Four Lessons on How a Black Girl in Liberal Arts Broke into the Tech Field

June 1, 2022 | Brittany Allen, MIDA (she/her/hers) | Technical Sourcer

About ten years ago I was knee deep in a doctoral program studying political science, already having completed a master’s degree. I distinctly remember coming home to my apartment one day after spending hours in the library and thinking, “Why am I doing this?” The realization had been a long time coming; I had been depressed and overwhelmed with anxiety for years. I had finally come to terms with the fact that I had no desire to teach, no desire to finish my program, and — the scariest realization — I had no clue what I was going to do next. Serendipity and good timing landed me in the international education field for about five years, enabling me to advise college students who were studying abroad, a passion of mine during my collegiate days. Never once had I considered my career taking a shift to HR and talent acquisition in the tech industry.

I now work for Roku – the #1 streaming entertainment platform in North America.

I’ve gained a lot through this career transition, and I’d like to share four lessons learned from breaking into a new profession as a woman of color:

1. Skills are transferable

Clearly, I had no intention of going into tech, but many of the skills required for the new roles I had interest in were skills I had long possessed. Problem-solving, critical thinking, professional writing, and project management all were skills I had acquired already.

2. Do your research and invest in yourself

Staying up to date on what’s happening in the market, reading-up on current trends, and investing in professional development has paid dividends for me.

3. Get out of your comfort zone

The idea of leaving higher education, a place where I had grown quite comfortable over the years, was a scary prospect. What’s more, there’s a miniscule percentage of Black and LatinX people within major tech organizations, occupying roles in only 4.3% of big tech in the United States (Dean & Bhuiyan, 2020). I knew I’d be taking a risk, and I was very intimidated at first. I feared being othered and being treated like a diversity hire. Imposter syndrome was something I constantly battled. I felt I had to prove I was just as skilled as my white counterparts. The risk paid off. More than four years into my career in tech I now feel strong, confident, and certain all the obstacles I’ve faced to get here have been worth it.

4. Lean on your network

I never would have gotten the opportunity to explore a career at a tech company if it hadn’t been for women in my circle (particularly women of color) advocating for me, referring me, mentoring me, and cheering me on. My first tech role as a contractor with Google was due to an old co-worker putting my hat into the ring. It’s a true example of women advocating for women in the workplace.

As women it’s important to remember we can be who we want to be, it’s never too late to forge a new trail, and it’s ok to change our minds! I hope my story demonstrates that.