A Different Tech

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Latest Episodes:

Season 1 Finale - Viewer Q&A Mar 10, 2021

Season 1 is in the books! Thank you all for listening to our inaugural season. We enjoyed discussing the tech industry and answering your questions each week.

Don't worry, we'll be back for another season! The release date is currently to be determined, but we'll keep you updated on our social media accounts and website (http://www.adifferenttech.com). We're already planning next season's content and can't wait to share it with you.

Have a topic you want to see us discuss next season? Want to pitch a question for our Q&A portion? Any guests you want to see us interview? Send an email to adifferenttech@gmail.com!

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Show Notes

(2:38) - Question 1: What's the difference between frontend and backend web development?

(4:34) - Question 2: What are the best sites to store your projects?

(7:27) - Question 3: What is your favorite organizational tool?

(10:36) - Question 4: Tips for people pursuing their first or a different tech job?

(14:49) - Question 5: What were some discouraging things people have said to you during your career?

(23:17) - Question 6: How do you learn and/or navigate an unfamiliar code base?

(26:22) - Question 7: Why do companies need so many software engineers for one product?

(31:59) - Outro

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Get Into Your Bag - Tech Compensation Packages Explained Mar 03, 2021

Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units (RSU), 401K Matches, oh my!

Tech compensation packages can be confusing, especially when you're joining a startup or publicly traded company. And before you even accept your offer, how do you negotiate for the compensation and perks you deserve?

Join us as we discuss the components of a tech compensation package, startup series funding, negotiation tips, and the many specializations within software engineering.

Show Notes:

(1:10) Base salary

(2:08) Bonuses

(4:25) 401K Matches

(5:24) Profit-sharing

(6:00) Additional Monetary Perks

(9:46) Stock Options and RSUs

(13:49) Series Funding Explained

(20:38) Negotiation Tips

(32:58) Q&A - What Are The Different Types of Software Engineers (Check out Soyo's guide: ademusoyo.com/master-coding)

(37:49) Outro

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Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

Big Tech Monopolies Feb 24, 2021

The Capitol Riots thrust big tech companies back into the spotlight. Many of these companies failed to address their platform's role in facilitating the riot's planning. These companies reacted by swiftly banning Trump and other extremists from the platform. But the damage was already done.

Join us as we discuss the legislation targeted towards big tech, how big tech has become an unavoidable part of our lives, and how the monopolization of tech can be harmful to consumers and startups.

Originally recorded in January 2021

Show Notes:

(2:16) - What is big tech?

(4:00) - Why is big tech in the news?

(7:36) - How people struggle to completely avoid Amazon or Google products

(11:37) - Big tech companies impeding fledgling companies from entering the market

(15:52) - Big tech companies absorbing smaller tech companies

(17:23) - Big tech companies disguising their profit-generating intentions

(20:49) - Multiple social media websites banning Trump after the Capitol Insurrection

(26:51) - Service providers dropping Parler

(30:01) - Section 230

(31:27) - Will the Biden administration tackle big tech monopolies?

(32:17) - Outro

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Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

When and Why Should You Leave Your Job? Is the Tech Interview Process Broken? Feb 17, 2021

The idea of working for a single company for 40 plus years and retiring with a pension is a remnant of the past. According to a 2019 study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), baby boomers held an average of twelve jobs in their lifetime. We can assume that this number will be much higher for millennials and Generation Z!

We've both changed jobs within the past three years and have learned invaluable information from our moves.

Hiring Without Whiteboards - https://github.com/poteto/hiring-without-whiteboards

Show Notes:

(1:17) - What were we looking for in our first job after college?

(7:16) - When did we feel like it was time to move jobs?

(17:52) - What do we think about the tech industry interview process? How would we formulate a tech interview in an ideal world?

(32:40) - What tips do we have for someone looking for their first/second job?

(39:41) - Outro

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Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

Coding Bootcamps vs. College - How To Start Your Tech Career (w/ Tasi) Feb 10, 2021

Tech has the negative -- rightfully deserved -- connotation of being inaccessible. One of the most common questions we receive relate to how aspiring software engineers are unsure where and how to start their tech career.

Should you major in computer science? Should you go to a boot camp? Should you go the self-taught route?

We can't promise to answer those questions for you, but our special guest Tasi brings with her a unique perspective from attending both a boot camp and college.

Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of college and boot camps, how to choose the right boot camp, Tasi's journey from a warehouse employee to software engineer, and more!

About Tasi:

Tasi’s path to tech was not a linear one. Before she started her career as a front-end engineer, she pursued a career in filmmaking and attended college to study screenwriting. Unfortunately, having been unable to afford tuition, Tasi was forced to drop out and was left unsure of the future. A few odd jobs here and there led her to a coding fellowship program where her love for software engineering and the tech industry ignited. She is now a front-end engineering freelancer and tutor as well as a streamer on Twitch! Be sure to follow her at twitch.tv/TasiSaidSo.

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Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

Tech In The Time of COVID-19 Feb 03, 2021

Unless you've been living on Mars — if so, please send us tickets — COVID-19 has foundationally affected your life in some way. This holds true for practically all industries worldwide, including tech.

Join us as we discuss our thoughts about working and living in quarantine, the multitude of tech layoffs, how Quibi flopped, the tech industry in a post-COVID-19 world, and the biggest lessons we've learned during our careers.

Originally recorded in December 2020

Timestamps

(1:05) - COVID-19 initial thoughts and how we've adapted to quarantine at work and in our personal lives

(16:00) - Tech layoffs due to COVID-19

(23:17) - Quibi's implosion

(26:44) - Bird layoffs via video message

(28:58) - How will COVID-19 affect tech in the future?

(34:28) - Would we want to work from home indefinitely?

(38:49) - Will the increase in remote work opportunities increase competition?

(43:16) - Q&A (What is the biggest lesson you've learned in your career?)

(51:40) - Outro

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Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? As we said, it goes down in the DMs. Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

The Murder of George Floyd and the Revived Push To Combat Racism in the Tech Industry Jan 27, 2021

After the tragic murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the U.S. and many other countries around the world experienced a revived push to protest police brutality and support the BLM movement. Tech wasn't far behind and many companies pledged to support social justice causes, black engineers, and black people.

Join us as we discuss whether we believe these pledges were genuine, how tech companies need to support black employees, and which companies botched their response.

Show Notes:

(2:41) - Main discussion: The Murder of George Floyd and the Revived Push To Combat Racism in the Tech Industry

(23:04) - Mentorship vs. Sponsorship (Are black employees over mentored and under sponsored?)

(29:16) - Q&A: Why Should Black People Get Into Tech?

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Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

Welcome to A Different Tech! - Trailer Jan 18, 2021

Join Nicole Daniels and Ademusoyo Awosika-Olumo, two black female software engineers, as they discuss their careers and the tech industry as a whole.

Have a tech-related question you would like us to answer? Shoot us an email: adifferenttech@gmail.com

Follow #ADifferentTech on Twitter and Instagram (@ADifferentTech)

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