“I never let my uncertainty about different things stop me. I can learn! ‘This is a curve in the road and we’re going to figure it out and keep moving.’ That was my approach to learning and figuring things out.”
The 2x Women in Tech Podcast with Chelsea Behrens
Grace MacJones, Microsoft Cloud Engineer & Host of Tech Unlocked
Fasten your seatbelts for this episode of The 2x Women in Tech Podcast, which features a young powerhouse who is breaking down barriers to women of color in the tech industry and beyond. Grace MacJones is not only a talented Microsoft Cloud Engineer but also the host of Tech Unlocked, a podcast devoted to introducing the broad spectrum of ways that people from all walks of life can, and should, access their piece of the internet pie. Emerging technologies are of special interest to Grace, who is teaching Black women in particular how to get educated, support each other and break into a world that has traditionally been dominated by white men. Born in Nigeria, Grace acquired a special superpower when she came to the U.S. as a teenager. Her lived experience schooled her in how to take risks, advocate for herself, accept uncertainty, and empathize with people whose backgrounds differ from her own.
Whether we’re talking about AI, social media platforms, cryptocurrency or Web 3.0, Grace has made it her mission to render challenging concepts accessible. Find out how this dynamic young woman defeated the odds to find her place in the world of computing as well as the myriad ways she is lifting up her community, providing invaluable forums for exchanging ideas and tapping into opportunities available to anyone willing to do the homework and adopt new technologies. There is room for all kinds of related skill sets. Grace shares advice for entrepreneurs, her wish list for the tech industry, and important advice for women, especially women of color, making their way in a field where their voices are valid and long overdue!
Key Takeaways:
Grace shares the short version of her journey from college student to creator of technologies, including a switch from international relations/business to a computer science major.
Grace recalls her introduction to computer science – in college classrooms that weren’t representative of Black women and where her peers overwhelmingly had more baseline familiarity with coding.
Community is Key: Grace has found enormous support (and relief from isolation) in online groups specifically for women in coding and tech.
The drive to help and enable others has fueled much of Grace’s journey and commitment to opening up opportunities for other Black women. She’s on a mission!
Looking back, Grace never loved the question “What are you going to be when you grow up?” That she didn’t have a clear path in mind early on turned out to be a blessing because it kept her open to exploring all kinds of professional possibilities.
Coming to the U.S. from Nigeria as a teenager, Grace was interested in lots of things and eager to learn about all the options available to her. It’s okay not to know right away!
More about the impact of Grace’s immigrant experience, including:
Leaning into the unknown, including inevitable obstacles.
Learning how to survive in a new environment.
Figuring out how to navigate a new system.
Meeting peers from other countries.
Dealing with uncertainty by staying open to observing and learning.
Grace celebrates diversity of experience and her ability to relate to people whose backgrounds are different from her own. Her empathy is a superpower within the tech industry and beyond!
About Grace’s podcast, Tech Unlocked, and in particular Episode 58, which featured her brother David and their experience as people of color within the tech industry.
Through her podcast Grace is opening up vistas for people (especially people of color) who wouldn’t otherwise be aware of jobs available to them within the tech space.
Amplifying Stories: Grace has a special gift for putting things in relatable terms and offering an inclusive platform.
About Grace’s new community: Women of Color in Emerging Tech. It’s a forum dedicated to sharing ideas and information about what’s out there across the tech industry via social media channels like Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
Grace is dedicated to creating safe spaces in which to make emerging tech trends (like Blockchain, NFTs and Web 3.0) more accessible to women of color who are under-represented or under-informed. Hundreds of women have demonstrated interest!
There is a special magic in Grace’s ability to introduce intimidating technologies and major cultural shifts – whether autonomous vehicles, quantum computing or crypto.
Grace explains some of the risks and vulnerabilities associated with data ownership and privacy as well as the radical democratization that Web 3.0 promises and tech’s ongoing evolution.
Education and onboarding are key, which is why Grace wanted to create a space to educate peers to what’s on the horizon.
About ways that entrepreneurs can maintain independence and leverage technology to stay connected with customers and protect ownership of content.
Grace offers some advice for entrepreneurs:
Stay ahead of new trends and be an early adopter!
Constantly be reading, doing your homework and exploring new ideas.
Stay open-minded about seeing the future in new ways.
Embrace the fact of constant change (especially in a post-pandemic world).
Grace’s wishes for the tech industry:
Accessibility that prevents people (especially POC) from having to “break in.”
A system that provides education and points of entry to a more diverse group.
Programs to equip more people and women of color with critical resources.
More women (especially women of color) at the forefront, leading the biggest and wealthiest tech companies out there!
The future belongs to those with access, which is why Grace’s mission is all about getting people of color – women especially – into the mix of emerging technologies by ensuring they’ve got the education to get in early on fast-paced opportunities.
If you’re not part of the conversation, you can’t be part of industry solutions!
Humans don’t like change, but it’s coming nonetheless. Grace reminds us that the future is full of opportunity for those who are awake, alert and open to technological advances!
Grace Wants Women to Know:
You are so much more powerful than you realize.
Do not limit yourself in what you can do!
Reject “Just happy to be here” syndrome!
Your ideas are valid and your voices need to be heard!
Remember that your lens benefits not just you but your family and community!
Episode Resources
Grace MacJones on LinkedIn
Episode 58 of Tech Unlocked - Is Tech the Right Career for You? With David Macjones
Women of Color in Emerging Tech on Twitter
To listen to more incredible interviews with Women in Tech, click here.