Is This Thing On...?

It’s been a while…Let’s get right into it…

Where Have You Been?

In 2016, I launched my blog to connect with fellow Network Engineers and Black People in Tech who shared similar experiences and challenges. My platform rapidly expanded, and during the pandemic peak, I was actively engaged in multiple podcasts, tech career panels, and creating content for various brands. While I appreciated these opportunities and enjoyed supporting my community, the focus became monotonously centered on career development rather than the technical aspects of my field. The career and soft skills discussions are crucial, and I've always stressed their importance, but eventually, I found myself with nothing new to add to these dialogues.

Moreover, content creation started to feel insincere, driven more by algorithmic demands than authenticity. Many topics promoted by these algorithms also seemed misleading, failing to depict the full reality of a tech career. I was struggling to balance my identity as a tech creator and my personal interests outside of work. I was also led to a critical juncture where monetization was the logical next step, but I was uncertain about the direction to take. Various approaches I tried didn't resonate with me, so I chose to step back rather than conform to popular trends.

During this break, I reevaluated my role as an “influencer.” I observed others, took classes, made notes on successful strategies, and analyzed the market gaps. I also began sharing more personal interests, particularly on Twitter, while occasionally engaging in tech-related discussions. There were times when I believed I was ready to return, and I even went as far as rebranding the blog. However, none of these attempts felt quite right. This period coincided with significant personal and professional changes, making the break timely and necessary.

When the tech influencer hype of 2020 eventually faded, I was grateful for having paused to reassess my path. Though I had to address some sour collaboration deals, this pause ultimately saved the platform I had been building for the past seven years.

So What’s Next…?

I really enjoyed the experience of using Twitter Spaces. Initially, I didn't see myself as a podcaster, especially after previously launching a podcast. However, I discovered that I actually enjoyed interviewing people. This led me to spend time thinking about potential topics of interest.

For me to start a tech podcast, I knew it had to be unique and fulfill a specific need within the tech community. That specific need became clear to me quite soon. I'll delve deeper into this in the first episode, but this was the inspiration behind creating "Thrive in Tech." My goal with this podcast is to explore what happens after landing a tech job, discuss the unspoken rules we need to know, offer guidance on career progression and navigating the workplace, and address the mental health aspects of the career.

“But what about CCIE BY 30? I’m here for the tech?”

I chose to develop my podcast as an independent brand because I've been missing the opportunity to talk about technology. Many content creators will agree that technical topics are often less popular than non-technical ones. While these technical subjects might not seem appealing to everyone, I find them incredibly fulfilling. Sharing my technical expertise through this platform has been immensely rewarding for my career and has allowed me to connect with numerous peers. At heart, I'm a tech enthusiast; technology has always been my passion, and it would be a mistake to ignore that.

And because I know someone is going to ask: yes, I'm still aiming to achieve my CCIE. Even though I'm now 32, it remains an important goal for me. I'm not interested in hearing opinions about the value of this certification; to me, it's like my personal Mount Everest. 🤗

Here’s to the next chapter…🥂✨