be surprised what type of door is open, because it's not. You have to speak. It's somebody speaking on your name.

Speaker 1:

Yes, yeah, I want you to talk about and I know we're supposed to be getting there later but yeah, this really ties into the story with blackbirds so I want you to talk to people, tell people about that yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So blackbirds uh, blackbirds is a erg, so it's employee resource group. Uh, that was founded at twitter, don, during my era there um we more or less did a reigniting of twitter in 2015 or so, but the impact was massive.

Speaker 2:

So the the idea around employee resources groups are resource groups that you have available where you want to feel part of that community and obviously not having that many black engineers during that time, because I can remember counting on my hand maybe five of all of twitter 2013, 2015. It's like yo that we need to change. During that time, I was like blinders on I'm focused, right, people were like, yo, how did you get that job? All right, let me show you how I got this job and I'm blinders on focus. And then I take these blinders off and I'm like yo, I don't. My guy d hustle isn't here, chanel isn't here. Like, where do I go get a haircut? Who do I have to talk to about where I can get some good?

Speaker 2:

food like it was just starting to compound how lacking it was in terms of diversity. So the Blackbirds group itself during that reignite really focused on hey, uh, we see each other, we all in this together. If you move, we move in together, type stuff. If we making a project, come and present the project to the Blackbirds group and we'll support you in anything that we're talking about. So much so that there was this time in 2015 where the Black Fist came out for Black History. Month that was Blackbirds that actually made that happen.

Speaker 2:

Wow, because there was a designer that came in and he was like yo, I want us to do something really impactful. Wow was like yo, um, I want us to do something really impactful. And because of this, group was able to sit at the right table to make that and a product change, and nobody knows that us in the background were making that happen.

Speaker 2:

So this erg group not only was a home for us to you know, fill um, a right place for us to develop but it also gave us the ability to speak at the bigger tables, because even blackbird was able to get us to go to nesby the national society black engineering conference like, the first time I went to nesby is because we got in a room with jack. He was like yo, jack, we need to go here. You're looking for black engineers. Let's go check this spot out, and we want you to pull up too and he pulled up and he's seen it and that that became a normal run for us during that season, during those conferences for us to go to those um um diverse yeah yeah, yo jack, I need you to pull up to the podcast.

Speaker 2:

Kid like, stop playing with me yes, but that black first group itself just more or less really gave us a home and really developed, because I remember the first black interns that we had we actually had them on the show teo and tunday what's up?

Speaker 2:

what up? Teo and tunday zoos in san francisco and you know me, I'm always giving back got to. I told them to pull up to the spot and they was like yo, they were ready for it I love it. Those were the first two black interns, that myself and another colleague of mine. Uh, chris coco, big shout outs to chris coco and we were like, hey, uh, we need to increase diversity on the ic side uh, y'all think y'all can't find them.

Speaker 2:

But here goes two that we're going to put in the pipeline and watch them shine. And, oh my gosh, when I left, they both staff engineers, that's insane from intern to staff engineer before I left can we talk about that? Yeah, and, and you know me, I'm I'm like a special type of mentor, because I always tell myself, tell my mentees, that I'm a cultural mentor. I'm not going to be one that you're typing and I'm typing on top of you don't expect that right I'm going to shine and you're just going to watch and that's going to help you influence right.

Speaker 2:

So watch these projects I'm working on watch it. I'm going to be bobby d watch it and I tell you they they were on the sideline watching and it just inspires them right when they tell their story on the podcast. I almost come to tears because I didn't know how much it impacted their lives by me being myself and being a part of a group like Blackbirds and telling them like, hey, be yourself, don't worry about these people, because you got it. And guess what, if you need anybody, call me into the meeting, I got you.

Speaker 1:

I want to talk about something too, and I want you to share about this, because, as you're talking, it's bringing back other conversations that we've had that I feel like will really benefit the people. You also talked about how you influenced the way that we were in, like that, twitter even was interviewing I really want you to go into that and even talking about the system design interviews and things like that which is obviously super crucial for sure, for sure.

Speaker 2:

So during that time that I worked at twitter, you can imagine how many candidates I interviewed hundreds of candidates. And I'm. I'm interviewing Ivy League students from Harvard to MIT, to Cal and Stanford Stanford's down the street, right down the street, too, so there's definitely an influx of interview candidates, and one thing that I noticed is that the style of interviewing wasn't like reflecting number one the roles that we were actually filling but also making it accessible to people like me that think different operate different.

Speaker 2:

So I'm like yo, these type of questions we ask and this isn't like real world type stuff and when, when people like me come into interview, we're caught off guard because we're not learning this in school. They were teaching before Lee Code came out. They were teaching those type of questions at those universities. Guess what? Unfortunately, howard university wasn't teaching that. Unfortunately, hbcus were not teaching that. So of course we're not going to be able to get into the pipeline. All right, check this out.

Speaker 2:

What we need to do is more or less develop a way that we're evaluating skills evaluating skills, evaluating personalities, evaluating the people that I want to work with, as you know, fellow peers, not evaluating if you can solve this Rubik's cube question that this algorithm that they're never going to write, they're never going to use ever. And soon as we start to have these conversations, um, and there's a project that came up, uh, called Luna project, and this project really focused on hey, not only are we going to change the style of way we're doing interviewing, but we're going to have a third party come into the interview and listen to how y'all make a decision. And what happened was this third party that came in there was starting to call out people like hey, the last interview, you didn't honor this thing that you're saying, that this candidate has.

Speaker 2:

This other candidate had this thing and you didn't do this. Has this other candidate had this thing and you didn't do? This, and then it start to make everybody sharpen their skills up, changing the way they're interviewing not looking at universities and college no more really just getting into the conversation and really just making it in a scene where I'm trying to figure out the playing field. Yeah, we totally did, and the results were hundreds of black people started to show up and I was going to the cafeteria I was like where all y'all people came from.

Speaker 2:

Like they didn't send me a memo, like I usually get notified when one of y'all show up, and now I'm not getting emails, no more that's when I knew it was popping off, because that changed the way that we looked and evaluated engineers to the level that it increased diversity it's so important.

Speaker 1:

It's so important, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah shout out to the whole team little team out there y'all really killed it.

Speaker 2:

Um, and thank y'all for the contributions and listening to my voice, because I was one of the only ones uh, being black, you know to let them know what's up, but yes, and now those, those are like gems. That uh, why I'm out here on these streets.

Speaker 2:

You know talking about, you know my journey, your journey, um, and definitely appreciate you allowing me to bring that stuff out so that the audience can hear it because, uh, a lot of these things, uh, people don't really realize how much contributions blackbirds myself and other, you know great technologists that walk through the doors, that change the world.

Speaker 1:

Change the world. Um, I just want to say this case in point. Two there was a. It was like this during the time where they were, you've seen so much of an influx of people of color, specifically from the black community, coming into Twitter. I remember I think her name was Asia Taylor oh wow.

Speaker 2:

Shout out to Asia. Asia Taylor already featured on the podcast. What are you talking about? What up Asia?

Speaker 1:

I remember connecting with her and she shared how dynamic of an experience she had, especially with her interviews, compared to that of other companies. I just want to say even something as small as that, right that is opening up the door for now individuals who may have started there. I mean it's trickling.

Speaker 2:

It's like a ripple effect.

Speaker 1:

I wanted to say so I just love what you do. I just wanted to make sure that I highlight that as well. I know we're supposed to be talking about me, but, child I love Nisa Bobby.

Speaker 1:

I love her so much and I love what he's done for the community, and these similar styles have now been taking place in other companies as well. I'll definitely say that folks within my company has even started to think about how we can standardize to make sure that we are serving all people and all populations, and how we all have diversity of thinking and diversity of learning as well.

Speaker 2:

So it's important for us to make sure we're supporting that 100%, 100%, and thank you so much for shouting out Asia Taylor. She ended up interviewing and being on my team. So we even worked together for a few moons and I tell you she's such a bright star and big shout-outs. Check out the podcast because she's on there.

Speaker 1:

I can't remember what episode.

Speaker 2:

It was probably Backstage with Bobby.

Speaker 1:

D Backstage with Bobby D.

Speaker 2:

Definitely there. Asia Taylor big shout-outs to her.

Speaker 1:

Shout-outs to you Asia.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, for sure, for sure. Now back to Mentor Me Collective, because you're over here trying to get me I know, I feel like. I I'm always appreciative of you highlighting these things that we've had conversations about and definitely have been impactful but one thing that I definitely want to bring up especially. You know big shout outs to Blackbirds, but ERGs and organizations and the challenges we're having with diversity and inclusion in the scene now.

Speaker 1:

So tell me what your opinion is and definitely if you have any feedback for us overall that's a good question, I really think, and ERGs serve as a catalyst for any kind of change that a company wants to input right, whether that is through making sure there's more diversity within, like I say, the black community, making sure there's more diversity within first generations, or even down to making sure that there's diversity within folks who are differently abled, I really feel like ERGs drive that change and I really think they are the backbone, if not the vital piece of DNA that also helps to carry the company culture.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, cause when you have so many people circling in that are new, you know it's important for us to have some kind of legacy so we can kind of pass down that knowledge as well. Yeah, I just think, in general, education is super important, but also when you're coming into a new company, having a community where you can plug in and just understand, like the do's, the don'ts, the babies. So I honestly I'm not trying to again sell anything but um, that was something that you encouraged me to do more of, because I was so focused on um, just trying to find myself and find my growth, uh, but you helped me to realize that being able to do a lot of that would be coming from the ERGs. So I definitely want to say it's super important, super vital as well. I think there's been like a struggle in general with people kind of keeping up with the work, because it is a lot of work and then, on top of that, having to balance your own engineering work as well.

Speaker 1:

But I feel like in general, you know, having people who can help you, support you like if you are on an ERG community or a board sorry or a committee having an individual that you can obviously lean on and continue to develop these strategies and helping with making sure that there is representation, is super important For me. My journey, I just man. I just love people coming together, especially having community, again from being influenced by bobby and seeing that I appreciate you know I'm telling you the truth.

Speaker 1:

So, uh, with what I've learned and also have seen the efficacy in in my life, um, it's something that I've also championed in my own um networking community within um apple. So, uh, specifically, like you know, the New York City office is super new. So about two or three years ago we were like trying to find ourselves and so we just started. You know something simple, like you talked about like even like a Slack channel, and we're like okay, if we see somebody, we're going to say something about the Slack channel and bring them in.

Speaker 1:

And maybe we've been doing that. So we went from doing, you know, small family gatherings or having like small little game nights or afternoon gaming activities, like with Taboo or maybe, like you know, black Card Revotes things like that and so now having awesome programming going on with like Apple Music and it's like different parts of the business now want to be a part, and also different people from different parts of the business feel comfortable to ask those you know the business to be a part, and also different people from different parts of the business feel comfortable to ask the business to be a part.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, so I think it's super important to encourage other individuals in that space, so I've been loving it. I mean we've grown as well. I have not been as directly in touch because, again, the projects have been coming.

Speaker 2:

But if I see somebody, yeah, I say something, facts right. I always, always used to have this nod. I would make eye contact, I see you and then they, they cannot deny it because you don't see me again because I work here.

Speaker 1:

I work here I hope you know I love that.

Speaker 2:

That's really powerful, though, um, and it can start off as small as that like a slack or discord channel where you're just having a safe space where you feel comfortable you got a meme you just seen throw it in there you know you got something going on at work. You need some advice, throw it in there. You need. You know conversation with somebody in another department, you don't know that part, throw it in there and before you know it you have a community and then you have culture that goes with it and man one.

Speaker 2:

One thing that I've really felt and hear about blackbirds and these ergs is culture, is what made it so great it's so important because as soon as I felt the vibe, oh it's lit, and then you just want to keep coming back, like yo when is game night.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it became. It became you know, having those activities after hours. It became something to look forward to.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, right.

Speaker 1:

Obviously now you know going back to work from being super fully remote a couple years ago.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you know, folks are like man I got to go to office.

Speaker 1:

Okay, but I'm going right back home. Yeah, but if you know this is, you know, a game night. I'm going to let my husband know like, yeah, I'm going to be there, Maybe be home in like a couple hours later, Thank you, Because you want to vibe? And, you know, meet new people as well. So yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, 100%. And that's the thing about the working from home that I think was really missed, Like running into you in the hallway. What is it? The water cooler talk. The head nod from the new people you see, uh, those type of things really makes me more want to contribute to the company and the culture and the people that are around me, so I'm grateful to hear that that's working out for you absolutely that was just a little bit of that you know a little bit about. Again, it's not a pay program I know.

Speaker 1:

I mean, you have really influenced a lot of who I am um and even my developer journey. I I mean I've been promoted. I've been promoted, I've gotten multiple raises. Let's get that out there first.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, 100% yeah.

Speaker 1:

And Bobby helped me to navigate those times. So I just want to say thank you.

Speaker 2:

I'm so grateful and, like I said, there's seeds that I plant and it's not like I'm over there constantly, but I plant and it's not like I'm over there constantly, but I know that it's going to develop and I'm so grateful to hear the outcome because I see your value, I understand it, I've been there and I'm like yo. Uh, how can I help you level up faster than I can? Right, a lot of people will always be like yo. So how long have you been? I've been, you know, at this table we can talk about that.

Speaker 2:

We can get it in a year or two if you just follow along and listen in and tune in and, before you know it, it's definitely going to open up doors and opportunities for you.

Speaker 1:

I want to share a gem real quick and then I'll let us get back to schedule programming. But one gem that you shared with me when I was again navigating my growth opportunities, or just navigating growth in my role, um, you mentioned to me. You know, an avenue for me to be able to take is to look at the different PRs might have been being currently submitted or that were recently closed, yeah, and see how other folks are doing different things yeah um.

Speaker 1:

For me especially navigating, even feeling like I have permission to do that like it's there's's so many different mental blocks that either we put on ourselves or we feel like because other people around us don't want us to be there, we kind of move in a specific way, almost like walking on eggshells.

Speaker 1:

But, maybe when you told me that I said, oh, it unlocked a certain level of not only just confidence, but like I wish I had the language right now for it. But I mean, I just became I feel like I became a superhuman. Yeah, I was like, oh, you cannot tell me that I can't do this.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

This is open for the public.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And then from there being able to see how different folks again solve new things or maybe created new APIs and so on and so forth, I now felt like I had the structure, or even like the baseline, the foundation, to do that too. So from there I was able to see schemas or see how people do this or like okay, we're calling this API in this way. Blah, blah, blah Baby.

Speaker 2:

Open it up.

Speaker 1:

Okay, that's all I've got to say. So shout out to you also for that awesome gem as well. It really helped.

Speaker 2:

And then I'll give a little bit more clarity for those that are tuned in so. Chanel's talking about a pull request. Or whenever you're changing code, you have to get your peers to review it, and then your peers give you like a thumbs up, Then that means it goes into production. Or they say, hey, you need to switch this up or switch that out. And one of the cool things that I've realized working at Twitter is number one.

Speaker 2:

Another mentor of mine told me like, hey, the fastest way you can become an effective engineer is by reading other people's code like finding out how other people's do it, because then you can apply that same thing and as soon as I tell students that they're like what that's cheating, not in our field, that's how you level up. So what I used to do in twitter is I used to troll the poll requests and also jira tickets, right, and I used to be like all right, so how they saw that problem all there, there, there. And then this is the review. All right, let me open up the code. All right, that's how they change it. That's it.

Speaker 2:

Or shit, I didn't even know I could do that. Yeah, right.

Speaker 1:

That's how I learned some stuff too.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, S&P and looking and working with developers. Yeah, how you did avenue to not just level up in your career growth, but guess what the next time?

Speaker 1:

your manager says hey, does anybody know how to do that? Holla at your boy, I got you absolutely, and before you know it, that builds up, builds up, and there you go, you have you have your skill set that you develop.

Speaker 2:

So, man, I'm dropping gems and and chanel.

Speaker 1:

She was picking them up while I was walking and I was like I don't know if anybody heard it, but I know I did.

Speaker 2:

Let me write that down big shout outs to you big shout outs to you because that that definitely is, like um, a great way to develop and it's so fast and you're almost like in an apprenticeship mode right, because you're like, let me watch the teacher and oh, nobody else is looking, now you're in your own and I can really learn this I can go dive. Uh, I hope y'all caught that um and definitely rewind. There's a rewind, press that rewind button and get back to it and I promise, you, promise you.

Speaker 2:

So one thing that I definitely want to talk to you more about is, like, what goals and things that you're working towards. I mean, you definitely have Apple in the bag. You got promotions, you got your raises and the bag is coming. I ain't trying to see what's in your bag, but great to hear it. Bag is coming. I ain't trying to see what's in your bag, but great to hear it.

Speaker 1:

And then, obviously, mentor Me. Collective Bag is heavy. I let you know that right now when she came in.

Speaker 2:

she was like yo, can you hold this? I'm like, no, that's too heavy for me, I'm going to sell you from Gregor.

Speaker 1:

I'll hold the bag.

Speaker 2:

It was heavy for me.

Speaker 1:

And then obviously Mentor Me has had and is taking off. I mean we see so much potential and how we can really help and continue to uplift the community. For me, I want for everyone, especially within the black community, to experience the level of financial freedom, stability, work-life balance and peace that comes from a career in technology yeah yeah, um.

Speaker 1:

And so in order to get there, we realize, uh, myself and the team realize you have to have the education, you have to have the technical education that can get you there. Obviously the projects come from that, but, um, that's the ground level. So we want to become a premier, if not the most recognized and looked at or sought after organization when it comes to making sure that you have education, but not only just for individuals. We want for the government also to come to us and be like hey, how can we create future ready curriculum for our kids that are going into the K-12 system to prepare them for corporate careers in technology? The reality is, I mean, the way that AI is coming.

Speaker 1:

Baby, if you don't know how to create these algorithms, you ain't going to be here. You're going to be left behind. You're going to be left behind. So when we think about the future of our children, right, and there's already so many different things going on in the education system, but technology already was not a primary focus.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

We want to be a community, an organization that focuses on not only preparing, you know, career professionals and transitioners, but also high school and college students to transition smoothly into this industry, but also making sure that it's accessible.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, smoothly into this industry, but also making sure that it's accessible. The reality is also that education is not. Especially when you think about collegiate education, boot camps for people who are first generation, you know, coming from single parent households, coming from low income communities, you know, you don't think that this is even possible obtainable because you're just focusing on surviving.

Speaker 1:

So we want to be a space where you no longer have to think about those financial barriers. We want to provide access completely free or at super low cost to individuals so that they can come in, do what they need to do, have the support of the community and the mentorship mentors like Bobby to help you get there and turn into those staff engineers of the future.

Speaker 1:

So that's our desire. Yeah, so that's on the Mentor Me, Collective side. My desire personally is to also become a voice in the education field, hopefully in the future Now, hopefully.

Speaker 2:

let me just put it out there, manifest it, let's get it.

Speaker 1:

I want to be on the C-suite for Apple and I want to be the person who's over social impact and education initiatives. I know that we have someone currently doing that and other things, but I want to be able to be the person where we are sitting in rooms, like in the government rooms at the White House, you know, sitting on these different boards and, with Apple being so influential, there's no reason why you know it's not public. Maybe there is somebody there. We don't know, because I know, at the end of the day, there's so many different channels and groups and people and teams. But I want to be that voice.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, not only just again, like I said, for people of color, which I definitely wanted to support and make sure we get there, but for folks specifically who are coming from challenged places, and I want them to know that it's upset, it's attainable, it's acceptable and you have a community, like I said, or a company that is here to support you to get there. So those are my goals. Obviously, I want to continue to develop as an engineer too, especially with machine learning and AI as well. That's what my team focuses on for payments.

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

So super cool and excited about that. But as I continue to sojourn this journey, when it comes to just developing as an awesome engineer, dynamic engineer, being able to attribute to the teams various projects that come down the pipeline, I want to be able to be sustainable in that. But yeah, those are my goals. I'm excited to connect with other individuals, like you said, like yourself, and other communities like that to help us get there on the MMC side and on my personal engineering journey.

Speaker 1:

Let me drop a jam real quick, you're already there, they just don't know where. You know I love that. All right, let's get it, I love that already there.

Speaker 2:

She's already there, well, chanel. Uh, this is the part of our podcast where you get to ask any questions. I know you've already dropped some questions and definitely really appreciate you uh give me a chance, not a pay program. Let me tell you why you bring this up right let me, at least you a sidebar real quick. So while he was in San Francisco, everybody had great things to say. And he's trying to pay them off To see if they can really let him know.

Speaker 2:

Now that you say that $100, you don't even know the truth. D-hussell is trying to discover.

Speaker 1:

I'm crazy.

Speaker 2:

Cash app, whatever you need.

Speaker 1:

He's trying to see. He said he's been hearing all this thing about Bobby D I need.

Speaker 2:

You can Zelle Cash App, whatever you need. He's trying to see V-Mail, all the things he said he's been hearing. All this thing about Bobby D.

Speaker 1:

I need to know, because where am I getting myself in? It's the truth. When you find really good people, they're few and far in between, especially folks who are genuine. So I just want to say, definitely want to shout out this podcast, highlight it.

Speaker 1:

I'm definitely going to shout out this podcast, highlight it, I'm definitely going to be sharing more after as well, because folks should totally lean in, and also with all the people that you have on here, man, hello, if you don't have a network, baby, this is how you can find one Facts. Okay, I'm sorry, bob, back to the schedule program. No, back to the schedule program. You see, she's perfect for that position, right? She got it right on point, right? No? Doubt, no doubt um, but we're still staying.

Speaker 1:

I love it, but if you do have any questions, we definitely want to give you an opportunity, even though we've already chatted up some questions that you threw out there, but this is the part of the segment for you to drop something yeah, you know what I really want to hear about, how your uh journey has been like post uh twitter and now leaning in more so into this, like what have you learned about yourself and also about the community itself? Anyway, go ahead.

Speaker 2:

For sure, for sure. Thank you so much. It's like a double, double, double question but it's all right, I got you. So after leaving Twitter, I tell you, actually the other day we were actually recording, yesterday, wasn't it? And I kept unfortunately mentioning Twitter for Google, yeah yeah. I'm cracking up and you know, and it's because actually I boycotted Twitter for a whole year so yesterday yesterday was the first time I went back on the platform, the first time ever no way and uh, and I posted something and it's just been in my mind about the product, about the services and stuff like that, so that's why, unfortunately, I was stuck on that.

Speaker 2:

But, uh, that was something in terms of just me really committed to like what we created as a service, a platform, and the engineering that we've done over there Because a lot of people don't know that, like, behind the hidden mirror, there's a guy that looks like me back there bumping Biggie and Tupac jamming and holding the thing down.

Speaker 2:

And then you get a billionaire to come and buy it and just say, hell, all of that's crap, we're going to redo it. And then he didn't really do anything other than change the name Right. And for me, mentally I'm like yo that that was crazy, because all of the commitments I've made, all the pull requests, all of the code that I've written.

Speaker 2:

It's tough that I can't walk away with that in the community and our people don't even know I did it so it's like yo, when I got that point in my career, was like all right, it's time for me to go step and into the light and showcase this even more. That's what really drove me away from the keyboard for a little bit, because I wanted to get behind the vault and my main focus was contributing to our, my community, our community directly. That's why when I see Mentor Me Collective, I'm like yo, let me holler right. This journey itself has really, number one enlightened me on where our community is and also how much more I can continue to give, because even with this podcast, I feel like I've only given this much of the knowledge that I've gained, or the knowledge that I know is I still even have more to give. So where I'm at right now is, number one calibrating the industry, supporting nonprofits, seeing what's coming out of college what our?

Speaker 2:

community's doing, and now it's really getting more narrow focus that I y'all want to go there. All right, let me go show you the pathway, because I've already done it before.

Speaker 1:

It's not like I'm trying to do it.

Speaker 2:

I've already done it, so let's go and get it. So now it's like I'm at that phase where these community you know, direct impact, podcasting, getting on camera, talking to people newsletter we publish on a monthly basis, we're going to have some courses that come out, some materials and ultimately, just find a way for me to get this knowledge out, because I, I can't keep it, I can't keep it and I, I see and I'm only going to illustrate it I see how far we are from where we were at Twitter, at that engineering level, to where we are right now in our community and I can help close that gap. So if I were to say how I feel about it, I'm still in the run, this marathon. I'm at pace right now.

Speaker 1:

I'm keeping pace.

Speaker 2:

I'm keeping at it right and, as I'm going, I'm carrying along with me, carrying along with me and really just getting really even more excited from where I started to where I'm at right now, to where we're going, because now all y'all see it. Right, you said you said something like, and that that one hit me really good. It was like the more you give, it actually shines a light inside of you that other people can see you. You know how much I've been given, and when y'all see, y'all like whoa, what's that light?

Speaker 2:

That's what's happening now, because people can really see and understand the impact, and then I can draw it back. Yeah, I was at Twitter for 10 years and I was like word, what did you do there? You did that and I was like, yeah, I'm ready to go. So that's where I'm Now. It's like community, community, community building, developing, partnering, showcasing this light, and now it's time to be a game changer, like one of our things that we're, you know, you know, modeling our community after is that where we're changing the model and this is how big I'm thinking is that we're going to be building billion dollar businesses because we're going to be making community that builds products, that product that build companies, rather than companies building products and building community.

Speaker 1:

Right, because it's like.

Speaker 2:

Think of a chanel bag. The only reason why you buy it because of that brand. They built that community off of that. Let's flip it around. Let's go and create a community that's fire, that can go create multiple products and then, what we do, create multiple businesses I love that so that's that's what we're really shifting towards is continuing to push in that endeavor. And it all starts off by continuing doing community support and development.

Speaker 1:

So that's where I'm at in my journey. You know how it is. I love that, Bobby. Can I ask?

Speaker 2:

you another question what's up? This is?

Speaker 1:

another part of you that I just love. You are an amazing dad and family man.

Speaker 2:

How are you balancing that as well? First of all, thank you so much. I think um a lot of people don't realize that, even with your success on your career side, that there's always a need for you to be successful on the family side uh, big shout outs to my love yes she's, she's one that uh off rip. When I first met her, I knew that we can go and get these stars yeah, for sure we can go get them.

Speaker 2:

And then, soon as her and I were aligned, we had kids and that just gave me even more push, more drive, more like oh, I got another mouth to feed right, and it's like mindset wise, we can go get it all together because now. I'm not doing it just for my wife kids, but I'm doing it for my kids, kids.

Speaker 2:

I said that to a hip-hop gamer. It changes mind even the way that I describe it, because I am doing it for my kids kids. So why do I hold on and why do I make sure I maintain this style of living?

Speaker 2:

because I know my kids kids will be looking back at it and have something to inspire towards, so that that's something that, uh, big shout out to my family, big shout out to d hustle that's my brother-in-law I know gotta keep it in the family right you got people around you right and they can see the light because they see how bright it is and they're here to support, even though he got to make sure he pay a few people to see he was like yo, I gotta pay y'all a little bit to see if this is real. I love it, just to see if it's real. But but hey it's definitely something that comes from my family my father my mother. They've been together for 45 years.

Speaker 2:

Wow and they're still kicking. They're an inspiration to me. They just travel the world hanging out. They're very religious, they're Jehovah Witness, so they have their own community that they're really focused on. But overall it's like when I grew up in my household. My pops was definitely right there to set an example for me and I just hope I'm keeping and maintaining the level of respect and pride that he put in me. So I'm trying my best and my family and kids know I got them for life, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

And I wanted to say or ask that question because I just love so. I grew up, like I said, in a single parent household. My dad wasn't around. So whenever I see like really awesome black men, like doing the work, not only like prospering and being successful at work, but also like really present in their child, like in family, like wife, husband, kids, all that kind of stuff, I just love that. And I don't know if I told you that previously, but I just love watching your Instagram stories or, like you know, when your daughter had her sweet 16.

Speaker 2:

I was all up in that.

Speaker 1:

I was like yes, so I just love how you are unapologetic and unashamed of being able to balance both For sure.

Speaker 2:

And you bring them along with you For sure, because sometimes you see like there's a separation.

Speaker 1:

yeah, but not with bobby. Yeah, actually, this logo, this design came from my son, my wife.

Speaker 2:

She's contributed as hr in the company hr and my daughter. She's uh about to go study film and stuff like that and taking pictures and photography and she's lined up and ready to go.

Speaker 1:

So oh my god, I told you we're doing this for our kids, kids, generational right.

Speaker 2:

We can't just do it for us because as soon as you just do it for you, you're going to be lost and forgotten the year after. But I'm trying to keep it around for a good minute so amazing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love this. I'm so again, I'm so grateful to have been on this podcast. Thank you for thinking about me. Of course, you know what you're talking about thank you for letting me come through.

Speaker 2:

What are you talking about? Thank you for letting me come through. What are you talking about? What I paid tickets to sit on the court side, sit in the front seat. It's just like oh, bobby's there, oh, I'm so honored, I'm so humbled.

Speaker 1:

I'm so grateful. I really would love for us to you know obviously continue to do work together. Yeah, yeah, I just want to say I really appreciate you and all that you're pouring into our community.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much, chanel. Wow, so we're coming to the end of our episode here. Cue up that music de-hustle, hold on, hold on. Dolphers still stands. You want that money now, or you?

Speaker 1:

want to give it to me? No, you're good, put it back into the bag.

Speaker 2:

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be the end. It is a fact. He is a good person. Let's get this one. Thank you so much. D-hustle, always holding it down. First of all, thank y'all, community, for being here. Chanel, big shout outs to you. Nmc meant to me collective. Y'all already know we holding it down. Check the links below, like subscribe, like subscribe. Check the whole whole thing out, because I'm telling you, from certifications to mentorship, to chanel, holding it down, y'all, we, we can get to them stars shout out to chanel for coming to the show today.

Speaker 2:

We really appreciate it yeah, no doubt this is another episode of Backstage with Bobby D. Now y'all know where the name came from Chanel Backstage with Bobby D. Next up is Houston, right, houston, oh, we're going to be out there. I got to talk at a conference. You know, how I do it. I got to be for us to connect with the next set of guests that we have. Big shout outs to y'all. Blessings to you, chanel. Blessings to all of our guests. You're our last guest for this segment. We're running here.

Speaker 1:

We'll be back to new york though, so it ain't gonna be nothing. You know how we do it.

Speaker 2:

We know how to do it well, thank you for tuning in holla at your boy, it's bobby d that is so dope.