The Black and Brilliant Advocacy Network is a dynamic group focused on coaching, mentoring and empowering underserved people to gain the skills and access to get top tech jobs in the fast-growing and well-paying space. The organization was founded by the husband-and-wife team, Tony Effik, managing director at Google and adjunct professor at Columbia University, and Perky Noah-Effik, an entrepreneur and current head of operations at the group.

After meeting with Zach Sims, CEO of Codecademy— a leading online learning platform for technical skills, empowering millions of people worldwide to lead inspiring careers in technology—at an event with the United Nations last year, the founders immediately saw an opportunity to work together given their organizations’ shared mission to democratize career opportunities in technology.

The organization combines upskilling and mentorship during a 10-week program and focuses on both the hard and soft skills needed to build successful careers in technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other digital, fast-growing sectors. The cohort will have coaches and mentors from top companies, such as Shopify, Google and Etsy.

Sims said about the program, “Through education and mentorship, our goal is to empower a new generation of global leaders in AI, equipping them with the skills they need to solve problems and incite change through technology.”

Coaching And Empowering

The duo believes, “With a little nudge, we can help people change lanes from low-paying STEM jobs, move them into the dynamic and fast-growing world of technology and get them to the cutting edge.” Noah-Effik contends there are careers with “fences” around them. You can see them, but you can’t get to them—unless somebody from the inside helps you in and then, hopefully, helps you dismantle the fences. To change this situation, the program offers coaches who are already on the inside.

The agenda includes one-on-one sessions, continued communications over Slack and group sessions. The coaches help with an array of issues to prepare people for job interviews, how to brand yourself and communicate your value. Discussion ranges on what exciting new areas and disciplines are developing and how to get into them. There is open and honest talk about dealing with microaggressions, imposter syndrome, building self-belief and maintaining integrity. For many who didn’t have family and friends at larger corporations or startups, the coaches help with providing business etiquette, discussing the unwritten rules of companies, cultivating influence, networking and communications. There is talk about how to have a long-term career strategy.

Noah-Effik says that one of the many reasons for embarking upon this initiative is that she wanted to provide high-potential talent a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to be a success in the world of technology.

Creating A Supportive Community

Community is a key element to help people accelerate their careers. Strivers want to learn together, network and pass it forward. The duo finds learners become friends and resources for each other. The leadership uses Slack as a channel for community, information exchange and LinkedIn to celebrate.

They send out weekly roundups, schedule group sessions and masterclasses. Everyone has a chance to speak. As learners graduate from the program, some stay on, become coaches and pay it forward, creating a kind of chain reaction.

She said that some people don’t realize how much it takes to be successful, and what type of things you need to succeed. To help the students, “We focus on something we call the Cheat Codes, which are the insights that nobody tells you unless you have contacts, mentors or friends and family in the industry. Most Black and Brown talent do not. They don’t pick up the cheat codes of a discipline when others do.”

Cheat Codes are practical things, but also include soft skills. Soft skills include confidence, being inspired and feeling like this is a domain for you and people like you. The cofounder laments that a large segment of people in the Black community doesn’t present their true authentic selves in the workplace, which can create inner turmoil and imposter syndrome. A big part of what Black and Brilliant does is building self-confidence and belief in your own story. “The hard skills will get you hired, but the soft skills will get you fired.”

Mentoring

Having a person with specific experience in the sector that you’re interested in is crucial. While mentorship is an integral part of the program, it takes time, thoughtfulness and communication. Noah-Effik points out that not all mentors and mentees are a good match. Sometimes, on paper, people look like a good match, but there is a personality disconnect.

Some mentees want specific knowledge about a topic; others don’t know what they want and need guidance. Transparency is key to the relationship. The environment is created to allow for open, direct and honest conversations.

Africa And Artificial Intelligence

Codecademy and Black and Brilliant announced the launch of an Africa-based Applied Artificial Intelligence accelerator and mentorship program to prepare the next generation of African tech talent.

“Growing up in the U.K. and Nigeria, and even now, I continue to meet brilliant Africans with the potential to play a role in the global digital economy,” said Effik. He desires to better connect African talent to the world of artificial intelligence and data science. He points out that Africa has a population of 1.2 billion, and is still at the early stages of its tech revolution, which will be centered on the smartphone rather than the PC. There is already a growing number of African unicorns, such as Nigeria’s Flutterwave

Effik wants to upskill people who have the potential to be the next generation of tech talent. African technologists need to be supported when it comes to building AI capacity, developing new datasets, sharing the latest techniques and technologies and finding networking opportunities for plugging into the global AI community.

The pair have seen positive growth. There are more African tech leaders than ever before, including Calendly founder Tope Awotona, Meta head of new product experimentation Ime Archibong and Alphabet senior vice-president James Manyika.

Large tech companies have been investing in Africa. Google opened its first Africa Artificial Intelligence Lab in Ghana. Microsoft opened the first Africa Development Center in Kenya and Nigeria. Meta partnered in a project called the 2Africa project, to expand internet access by building a submarine cable that will completely circle Africa and double internet capacity.

Source: Forbes